Advice needed for Winter use and not winterizing.

[wminnich]

Any advice on how to keep my boat (2008 22Ve) operational all winter?

I live near Charlotte, NC. Its pretty mild, but it is capable of "hard freezes"


I keep my boat in a wet slip on a lift. I plan on using an approved boat engine heater. However, I'm concerned if we have a power outage, the boat may get damaged by having something freeze.

Is there anything I can drain to avoid water freezing? Should I keep my boat lowered into the water, during the winter storms?

Thanks for your comments!

[chpthril]

Takes me 10 minutes to drain the engine. I bet your's is very similar if not identical.

Tools:
fingers - petcocks on the manifolds
flat-blade screwdriver - hose clamp on raw water hose at trans cooler
adjustable wrench - knock sensor is drain plug for starboard side
9/16 wrench - drain plug on port side of engine.

Let me know if I can help.

[talltigeguy]

With the cover on, you would be surprised how long the engine block will stay warm. Unless you get more than 24 hours with the power out, I would be surprised if you could freeze your block.

I would still learn to drain the engine, since it only takes a few minutes and will give you a huge piece of mind. If you have a heater, that will be very vulnerable, so learn to drain it too.

I assume you have the MP 340?

[zad0030]

If the power goes out you could run it and heat up the engine and leave the cover closed like tall said.

[Jason B]

There are also alarm systems available that will alert your cell phone if anything happens to the boat. I hear they're expensive, never priced them personally, but it's another option if you have the money.

[wannabewakeboarder]

I would def. say drain the block, It dosen't take that long and if it freezes and cracks, no fun at all.

Do a simple winterization, We can do a simple winterization on our boat in about 20mins but to fully winterize for the 4-5 month off season it takes a bit longer.

[Domsz06]

do you live where your boat is stored? I keep a weather station in my engine bay and can see the temp anytime I want. I keep a 100 w bulb in the bottom of my engine compartment that Turns on at 11pm and off at 7am. the temp last year never dropped below 45 degrees in the compartment even when it was 18 outside.

[Jason B]

do you live where your boat is stored? I keep a weather station in my engine bay and can see the temp anytime I want. I keep a 100 w bulb in the bottom of my engine compartment that Turns on at 11pm and off at 7am. the temp last year never dropped below 45 degrees in the compartment even when it was 18 outside.

With my luck I'd hear a giant explosion and see a fireball at 11pm

That's pretty creative though with the weather station.

[Domsz06]

I like it and it works slick. I have two weather stations one for the outside and the other for the boat. IT works great. and the 100w bulb isn't that cost inefficient

[wminnich]

Thanks for the ideas.

I have already ordered the heater for my boat. I've heard of using the light bulb method before. While it may be a very low chance of causing a fire, I keep my boat in a marina. I can just imagine my boat bursting in flames and burning everyone elses boat and yachts up in flames. There's got to be 2 or 3 million worth of boats in my bay. I don't want to be sued into oblivion.

So I choose to pony out the cash for the heater. However, I'll follow up with my boat dealer and Mike about the drain plugs.

I don't plan shutting down for any extended period of time. Hopefully I'll be able to go out once a week...even when it gets cold...40 degrees!

I know you guys up north must laugh at the weather down here in Charlotte. Its pretty funny to me as well. Most of the people I wakeboard with are dropping out already.

[chpthril]

Not me anytime you need a driver, give me a shout.

[anhaney]

This is one advantage to the sealed cooling system. My water in my block better never freeze if it does that is what I get for not putting coolant back in the system.

[wminnich]

Went over the check list with my Tige Dealer.

Donny went over all the plugs I'll need to drain on the engine. I'm also going to install some in-line valves for my heater-core. So I can drain them without having to disconnect the hoses from the engine.

I think I'm good to go.