How late in the season before I must winterize the diesel inboard?

jameswilson29 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011

I keep my boat on the lower Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay. I plan to haul the boat out as late as possible while there are still occasional sailing days before the new year.

1. How late in the season can I use the boat without being concerned about the fresh-water-cooled inboard diesel engine being damaged by freezing temperatures?

2. Should I consider some kind of engine heater to prevent damage to the engine?

3. Will the diesel start and run o.k. in colder weather?

olson34 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jameswilson29

I keep my boat on the lower Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay. I plan to haul the boat out as late as possible while there are still occasional sailing days before the new year.

1. How late in the season can I use the boat without being concerned about the fresh-water-cooled inboard diesel engine being damaged by freezing temperatures?

2. Should I consider some kind of engine heater to prevent damage to the engine?

3. Will the diesel start and run o.k. in colder weather?

Your season and weather pattern will be your guide... Remember that the water temp. can keep the bilge above freezing IF the water outside is liquid and... the air inside is at or above 32.
Problem is that a 20 degree wind outside can strip heat off the boat pretty darned fast -- not to mention freezing the water your boat floats in.

AC heaters are generally a bad idea. It's not that they don't work; they do. But... just when weather conditions are at their freezing and stormy worst is the exact time that power will be out for days. And also those are often the times that it's most difficult for you to visit your vessel. Relying on AC to keep the plumbing and raw water side of the engine from freezing and breaking is unwise.
Far better to have all systems drained or winterized and then leave vents all open so that any moist air will ventilate out.

Starting in cold weather? Sure, if you have a glow-plugged engine like our Universal. I have started and run it in 20 deg. weather. I did have to glow plug it over 40 seconds, tho.
I am sure that the Yanmar and Volvo owners have starting advice for their engines, too.

Best,
L

kd3pc · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011

James

we have always left our boats in the water and have not "winterized" the engines in the past 6 years. We are off Mill Creek not too far from Kinsale.

We lived aboard the last two winters, part time...and even though it was well below freezing out side, our inside temp seldom got below 45. This was true for a 38' Sabre, as well as our Hunter 42. Perhaps a smaller boat, with less windows and sun light coming in would actually get below freezing.

I did blow out my water, hot and cold lines, as I have had them push the grey RV connectors off when they freeze - but they run along the hull and up quite high to reach the shower heads.

Properly timed engine with good battery, should start right up and run just fine...

We too, chased the last days of sailing as well as pushing the season in Jan/Feb when the temps were grand.

Best of luck

HUGOSALT · #4 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011

In cold weather I start motor(Yanmar 3gm)with rpm's at about 1/2 way...then reduce when she starts. I believe this is common
practice with the winter users.

chef2sail · #5 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011

We dont winterize the engine till around Christmas, but she stays in the water with a buubbler. Easy to unwinterize and go for a sail if a nnice warm day occurs and rewinterize.

Water system done about Dec 1.

Dave

SVAuspicious · #6 (**permalink**) 11-16-2011

In Annapolis I don't winterize anything except the stern shower. The water heater and diesel heater keep everything well above freezing.

In Occoquan I didn't winterize anything. I ran a small electric heater and when the power went out I would run an engine every morning.

Note that bubblers aren't to protect the boat - they protect the docks and pilings from ice-jacking.

LakeSuperiorGeezer · #7 (**permalink**) 11-17-2011

It is expensive if an engine block and/or head cracks. An unusual cold snap could do it if there was wind that could bring cold air into the engine compartment? When you winterize the water system, consider doing the engine at the same time.

simpsoned · #8 (**permalink**) 11-19-2011

I'm up on Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho...boat stays in the water year round...I usually winterize about Thanksgiving because our club's next event isn't till mid February...run the engine till it heats up, then pull the fresh water feed and stick the end into a gallon of RV type antifreeze...when you see pink, you're done. If you want to go sailing after the engine is winterized, no sweat...it's only about $5.00 a jug and on my old Penta MD-7 it takes about 10 minutes to re-winterize...

emoney · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2011

Just curious, as it's not applicable to me, but what about these "diesel engine block heaters"? I've never had one, so I have no idea what they do or how they operate.

LakeSuperiorGeezer · #10 (**permalink**) 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by emoney

Just curious, as it's not applicable to me, but what about these "diesel engine block heaters"? I've never had one, so I have no idea what they do or how they operate.

That's for starting a diesel when the weather is really cold. It can be zero Fahrenheit degrees and my diesel truck will start without any glow plug preheating. It would keep an engine from freezing if the shore power did not fail. A Perkins or Yanmar block heater would be about 400 watts and cost $60 plus installation. The block heater I saw online might not be available for all sailboat engine models.