how long can I put off winterizing? |
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bilau
Groupie Joined: May-31-2008 Location: Madison, WI Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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Posted: August-26-2008 at 12:56pm |
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Hey all-
I live in Madison, WI and have a question about when to winterize. I'd like to keep my 88 SN 2001 on the water until almost the end of september if possible. The potential problem is that, although the average low temps in late september stay about 12 degrees above freezing, there's a definite possibiltiy of getting a cold front in, and it dipping below (record lows are in the low 20's -- and we've been setting weather records like it's going out of style lately). How much of a problem is it if the boat is subjected to sub freezing temps? Is there anything I can do to keep it safe but still leave it on the water? |
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Hollywood
Moderator Group Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13511 |
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I don't worry about draining for overnight lows until November! If it goes under 25 and doesn't come back above freezing during the day I'd drain.
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Paul, It all depends on how long the boat is going to be subjected to the below freezing temps. If the daytime temps are going to be in the high 40's and over night it's dropping into the high 20's then most likety you'll be fine but there isn't any set "rule of thumb". People do use a 60 or 75 watt light bulb going under the dog house or even the heaters designed to keep the engine warm. I do know this does work even when the ice is forming around the edges of the lake.
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BuffaloBFN
Grand Poobah Joined: June-24-2007 Location: Gainesville,GA Status: Offline Points: 6094 |
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Eric's 'common sense required' statement comes to mind.
-the bulb can be a fire hazard -it doesn't take much time to do a 'short' drain -and the costs of not putting a note on the fridge are huge I'm in georgia and on my second cracked block...though not of my making. |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Paul, Greg reminded me and I did want to mention that although common, the light bulb isn't the safest.
Here's the best way but costs more!! engine compartment heater With one of these, you can turn the boat into a ice breaker! |
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bilau
Groupie Joined: May-31-2008 Location: Madison, WI Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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What about if I leave it as is as long as the low temps at night look like they'll stay above freezing, then do a "short drain" if it looks like we're going to get a serious cold snap? Sound reasonable?
If so, then I have a follow-up question. What the hell is a "short drain". I'm an absolute newbie to this stuff, so I'm learning all of this for the first time. |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Paul, If the temp doesn't drop below freezing then you have nothing to worry about.
A short drain is just opening up all the drain plugs (typically 5) and pulling the hose off the bottom of the oil cooler. No antifreez. |
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GottaSki
Grand Poobah Joined: April-21-2005 Location: NE CT Status: Offline Points: 3333 |
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depends - If the boat is in the water, then it has a heat source - the water.
If its on a trailer or lift then I concur -drain it. |
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"There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing."
River Rat to Mole |
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bill1
Senior Member Joined: May-27-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 151 |
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my short drain consists of removing one, yes 1, 9/16 headed plug from the side of the block and letting out about a gallon of h2o. as a matter of fact, that's all i drain during the winter. although, i do crank up on pretty days and run awhile and short drain again until the next month. doesn't water expand when it freezes? so therefore, as long as the block and hoses are not completely full of water so there is nowhere for the water (ice) to expand to, isn't it safe to just short drain?
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bill
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Paul, Here's a older thread on the same subject. I did post in it a alternate to the high priced compartment heater.
unwinterized Bill, Remind me of what engine you have. A 4 cylinder? The manifold(s) will cool down before the block. I do see in the previous thread that you are one of the light bulb guys. |
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behindpropeller
Platinum Member Joined: July-31-2006 Status: Offline Points: 1810 |
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If its going to get to 20 at night just drop the boat down into the water while it is still sitting on the lift. All you need is about 1/2 of the bottom of the boat sitting in the water.
Typically the water needs to stay frozen through the day before you will have problems. Tim |
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bill1
Senior Member Joined: May-27-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 151 |
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come on pete, you know i don't have a 4 cyl. yep, i am a light bulb guy during the nights it does freeze here.
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bill
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The Dude
Platinum Member Joined: October-19-2004 Location: Houston Status: Offline Points: 1334 |
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Where's jbear on this thread? He's all about winterizing.
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Mullet Free since 93
95 Sport |
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Hollywood
Moderator Group Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13511 |
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He's probably busy winterizing, duh.
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Tellarico
Senior Member Joined: June-17-2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 118 |
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Sorry to hear about winterizing. Down here in Louisiana we just miss a couple of cold rainy days, otherwise it is all year round.
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jbear
Grand Poobah Joined: January-21-2005 Location: Lake Wales FL. Status: Offline Points: 8193 |
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I am not sure about this "winterizing" thing. Seems that I remember a sad messy affair every fall that included anti-freeze and fogging spray that went on in my driveway usually on a cold wet saturday. But my brain has pushed out those unpleasant memories. Now winterizing means taking my heater shirt along when me and Eddie foot during December and January.
After all them boats are "winterized" we will still have ours avaible if any of you guys need to ski. john |
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"Loud pipes save lives"
AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Bill, Well now I'm really confused! Why are you draining only one side of the block? You are talking about your 81 correct and not another boat? |
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Thephantomkaw
Senior Member Joined: April-05-2007 Location: Chattanooga, TN Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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My vote is Short Drain... I wouldnt want the water sitting in my engine all winter...
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~Michael~
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Michael, We aren't talking about all winter - just extending the season into the fall (in cold climates of coarse!!!) A "short drain" isn't recommended for full winterizing ether. |
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Thephantomkaw
Senior Member Joined: April-05-2007 Location: Chattanooga, TN Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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Oops, all I read was Winterizing, thinking all winter... Guess I need to take my Adderall early this morning so i can pay attention!
Is this because of internal rust? |
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~Michael~
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Brady
Senior Member Joined: June-28-2008 Location: Lake Elmo, Mn. Status: Offline Points: 226 |
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bilau'
My barracuda is never put away until the second week of October, at the earliest, and for the last several years it's been the 3erd week. It hangs on chain falls above the water in a boathouse in northern Wisconsin. I don't think you will have any problems keeping it in through September. |
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Charlie
Three Lakes, Wisconsin 69 Barracuda |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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I really don't feel that the practice of adding antifreeze was for internal rust but rather a safety factor for freeze protection. For years, engines were simply drained and some people still do it. It wasn't untill the late 70's that I even heard of the practice. The marinas started doing it when systems got a little more complicated and their mechanics forgot something ending up with something busted open in the spring. Cast iron is really pretty stable as far as rusting. It takes lots of years to rust it through. Plus, now the marinas can now charge you 20 bucks a gal. for the antifreeze and a extra couple hours of shop time!!!! I've heard some will get $280.00 for a winterizing. Then another $100.00 for "summerizing" What the H*** is summerizing??? Connect the battery and turn the key??? |
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Thephantomkaw
Senior Member Joined: April-05-2007 Location: Chattanooga, TN Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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I think summerizing is when they drain out the antifreeze, instead of just cranking the motor and flushing it out in the lake/river.
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~Michael~
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eric lavine
Grand Poobah Joined: August-13-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13413 |
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Pete, sometimes I'll do 10 in a day, and feel guilty the next day.....for a minute
the good ones are the outboards, 90 bucks to winterize, touch the cover, bless it and collect the 90 lol |
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"the things you own will start to own you"
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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The only marinas that do this are the ones who want to save it for the next season and then sell it again (at the inflated price). It's common practice to use the non-toxic RV antifreeze. |
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jbear
Grand Poobah Joined: January-21-2005 Location: Lake Wales FL. Status: Offline Points: 8193 |
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eric I do like your style.
john |
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"Loud pipes save lives"
AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
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