when to winterize

[rosskowh]

i am living in charleston sc, my question is at what point do people winterize. my boat is in the water which is between 50-55 degrees. the low air temps are currently around 25 degrees at night which is cold for here. i have antifreeze in my fresh water cooling system, holding tank and water tanks are empty, and the sea cocks closed. at what point should i really worry????

[MorganPaul]

With water temps at 50. You have nothing to worry about.

When the water gets to about 34-36 and air temps get into the 20's fresh water in the boat will start to freeze.

I have my boat in the water now in Long Island Sound.

Paul

[WanderingStar]

Originally Posted by MorganPaul

I have my boat in the water now in Long Island Sound.

Paul

Mine too, and I've taken no more precautions than you. Well, I drained my raw water and filled it with nontoxic antifreeze. But I was aboard last week, the air inside the cabin was 26, the water was 45, my bilge water was still liquid. Just check her over when you can.

[T37Chef]

Is it possible to put a oil/electric type heater on board with a thermostat for the really cold nights? Otherwise, why risk it and just run some antifreeze through the raw water.

[roline]

Rule #1, NEVER trust shore power.
Rule #2 always winterize engine and head, drain water from tank, lines, and pump..
Rule #3 be sure that the bilge pump hose can not freeze after cycling and form an ice dam to prevent further pumping..

We almost lost a boat last winter due to rule #3, The bilge pump ran and did not pump the water out , ran the battery down, shore power, well, wasn't. Boat continued to fill up. Two of us went down and borrowed a AGM battery from another boat with a couple portable 1000 gpm bilge pumps. We contacted the owner and he showed up late in the afternoon after we pumped the water down to the floor boards...
Rule #4 Have an axillary portable bilge pump with long power cord and flex hose for emergency pumping. I like the little Rule 1000. We saved 2 boats to date from becoming submarines.
Rule #5 Have your friends phone numbers programmed in you cell phone in case you need help keeping your boat afloat.
Rule #6 Expect bibbing for years if you ever have to use Rule #5.

[MorganPaul]

Originally Posted by WanderingStar

Mine too, and I've taken no more precautions than you. Well, I drained my raw water and filled it with nontoxic antifreeze. But I was aboard last week, the air inside the cabin was 26, the water was 45, my bilge water was still liquid. Just check her over when you can.

As of Sunday morning my cabin temp was about 24. Water temp about 36.

Fresh water in bilge (from melting snow and rain) is freezing.

The good news is the temps are gonna rise over the next few days.

Global warming is good, but when the hell is it gonna kick in.

Al Gore is a dick.

Paul

[WanderingStar]

LMAO.
I was aboard today too. Cabin also 24. Some light ice in the bilge. Lit a cabin lantern, got soot on my hands. Had to thaw a handiwipe over the lantern. Remembered to secure the bilge pump. Skim ice in the bilge aft.

[scottyt]

well the inner harbor ( cheasepeak bay ) is starting to freeze but i did everything already

anti freeze in all fresh water lines, tank empty, a half gallon of anti freeze in my muffler, engine torn apart so no issue there, plus a bunch pumped thru the head.

but i need to keep an eye it anyway as we all should

[PalmettoSailor]

This winter has been a harsh one thus far so its tough to answer. Also, we in more northern latitudes will tend to color our responses towards our local areas. Probably better to ask some local sailors what they do. I would expect that some years you might not need to winterize at all in Charleston.

It has been cold down there for a while though. I was in Myrtle Beach for Christmas this year and it was brutally cold and windy.

I think what I would do would be to winterize "Optional systems" like the fresh water, AC if equipped and head when I got to the point that cold nights started to rule out overnights. Then I'd keep antifreeze on board for the bilge and raw water circuit. Only adding it when the forecast called for deep cold to arrive. It only takes a few minutes to fill the raw water circuit with antifreeze so you could rewinterize if you got a warm spell and wanted to day sail, you just wouldn't be able to use the head or fresh water.