Cold Weather Worries

[mdk681]

So, Friday and Saturday nights seem as if they will be dropping into the mid to high 20's in my neck of the woods this weekend . Seeing as my boat is still sitting on the lift (used it tonight), do any of you think I have anything to worry about with these cold nights coming up?

The company removing my boat from the lake and storing it is pretty booked up for another week so it looks like she will be sitting there until further notice. Any precautionary measures I should/could take to avoid any damage due to the freeze? Will these 2 cold nights be enough to do anything significant?

Any help/input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[DRJones]

if you can reach your lift with out danger of touching the water, i put a battery blanket on each side of the block and leaved it plugged in on a timer starting late afternoon and shutting off mid morning. Energy cost is much cheaper than the alternative of an overnight freeze.

[bryce2320]

So, Friday and Saturday nights seem as if they will be dropping into the mid to high 20's in my neck of the woods this weekend . Seeing as my boat is still sitting on the lift (used it tonight), do any of you think I have anything to worry about with these cold nights coming up?

The company removing my boat from the lake and storing it is pretty booked up for another week so it looks like she will be sitting there until further notice. Any precautionary measures I should/could take to avoid any damage due to the freeze? Will these 2 cold nights be enough to do anything significant?

Any help/input would be appreciated. Thanks!

My thought would be a freeze is a freeze. Can you cover it with a heater in the front and back with thermostats on it to keep it to a decent temp, especially if you have a shower or heater. Just a thought, Im sure other will chime in

[mdk681]

My thought would be a freeze is a freeze. Can you cover it with a heater in the front and back with thermostats on it to keep it to a decent temp, especially if you have a shower or heater. Just a thought, Im sure other will chime in

No heater, no shower.

I was thinking about putting some sort of mild heater in the engine compartment, very similar to what DRJones suggested. I do have an electrical outlet right next to my lift so anything of that sort wouldn't be an issue!

[Booms]

You might be able to put a 100 to 150 watt incandescent light bulb in the engine compartment and that should generate enough heat to keep it from freezing.
But a couple hours of 20 degree weather should not freeze the water in the block. Going back 16 years to my heat transfer classes you have a lot of mass to cool before that water freezes.

[chpthril]

Lower it into the water and it will stay the same temp as the water.

[GUY_RPM]

X2 on the incandescent light

[labrat]

X2 on putting in water

if you have trailer pull out on trailer and pull freeze plugs and put in garage which will stay above freezing. Also use the incadescent bulb idea.

[Nobody]

Mid 20's?

It still in the lower 90's here.

The Water temp was 84 Saturday.

[Ruger761]

Light bulbs work very well. Have one under my shop sink and never had any issues.

[mdk681]

You might be able to put a 100 to 150 watt incandescent light bulb in the engine compartment and that should generate enough heat to keep it from freezing.
But a couple hours of 20 degree weather should not freeze the water in the block. Going back 16 years to my heat transfer classes you have a lot of mass to cool before that water freezes.

That's what my my old man suggested, I will probably end up doing this.

Lower it into the water and it will stay the same temp as the water.

Good call, I will probably go with the light bulb and lower it into the water as well. It's only a couple days so the zebra mussels shouldn't take it over that quickly

Mid 20's?

It still in the lower 90's here.

The Water temp was 84 Saturday.

Yes, thanks for the shot to the gut right there! Worst time of the year is right now, putting the toys away from the chilling winter months

[duffymahoney]

Put it back in the water That's been my plan, hopefully winterizing and finally detailing the boat on tuesday.

[Ewok]

Lower it into the water and it will stay the same temp as the water.

X2 on putting in water

if you have trailer pull out on trailer and pull freeze plugs and put in garage which will stay above freezing. Also use the incadescent bulb idea.

Put it back in the water That's been my plan, hopefully winterizing and finally detailing the boat on tuesday.

The warm water temp will keep the hull and engine bits warm and it will keep the block from freezing. You only need to drop it into the water at night when the temps drop and you can lift it in the day time to keep the muscles at bay.

[MN Tige-man]

Has anyone tried those magnetic heaters? Like this:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/magnetic-heater-0191958

[talltigeguy]

100 watts isn't even necessary. a 60 watt bulb in a closed space is plenty of heat for those temperatures.

I only mention it because my portable engine light is not rated for 100 watts, only 60.