Winter Ice in Maryland

[Trekka]

I haven't used the ONP software yet on my boat, except at the dock. I have it installed on an older Panasonic Toughbook that I keep at my nav station down below, next to the companionway.

I got the mid atlantic region e-charts, ONP software, and also a separate database box called "contours" that models the depths and surrounding terrain in 3D. By riffling through all the boxes of sofware at the clearance sales I picked both these up (separate stores) for a combined cost of about $90. They were older boxes, 2003 I think. But upon registering online they updated to the latest versions and databases automatically.

The software uses raster charts so I d/l a bunch from NOAA for other regions, and the software works with them just fine (BSB format). Although not vector charts, they do have some features not found in simple graphics. For instance chart notes can be accessed by putting a cursor over a hot spot and the relevant note will pop up in a window. I can also add my own markers and notes.

I am pleased with the package. But I do not see it possible to use in the cockpit in daylight. Not a problem for me.

GPS interface has been tested and works fine. Now I need to look into updating my depth sounder, so I can interface it and do my own soundings on the upper Potomac & creeks. If I had a NMEA capable a/p it would interface with that, too. (I don't, and my old a/p is working just fine so that is not on my list to replace.)

[hphoen]

When we lived on the Chesapeake, a friend of mine did an interesting thing to keep ice away from his hull. He bought some of those small floats used to hold up the top of gill nets, maybe three inches long, and strung them together. He laid the string of floats out to completely surround the hull, nice and snug at the waterline. They floats were black and absorbed enough heat from the sun to keep the ice melted.

I didn't have anything for ice, and the worst it did was scrape some of the bottom paint off, right at the waterline. Of course, if it had been the dreaded "Winter of '77" when the Bay froze all the way across, it could have been worse.

[Andy125]

Get bubblers...the creeks can get icy and it's way cheaper than dealing with an iced-in boat and the possible damage.

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

Living aboard here at Hartge Yacht Yard in Galesville, MD. about 17 miles south of Annapolis. The yard rents "ice eaters" to anyone who wants one and installs them. I personally have my own ($25.00 used) and I have installed it between pilings in front of my boat. It's not a good idea to hang it from the boat if your slip is shallow because with the extremely low tides we sometimes get in the winter it will sit on the bottom and jam up in the mud if it kicks on.

This year we only had skim ice twice in Lerch Creek. And it didn't really get near the boats. I've been here off and on for ten years and only once have I seen ice thick enough for anyone to ice skate on. That's when we really needed the ice eaters. A couple of times I turned on my engine and put it in gear to blow the ice out from behind my boat. If you're not a liveaboard, your engine is probably winterized and starting it would be bad.


Winter is almost over!!! I was actually varnishing outside today and yesterday. (Well, under shrink wrap anyway.)

[KindOfBlue]

Any information on how to install an ice eater would be helpful. I will be staying at a marina and according their staff "It Doesn't Freeze" however my insurance company requires that I install one.

I have never seen one other than in a marine catalog, so any information will be useful.

[sailingdog]

Basically, most of the ice eaters are just fans that circulate the warmer, denser water from down below up to the surface and prevent the surface from getting cold enough to freeze. The shallower the marina slip, the more difficult this is to do, since the warmer water generally requires some depth. It is basically a big prop in a housing that circulates water.

With a 40' boat, you'd probably want two of them as a guess...

BTW, I haven't used them in a while or set them up in about 10 years... so YMMV.