To Heat or not to Heat...that is the question.

[Book'em Danno]

I've winterized everything on my boat except for my engines thanks to all of you here at CSR. I plan on taking that task this weekend. My boat will be shrink wrapped and will remain in the water, shore powered to ensure my batteries are charged so the bilge pump remains operational during the winter. For some reason newbie ignorance and paranoia is getting the best of me. I can't seem to shake the thought of water in the bilge freezing rendering my bilge pump inoperable, taking in more water and boat sinking. I know it's probably extreme when it comes to worst case scenarios, but I always prepare for the worse. So having said that, I was thinking on investing in an Xtreme Bilge Heater to ensure above freezing temperatures inside the bilge. The wife doesn't seem to be too fond of the idea specially after mentioning the cost. Any thoughts that would help me make a decision would be appreciated. To heat or not to heat? Thank you all in advance

 

[mquiet]

If remaining in the water I would invest in a heater. You can advise your admiral the heater is less than the deductible when you have repairs to do and you need insurance to cover the damage.


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[Sous]

I've winterized everything on my boat except for my engines thanks to all of you here at CSR. I plan on taking that task this weekend. My boat will be shrink wrapped and will remain in the water, shore powered to ensure my batteries are charged so the bilge pump remains operational during the winter. For some reason newbie ignorance and paranoia is getting the best of me. I can't seem to shake the thought of water in the bilge freezing rendering my bilge pump inoperable, taking in more water and boat sinking. I know it's probably extreme when it comes to worst case scenarios, but I always prepare for the worse. So having said that, I was thinking on investing in an Xtreme Bilge Heater to ensure above freezing temperatures inside the bilge. The wife doesn't seem to be too fond of the idea specially after mentioning the cost. Any thoughts that would help me make a decision would be appreciated. To heat or not to heat? Thank you all in advance

How 'bout just dumping a couple gallons of -100 in there for about $10 and calling it a day.

 

[JimG]

How 'bout just dumping a couple gallons of -100 in there for about $10 and calling it a day.

If he does have a leak, it would just be pumped out...

I would be investigating the leak!

 

[scoflaw]

Never seen a shrink wrapped boat left in the water. I'm sure you have a good reason why.

 

[Book'em Danno]

How 'bout just dumping a couple gallons of -100 in there for about $10 and calling it a day.

That is what I plan on doing this weekend. However since this is all new to me, I wanted to go the extra mile the wife does not want to run with me lol. So I may just have to be restricted only to the $10 solution.

 

[Book'em Danno]

I was going to be pull it out of the water, but as I was made to see by one of the personnel at the marina, boats are meant to be in the water. Don't have to worry too much about weight being distributed incorrectly and damaging your boat from human error or even mother nature's occasional wrath. He advised, winterize it, and keep it tied up to my slip; allow for length of ropes to compensate for the rise and fall of tides and occasionally inspect it. Being that it is connected to shore power, I do not have to remove the batteries needed to run the bilge pump. I only removed the Genny's battery. The shrink wrap, just protects it from the elements as it would on land and in addition it will probably restrict most if not all rain, melting snow run off from reaching the bilge. The only difference is, my boat is on the water as opposed to blocks( my pier is protected by system that doesn't allow ice to form around boat) , and I save the money for hauling it out and dry storing. In the spring, I unwrap, haul out for power washing the bottom and paint if necessary. De-winterize and go and no need to schedule haul in, loosing good weather because of other boats that are blocking my boat and having to wait for the marina to get to it. I'll see how this will work out for me this winter. As I said, it is all new to me, but in reality when you think of it, all I have as much to worry as if it were on land, minus falling from blocks due to crazy weather. I am sure the bilge heater is overkill but as I mentioned, I prepare for the worse with hopes it never happens and as Mquiet said avoiding the expensive repairs. I will finish winterizing the engine with the pink stuff as planned and hopefully can decide on the Xtreme Bilge heater or not.

 

[BillK2632]

That's a tough call and here is why:

- You shrinkwrapped it and left it in the water I am guessing to 1. save on storage and maybe 2. have some access to the boat over the winter.
- You winterized the boat so you would not need a heater.
- The risk you take, and I think it is a small one, is that the boat starts leaking with freezing temperatures in the bilge. All is good until the pump freezes and stops working. Then you have a real problem. The water in the bottom of the bilge is not as likely to freeze as the water sitting in the anti-siphon loop of the pump discharge line.
- Hopefully the water around your slip doesn't freeze? If it does and no bubbler, then all bets are off.

I think the risk is small - you boat would need to develop a significant leak AND have extended freezing temperatures. A lot depends how far you are from the boat and how often you plan to check on it. If you can visit every week or so, I think I would pass on the heater, if you plan to be gone a month at a time, probably need the heater.

 

[rcknecht]

Never seen a shrink wrapped boat left in the water. I'm sure you have a good reason why.

I shrink wrap mine in the water every year... No bilge heater is needed... if there is a leak, the bilge pump will pump out the water... Even on the coldest days (-10 to -20) the water stays in the 30's which keeps the bilge relatively warm... I use an underwater fan to circulate the water around the boat keeping it from freezing...

 

[dwna1a]

There are other less expensive heaters out there and I always put a little pink in the bilge water. But only after I have used a wet/dry vac to remove any water. Just be sure to remove any water in the strainers and replace it with pure pink.

I have to ask, why wrap the boat if you plan to leave her in the water? Mine stays in the water year round. She is in a covered slip and I keep her winter canvas on and it works out fine for me. But that's what works for me. Leaking packing is what makes the water build up in the bilge and sometimes rain water comes in my bilge vents. I just make sure I keep the bilge as dry as possible using the wet vac.

 

[Book'em Danno]

That's a tough call and here is why:

- You shrinkwrapped it and left it in the water I am guessing to 1. save on storage and maybe 2. have some access to the boat over the winter.
- You winterized the boat so you would not need a heater.
- The risk you take, and I think it is a small one, is that the boat starts leaking with freezing temperatures in the bilge. All is good until the pump freezes and stops working. Then you have a real problem. The water in the bottom of the bilge is not as likely to freeze as the water sitting in the anti-siphon loop of the pump discharge line.
- Hopefully the water around your slip doesn't freeze? If it does and no bubbler, then all bets are off.

I think the risk is small - you boat would need to develop a significant leak AND have extended freezing temperatures. A lot depends how far you are from the boat and how often you plan to check on it. If you can visit every week or so, I think I would pass on the heater, if you plan to be gone a month at a time, probably need the heater.

I was paid for at the previous marina to have boat hauled out. Moved Marina last month and the previous was not going to refund money as it was part of my yearly contract. They could keep it! Then I planned on paying hauling fees here and was pretty much told I'd be fine in the water. So I tried my luck. The shrink wrap was mainly to protect my boy as in land.

 

[Book'em Danno]

I shrink wrap mine in the water every year... No bilge heater is needed... if there is a leak, the bilge pump will pump out the water... Even on the coldest days (-10 to -20) the water stays in the 30's which keeps the bilge relatively warm... I use an underwater fan to circulate the water around the boat keeping it from freezing...

yeah the Marina has a circulator of some sort to keep the water from freezing. I've seen other boats shrink wrapped in the water before, so I tried my hand at it. I was just concerned with the freezing of any water ultimately freezing my pumps ability to pump out. Don't anticipate any leaks, but.....

 

[Book'em Danno]

There are other less expensive heaters out there and I always put a little pink in the bilge water. But only after I have used a wet/dry vac to remove any water. Just be sure to remove any water in the strainers and replace it with pure pink.

I have to ask, why wrap the boat if you plan to leave her in the water? Mine stays in the water year round. She is in a covered slip and I keep her winter canvas on and it works out fine for me. But that's what works for me. Leaking packing is what makes the water build up in the bilge and sometimes rain water comes in my bilge vents. I just make sure I keep the bilge as dry as possible using the wet vac.

to answer your question, I wanted to afford my boat the same protection on water as I would of land. Unfortunately I do not have the covered slip as it is not offered in our marina. I washed it, waxed it and had it covered so come spring it looks the same as I last saw it before wrapping. Just pure rear orifice-ism I guess. Maybe it is a waste of money but in my mind it is protected from snow, rain and dirt as she awaits the spring.

 

[mwph]

Dann-O,
PLEASE do not take offense to this, but your wife may not know or understand all of the variables associated with your dilemma. Keep in mind that my boat is worth less than half of what yours is and my winter temps allow me the luxury of not having to winterize anything, but I still use a bilge heater 3 months out of the year which was some where around $300. These few thoughts are off the top of my head...

Even the smallest repair cost associated with freezing lines could cost you $300 in repairs, time & headaches.
A sound sleep at night when the temps hover around 19* for 3 days in a row is worth $300.
If you accidentally forget a step in your winterization process & make an insurance claim to cover it, how will you answer the question about a bilge or block heater and proper winterization procedures?

Again, take no offense. Its just my 2 cents worth.

 

[dwna1a]

to answer your question, I wanted to afford my boat the same protection on water as I would of land. Unfortunately I do not have the covered slip as it is not offered in our marina. I washed it, waxed it and had it covered so come spring it looks the same as I last saw it before wrapping. Just pure rear orifice-ism I guess. Maybe it is a waste of money but in my mind it is protected from snow, rain and dirt as she awaits the spring.

ok that makes more since! If you type in bilge heaters and search there are some nice ones at a good price.

 

[Sous]

If he does have a leak, it would just be pumped out...

I would be investigating the leak!

Agreed, but once wrapped the chance of getting "stray" water in is pretty much eliminated. If you're leaking water from below the water line I'd suspect there are bigger issues to be concerned with! The couple gallons of AF should add some piece of mind and using -100 would likely take a whole bunch of water to dilute it to the point of it all being gone. No bilge pump will keep it totaly dry. If water does get in there, and its enough to kick on the bilge pump there will still be a pretty substantial amount of mixed water/AF left behind. In Maryland I'd say that is an acceptable level of risk IMO.

 

[Book'em Danno]

Dann-O,
PLEASE do not take offense to this, but your wife may not know or understand all of the variables associated with your dilemma. Keep in mind that my boat is worth less than half of what yours is and my winter temps allow me the luxury of not having to winterize anything, but I still use a bilge heater 3 months out of the year which was some where around $300. These few thoughts are off the top of my head...

Even the smallest repair cost associated with freezing lines could cost you $300 in repairs, time & headaches.
A sound sleep at night when the temps hover around 19* for 3 days in a row is worth $300.
If you accidentally forget a step in your winterization process & make an insurance claim to cover it, how will you answer the question about a bilge or block heater and proper winterization procedures?

Again, take no offense. Its just my 2 cents worth.

MWPH, NO offense taken as that is what I try to explain to her. She was the one to say we'll leave it in the water when I mentioned hauling it out at the new marina. Her reply was we should of stayed at the other marina since haul out was paid for and at the end of the contract move. It made sense but We both wanted out of there to the point we figured screw it and took a loss. She was present when the leave it in the water advise was given, so I was like ok as long as I can wrap it. And again, I know I winterize the Searay out of it thanks to you all to avoid the freezing issues. Now I am just need to secure peace of mind, thus the bilge heater dilemma.

 

[alnav]

I am in Maryland and have stayed on the water and shrink-wrapped over the winter for several years. One of the leading causes of winter sinking is freezing at the sea cock causing the hull fitting to come loose and make a large hole in the bottom. We lost a Hatteras to that at our place a couple of years ago and the mechanics at Prince William Marina told me that there was a rash of that happening last year during that extra-cold winter. If you lose a sea cock the bilge pumps are probably not going to be able to cope with the amount of water coming aboard. So, a bilge heater would be good insurance just from that perspective. Also, batteries don't like being frozen and I think a heater will help with battery life. With respect to preventing the sea cocks from freezing, there's usually a small drain port that needs to be opened on the body of the valve right above the hull fitting. Filling up the strainer with antifreeze is a good idea but that may or may not protect at the hull fitting. I also use Sea Flush which enables blowing water out from the strainer through the hull fitting which hopefully ensures there's no water in there.

 

[JV II]

I'm confused by the question, fear, and examples of sinkings. If the water under and around you boat is not frozen, then why would the water on the other side of your hull, inside your bilge freeze? It seems almost impossible, unless your engine compartment was open to the air. Assuming you properly winterize the inside parts of your closed seacocks, why would the seacocks crack and sink the boat?

 

[Xplicitlnck]

I havnt winterized a boat on land in the 7 years I've owned one. I've never had an issue. I've eliminated about 3 thousand in annual fees and I'm the first person or on the water every year. My winterizing takes me about half a day and I still get to enjoy her on those rare warmer winter days. I usually get out about twice a month for a good cruise. My winterizing is as followed. Empty the boat of all the accumulated summer junk, empty water tank and bypass water heater, run pink through water system. Do the same for sanitation, raw water washdown baitwell aerator , baitwell maserator and then the ac unit. Top off water on batteries. Guess what I'm done. 6 gallons of pink is my winterizing expense. I know people are going to attack on this one but I use oil filled radiator type heaters from home Depot. One in the bilge one in the cabin. (My electric is not metered) set to the lowest setting so they never turn off. Keeps my cabin and bilge at a toasty 70 all winter long. Also allows me a run away spot. Fridge runs 365 and is always full so when I need my adobe time I have it. But anyway I also have 2 cameras (free marina wifi) one in bilge one in cabin pointing at a screen giving me temp of cabin and shoe power voltage input and bilge and the other pointing to the back of the slip. If the camera goes out I know the marina lost power and is time to go fire up the genny and get her warm (hasn't happened in 6 years).no shrink wrap. I know some of my ways are a bit risky but I think I have it to the point were I'm very comfortable doing so. And the reward of having your boat all year round outweighs those risks. For me atleast. 2 heaters 100$ three wifi cameras viewable via smart phone 150$ off amazon.