Bilge Heater Question

[worldmac1]

Hi All,

I have winterized my boat, but am beginning to second guess myself. I live in NC, and the temps are not as cold as some of you guys experience up North. We are expecting some temps in the teens for the next few days, and since I have a brand spanking new engine in my boat, I don't want to take any chances. (see prior posts concerning that headache)anyway...I was thinking about grabbing one of those self contained radiator heaters and place in the bilge area. It heats up, but there is no heating element showing. What do you guys think about this type of heating as insurance? I don't have the funds to purchase a marine bilge heater from the likes of West Marine, or Boaters World right now.

Thank you in advance for all of your help!!

Greg

 

[crb478]

Re: Bilge Heater Question

You can put a light bulb in there until the temps come back up. Generally speaking it does not get cold enough in most parts of NC to need more than that. A light bulb will generate enough heat to keep things above freezing especially in a confined space.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Bilge Heater Question

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=280695&highlight=engine+block+heater,

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bilge Heater Question

with the weather predictions we are getting here, the heater may be a good idea.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bilge Heater Question

There are a number of electric heaters that would work in those marginal temp locations. A magnetic block heater is nothing more than a heating element with a magnetic base. It sticks on the oil pan. The oil will be heated and that will radiate heat to the block keeping it above freezing. There are also block heaters that install into one of the core plugs (freeze plugs as they are incorrectly called). These do an excellent job of keeping the block warm -- well above freezing. Neither of these heaters cost much.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Bilge Heater Question

Those oil filled radiators have an open set of contacts within the control panel and the variable controls switch would not be spark free. If you watch one turn on and off in complete dark you can often see the spark from the thermostat contacts closing. I use one to heat my office, they are reliable but I wouldn't put one near gas fumes.

The magnetic type sump heaters would be best if your concerned, other than that, a light bulb or two under the cover will work for all but the coldest days so long as the area is confined or fairly draft free. An incandescent bulb makes lots of heat.

A buddy of mine made a special rig for his boat, he ran a section of flexible insulated hose from the plenum of his garage heater into his boat. It just runs under the cover near the motor. He did it so he could work on the boat over the winter but it may work for your purposes too. I suppose even a length of rubber hose with warm air from the heater or even just inside the heated building would work. You could even get creative, something along the lines of a bilge blower and a garage exhaust hose just pumping heated air in would work to keep it from freezing.

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Bilge Heater Question

I have wondered about this myself. I live off of lake Norman and i Pulled my boat for the winter out of my slip and winterized it. It looks like the low water temps here will be in the 46 degree range in Jan / Feb. It is right around 50 deg water temp right now.

I asked my marine mechanic if i could leave it in the water year round and he said he would not. If i put a heater in he said that would be fine but i netter go check daily on really cold evenings to ensure power is still running, no one stole it, etc. He said if i want to leave it in the water i should be pulling the four drain plugs for the block and exhaust after each time I use it.

I hate not having access to use my boat on those nice mid 50's weekend days but i think maybe the hassle and worry of leaving it is not worth it. I also was told other parts can freeze and fail besides just the block if i leave it out there

There is a lot of mixed information out there about what to do with you boat in the winter in NC, i would be interested in learning more if anyone has any other info. I have a 14 year old Volvo Engine with only 130 hours on it that runs like a beast with no reliability issues and i don't want to screw that up

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Bilge Heater Question

I keep my boat in a marina on Lake Wylie just South of Charlotte.

All I do is the regular maintenance and then pull the drain plugs from the engine before putting it away for the winter.

It only takes 5 minutes to take the plugs out and drain the water from the block and power steering cooler. All the fuss about filling the block with antifreeze is a waste of time. I've never had a problem.