Staying warm in FL

[Gettin' There II]

What is the best method to protect my engine from freezing, here in the Panhandle of Florida we are hitting below 26 for 3 - 4 hours straight.
I have drained the engine and freshwater system. Do I need to do more?
Lightbulb in bilge perhaps, I have an industrial shatterproof that I can put down there overnight. Some one else suggested an electric blanket.
Winterizing is out since we use the boat year round, so how do I protect it during these infrequent cold snaps?
Thanks for your help.

 

[jpk33]

I'd be leary of the electric blanket - just way too many things to catch it on and possibily short ot out. Small ceramic heater may work for you. You don't need to make it tropical just keep it above 45F and since you drained the engine and the FW system you should be GTG. You want any SNOW with that cool weather (it hasn't been up to 26F in a week!!).

 

[Gettin' There II]

Thanks for the response jpk33. I am just a little paranoid of doing something that will cause another problem. We are actually forecast for possible snow flurries here on Thursday night. I need to move further south!

 

[KC WV]

26 for a few hours probably wouldn't freeze saltwater depending on how warm it gets the other 20 hours of the day. When I winterize, I always pull the freshwater hoses loose from the thermostat housing, and lower to the bottom of the bilge to drain them too. The main thing is to get the water out of the block, exhaust manifolds, and risers. Also, if the boat is on the trailer, I'd lower the outdrive to drain.

 

[coolings]

I do the same thing. Turn a light on at night. Unplug it when I get up. Also, pour about a cup of antifreeze (the marine kind) down your prop. That will help if you have any water sitting at the bottom of your drive.

 

[KC WV]

I do the same thing. Turn a light on at night. Unplug it when I get up. Also, pour about a cup of antifreeze (the marine kind) down your prop. That will help if you have any water sitting at the bottom of your drive.

Good point. I also take off the thermostat housing and fill the block and hoses with antifreeze. There is one hose that runs from the outdrive, under the engine, and up to the thermostat housing. When I pour antifreeze in it, it runs out the intakes in the lower unit.

 

[sprink56]

I am an "Old School" Fire Sprinkler Contractor from the South. We install Dry Pipe Sprinkler Systems in areas that are subject to freezing...(i.e. the pipes are full of compressed air). The Valve Room is the area where the transition from wet to dry happens and we usually have a 4"~6" diameter pipe with a valve apparatus that stays full of water constantly. Over the years one of the methods used to keep those Valve Rooms from freezing was to have a single 100 watt light bulb in the room. These rooms were no larger than a 3' x 4' closet that are usually 8' tall. In telling you this I think that in the bilge of a 24' boat a 100 watt bulb on a drop cord will do the trick. Our rule of thumb is maintain at least 40 deg F and I think this will give you a good short term remedy with out the need for draining the block.

Remember that even in NW Florida if your boat is in the water you are sitting in 45~50 deg. water which you won't ever see freeze...at least I hope not:wow:

 

[Air O'Nautical]

The place to watch out for freezing is the transom shower if you have one.
It would help to empty the water system and blow out with air.
Good luck.