Golfnit
New Member
I don't post much, but read a lot on this forum. Thanks for the info and stories! I'll have a boat big enough in a decade to take one of those trips many people talk about... keys and beyond.
With this cold front coming through this weekend, it's going to become below freezing in NC. Night time temps below freezing (high 20s) and lower 40s during the day. I have a 185 sport with a 4.3 TKS and I haven't winterized the engine yet as I have a broken foot, otherwise it would be done. It is stored outside. I have an appointment next week at a local shop, but in the mean time I'm a little worried about the city water inside the engine. I see some posts about bilge heaters, but they are really for larger boats. I'm looking for something that will get me through the weekend and maybe next week that will keep the engine above freezing. Gas tank is 5% full, so some fumes will be in the area. Was thinking about getting a 10 gal fish tank heater and put it in a 5 gallon bucket and set the temp on the heater at lowest setting (usually around 68). Place the bucket in the bilge area and let her run. Allowing the heat radiate in the bilge. Thinking that the fish tank heaters are 100% submersible, the gas fumes can't access the heating element and therefore safe to run in the area. Obviously a regular space heater is a terrible idea. What is the forum's thought on the idea?
A quick search gives this as an product possible for this application.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752191
Thanks
-Mark
With this cold front coming through this weekend, it's going to become below freezing in NC. Night time temps below freezing (high 20s) and lower 40s during the day. I have a 185 sport with a 4.3 TKS and I haven't winterized the engine yet as I have a broken foot, otherwise it would be done. It is stored outside. I have an appointment next week at a local shop, but in the mean time I'm a little worried about the city water inside the engine. I see some posts about bilge heaters, but they are really for larger boats. I'm looking for something that will get me through the weekend and maybe next week that will keep the engine above freezing. Gas tank is 5% full, so some fumes will be in the area. Was thinking about getting a 10 gal fish tank heater and put it in a 5 gallon bucket and set the temp on the heater at lowest setting (usually around 68). Place the bucket in the bilge area and let her run. Allowing the heat radiate in the bilge. Thinking that the fish tank heaters are 100% submersible, the gas fumes can't access the heating element and therefore safe to run in the area. Obviously a regular space heater is a terrible idea. What is the forum's thought on the idea?
A quick search gives this as an product possible for this application.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752191
Thanks
-Mark