Winterizing Question

my dis-claimer "drain block fill with anti-freeze"
you do have a point but the experts use thier lift truck on the tongue of the trailer to raise it 6ft and then swing the jack and bring it all the way down to insure the water is out, or with compressed air we will blow the rest of the water out, if. if. if any is left in there.
its a double edged sword, if you are not quite sure that you got all the water out then by all means throw in some anti-freeze, no need to use 5 gallons because it trickles out the back into your driveway. 1.5 to 2 gallons is more than enough in an empty or 98% emptied block. most of all, use common sense on this, raise or lower the boat to get the water out or blow it with air. i do this every year and feel comfortable doing it this way and hopefully not to offend and say this is the way you have to do it because i said...they are mere suggestions to make it easier and make people more comfortable doing it at home by themselves.
Just mentioning the green anti-freeze being dumped into the lake is a valid point, maybe some read that and thought to themselves.....maybe i shouldnt do that

6strings wrote: I believe water expands in all direction when frozen, not just to any available "open" space. Any experts that can confirm or deny my thinking here?

That is correct. Ice is the molecules in the water forming a crystal lattice. They expand out equally in every direction. Better proof than that tho is when I was a kid I put an open plastic cup of water in the freezer. Although the water/ice had plenty of room to move up toward the top of the cup, the ice pushed out the sides of the cup, cracking it open.

C-Bass wrote: FYI Pete, I hope you didn't think my post was directed at you, because it wasn't. I meant that everything I did not quote was respectable...the part I quoted Rodger on was the part I was making a point on.

Craig,
Thanks for clearing that up. I actually did think your post was directed at me and It really surprised me. Once again, a good example of putting thoughts down in words and still making the point clear!!

Eric, I'm still not convinced. On my 351, I feel good that both manifolds are empty after draining, as the angle of the motor is such that the plugs are at the lowest point. However, the block plugs, the port side is at the back of the block, and with the angle of the motor in the boat, it is lower than the "casting plugs" and most of the water comes out when removed. The starboard side however, the plug is toward the front of the block and, if I remember correctly, is higher than the "casting plugs". Together, with the angle of the motor, there could be significant water left on that side after draining. I always raise and lower the jack on the trailer to get out as much water as possible. Many have said in this thread that there can always be water left in the block after draining. This is the reason, in my opinion, that anti freeze should be added. I believe water expands in all direction when frozen, not just to any available "open" space. Any experts that can confirm or deny my thinking here?

75 Tique wrote: Every spring at the ramp I find it somewhat astounding that people test their boat for the first time of the season at, on, or just off the boat ramp. I would think everyone would fire up in the driveway before heading to the lake in the spring ( at which point in time you drain/collect the antifreeze) Can't tell you how many non-starting boats I have witnessed at the ramp in the spring. Memorial Day weekend, the first time out for most of the wallies is particularly entertaining (unless they are holding me up )(usually dead battery...or soon to be dead after they crank on it a while.) Also don't get complacent about the so-called "environmentally friendly" "pink", "RV" antifreeze. It still needs to be handled responsibly and not just dumped in the lake because its ok because its pink. antifreeze guidance

It’s not just in boating; I think you find this behavior in all aspects of human behavior. A friend of mine does about 15 charity bicycle rides a year. He says that at every one there is a group of people that show up; 200 pounds overweight, with a bike they haven’t ridden in 20 years. The tires are flat on the bike; so they get them aired up. Leg over the bike and butt on the saddle; both tires blow out. Probably best they didn’t ride that day anyway.

WakeSlayer wrote: I really do not feel that the noodles will keep water in there if it gets in.

There are noodles out there that will absorb water. My kids have a bunch and a few of them can actually be wrung out after being in the water for an afternoon. I would suggest testing a sample before jamming them under the flooring.


As for AF. The pink RV type is made for water systems you bath with and drink. It is nowhere near as toxic as automotive (green) AF. Collecting prior to launch is agood practice but if not done it is less detrimental if using the pink.

Regular or swine?

8122pbrainard wrote: Rodger and Craig, You are correct that I'm no different than anyone else here. I listen and learn as well.

FYI Pete, I hope you didn't think my post was directed at you, because it wasn't. I meant that everything I did not quote was respectable...the part I quoted Rodger on was the part I was making a point on.

And you are definitely correct about the use of emotocons. While they are cheesy/corny/immature looking little symbols, they sure can go a long way in helping people interpret your words.

6strings wrote: And just for the record, every responsible boater should drain the block of antifreeze in the spring, and capture it before even considering putting the boat in the water. I'm not preaching....please don't hurt me!

Every spring at the ramp I find it somewhat astounding that people test their boat for the first time of the season at, on, or just off the boat ramp.

I would think everyone would fire up in the driveway before heading to the lake in the spring ( at which point in time you drain/collect the antifreeze)

Can't tell you how many non-starting boats I have witnessed at the ramp in the spring. Memorial Day weekend, the first time out for most of the wallies is particularly entertaining (unless they are holding me up )(usually dead battery...or soon to be dead after they crank on it a while.)

Also don't get complacent about the so-called "environmentally friendly" "pink", "RV" antifreeze. It still needs to be handled responsibly and not just dumped in the lake because its ok because its pink.

antifreeze guidance

Pete, White Lake Marina, NC is the oldest CC dealer. Not the first, but the oldest still in business. And like others mentioned, I run my boat at home and get the antifreeze out before going to the lake.

C-Bass wrote: YooperSully wrote: And hey MR. Brainard, WHO TF do you think you are calling people idiots, you've rubbed me the wrong way, Your no more special than anyone else here. so either agree or disagree with what you read, but don't belittle others. It's shows your maturity. Regards Very respectable post with some good points....until that.

Rodger,
I'm sure I did rub you the wrong way when you posted in Mikes thread on the Heatercraft group buy stating it wasn't a great deal. I stated it was rude and I did mean to come down on you hard.

Now, I have never called anyone a "idiot". I do remember quoting a statement that said a practice was "idiotic". Big difference between the two words in the context used.

Rodger and Craig,
You are correct that I'm no different than anyone else here. I listen and learn as well.


Belittling people? That is never a intent of mine and I do try to be careful with my wording. So many times is very difficult to covey one's feelings in words and it comes across wrong. That's the reason we have the emoticons. I really should use them more often!!

I have to comment on that one Hollywood.When you subject a southern object to the freezing temps of the NORTH certain objects will actually DECREASE IN SIZE.
This I know first hand, took me a week to be able to pee off the back porch after Green Lake,it is not "macho" to have to squat..........

We need a little physics lesson here from an expert. I'm thinking, just because there is plenty of room to expand, doesn't mean that freezing water won't expand in the area or space, where it is "sitting". One year, I drained my block the usual way and decided to try the 'no antifreeze' method and just left the plugs out. In the spring, I found one of the freeze plugs toward the back of the engine popped out completely....laying next to the block. This makes me think the water left in the block is capable of causing serious damage....Needless to say, I will never just drain. I'll always fill with anti freeze. And just for the record, every responsible boater should drain the block of antifreeze in the spring, and capture it before even considering putting the boat in the water. I'm not preaching....please don't hurt me!

YooperSully wrote: The point Im making is, if your block is freezing any water in it is froze there is no way it's going to find a way out on its own unless it cracks your block and drains in the spring.

Hey MR. Yooper, any water left in a drained block will have plenty of room to expand during freezing and not crack the block.

I sure hope you are collecting your green AF. I collect mine, and it is the non-toxic pink RV stuff. You can agree to disagree opinions, not FACKS.

I've been told 1 gallon of green stuff pollutes 750,000 gallons of water. They say the pink stuff is not toxic, but it kills my grass every spring when I fire the boat up on the trailer. Once the boat has been drained and filled with anti freeze, you can then drain the anti freeze and rest assured it ain't going to freeze.