Boats For Sale:
freezing temps |
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mckin007 
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Joined: March-20-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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 Topic: freezing tempsPosted: December-18-2006 at 5:32pm |
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Okay I have a nautique that is docked on the river. The temps are going to drop to around 26 degrees at night for the next couple of days. I've been given the light bulb advice, but should I go run the engine?
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nautique girl
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Tim D
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Joined: August-23-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2641 |
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Posted: December-18-2006 at 5:38pm |
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It needs to get to about 18 degrees and stay there for about 12 hours to really mess something up.
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Tim D
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PLBC
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Joined: January-25-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 568 |
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Posted: December-18-2006 at 6:05pm |
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What temp is the water it is in? Should be fine.
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: December-19-2006 at 6:29am |
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When you see ice forming in the morning on a calm edge of the river bank, then I would start to think about calling it quits for the season and pulling the boat. Pete
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DeepCreekNauti
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Joined: October-21-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 156 |
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Posted: December-20-2006 at 7:57pm |
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What is the light bulb advice?
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quinner
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Joined: October-12-2005 Location: Unknown Status: Offline Points: 5828 |
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Posted: December-20-2006 at 8:12pm |
Placing a light bulb, turned on or lit up, as many of us have been, in the doghouse. Probably not nearly as effective as winterizing? |
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92cc
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Joined: December-11-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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Posted: December-20-2006 at 8:40pm |
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I surely would not trust my -baby- to a lightbulb as opposed to winterizing,unless you are in a temperate climate,besides,this gives you a chance to look the boat over and fix any problems before the season starts again.
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: December-21-2006 at 6:12am |
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92, The light bulb trick is used for overnight "insurance" when the temps are going to drop below freezing. You are correct that it will not work as as substitute for winterizing especially in the garage in Eagle River November through May.
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Rick
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Joined: March-03-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 338 |
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Posted: December-22-2006 at 11:31am |
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I like the dipstick heater for the short term It is more reliable and less fragile than a light bulb.
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: December-22-2006 at 7:26pm |
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Rick, Dipstick heaters are a bad solution for keeping a block warm because they can damage or "burn" the oil. Because the surface area of a dipstick heater is so small and the wattage {BTU's} needs to be high to heat a engine, the dipstick surface temp is so high that it degrades the oil. I do not recomend their use. For the short term, a trouble light with a light bulb is the better choice.
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The Dude
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Joined: October-19-2004 Location: Houston Status: Offline Points: 1335 |
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Posted: December-25-2006 at 1:30am |
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I hate cold weather.
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Guests
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Posted: December-27-2006 at 9:54pm |
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just time to break out the sleds!
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JMurph
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Joined: January-06-2006 Location: Maryland/NC Status: Offline Points: 738 |
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Posted: January-03-2007 at 10:55pm |
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My boat is winterized. We were at the lake the week of Christmas and the temps were in the high 50's and 60's. I wish I had used the "lightbulb" method. That being said, we only make it to the lake ever so often, so that lightbulb would have to have a garantee not to burn out.
Any risk of fire with the lightbulb? |
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: January-04-2007 at 5:19am |
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If you are serious about extending your boating season, heaters are made for electrical component enclosures that are outside exposed to the cold. McMaster Carr has several types including fan forced, with or without thermostats, 100 to 800 watts and in $75 to $200 price range. The risk of fire with a light bulb would be if there was gas vapor in the bilge and the light bulb broke.
Rick, Regarding the dipstick heater again, keep in mind these guys are trying to keep the water in the engine from freezing and not trying to keep the oil warm. |
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92cc
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Joined: December-11-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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Posted: January-06-2007 at 6:07pm |
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wouldn't there still be a risk of fire with an external heater and gas fumes?I wonder if a lower hose heater installed in engine circulating lower hose would work,they operate like a block heater but install in the lower hose to water pump instead for easier install,then just plug on when needed,and no worries about fire.be sure not to use if water was drained,will ruin heater.
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: January-07-2007 at 7:52pm |
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It takes the high heat of a spark to ignite gas fumes so I would feel allot safer with a enclosure heater than a light bulb.
The block heater is a excelent idea too but instead of the tank type in the hose, the freeze plug type is direct. With all the different plumbing all our marine engines use the freeze plug would be the safest. |
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searider
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Joined: June-28-2006 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 92 |
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Posted: January-09-2007 at 12:07am |
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I used a Frost King roof heating cable when the temperature here in South Carolina dropped a few weeks ago. I paid $3 for these things on sale several years ago at Walmart. They are not a big seller in the South.
I wrapped the 40 foot cable around and over the engine and laid it in the bilge. It looks like a gray extension cord and puts out 7 watts per foot. This cable is rated at 280 watts and gave me a temperature difference of 36 degrees. 
When the temperature outside was a brisk 22 degrees, this heat cable warmed the engine under the dog box up to 58 degrees. It's safer and more durable than a light bulb and puts out much more heat. Proof shots of the thermometer. Outside 22 F 
Under the Dog Box 58 F 
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: January-09-2007 at 9:27am |
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Searider, Wow, someone really goofed up the Walmart inventory putting the roof heating tape in South Carolina!! Not a bad idea for the short term. Allot better than the light bulb.
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DeepCreekNauti wrote: