Summerizing my Kohler 5E

[Scottster]

The forecast for Lake of the Ozarks this weekend is for the highs to be in the 60s. Naturally I have the itch to start un-winterizing some stuff on the boat. The first thing I was going to do was to put a new impeller in my generator and get it running so I can have some heat at night when I stay on the boat. The water temperature is still 36 degrees at Lake of the Ozarks. Is there a minimum water temperature that my generator needs to run properly?

 

[tbirdvet]

As long as it does not freeze should be OK and assuming your oil is the correct viscosity it should be OK but I would let it run some to warm up before full load.

 

[skolbe]

You are going to get freezing temperatures most likely again before March is up. You may want to invest in a bilge heater. I have an Xtreme Bilge heater.

 

[sbw1]

You are going to get freezing temperatures most likely again before March is up. You may want to invest in a bilge heater. I have an Xtreme Bilge heater.

Good advice. I just looked up the records for the area on the weather channel. Record lows are in the teens all of the way to the end of the month. I believe there was even a 2 degrees at the end of March. I tend to go by weather trends prior to moving the boat outside. We don't sweat a few days of lows in the 20s without protection, but if the weather trend is a cold spelled we wait a few days for the weather to improve. Once you are in the water, you can keep a boat warm with 36 degree water and your heat pump running. I've even started the engines and the genny up and brought them to normal temp prior to turning things off. The warmth of the engines will keep the bilge above freezing for a cold evening, but you need to be close to your boat to insure things don't freeze. A bilge heater is a good idea this time of year if you can't keep and eye on things.

 

[320Bob]

You are going to get freezing temperatures most likely again before March is up. You may want to invest in a bilge heater. I have an Xtreme Bilge heater.

I second this suggestion since I just ordered my xtreme heater yesterday from Jim (BOE Marine). I plan to put my boat in the water at the end of this month and there is still some chance of freezing temperatures over night.

 

[Carver370]

I second this suggestion since I just ordered my xtreme heater yesterday from Jim (BOE Marine). I plan to put my boat in the water at the end of this month and there is still some chance of freezing temperatures over night.

I have put mine in the water at the end of this month every year since 1994. You will not need the heater.