Bilge Heater

[texasvet54]

A few months ago, I posted about a bilge heater for my houseboat. I received some great advice and I've been watching the temperature in my bilge. Here in Waco, Texas, on some nights it's been dipping down in the low 20's and during the day, it's been anwhere from 35 to 62 degrees. The lowest that I've seen the water temp drop to is 42 degrees and that's about the lowest that my bilge has been since I've got an aluminum hull and it seems to conduct the temp of the water.

Where I'm going with this is I've still got a concern that if I the temp gets into the teens, I may be looking at needing a heater. I've looked at several of Xtreme Heaters like this one:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|406|1066337|732131&id=708323

I've also found a little magnetic 200W like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-1153-Handi-Heat-Magnetic-Heater/dp/B000BOABS6/ref=pd_sim_dbs_sg_3

Since my heating needs are minimum, would it be helpful to buy a couple of the 200W magnetic heaters and put one on the block and one on the intake manifold.

Remember, I'm new to houseboating.

Thanks,
TexasVet

the ones ranging from 350W on up to to

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bilge Heater

Ayuh,... Drain the motor's cooling system, 'n it won't be an Issue, at All...

 

[Red_BOFUS]

Re: Bilge Heater

I am set for the sea run on my boat in a few days and plan to move her to her slip. I was thinking of just dropping a ceramic heater into the bilge for the next few months to keep her safe.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Bilge Heater

Ayuh,... Drain the motor's cooling system, 'n it won't be an Issue, at All...

I should have mentioned. I don't have a closed cooling system. Lake water goes in and out.

TexasVet

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Bilge Heater

I am set for the sea run on my boat in a few days and plan to move her to her slip. I was thinking of just dropping a ceramic heater into the bilge for the next few months to keep her safe.

Any heater you put in your bilge needs to be ignition protected. The ceramic heaters are not iginition safe. You could blow up your boat. Use a bilge heater that is made for the job.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Bilge Heater

Red,

I've got an oil filled heater that I've thought of using, but since I'm new to this houseboating thing. I wasn't too sure how safe it was to put it in a bilge that invariably is going to have some fumes present.

TexasVet

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Bilge Heater

Red,

I've got an oil filled heater that I've thought of using, but since I'm new to this houseboating thing. I wasn't too sure how safe it was to put it in a bilge that invariably is going to have some fumes present.

TexasVet

Tex,

Even though the oil filled heater has covered coils, the thermostat controlling the unit may still spark when turning the unit on and off.

 

[Red_BOFUS]

Re: Bilge Heater

Yeah hadn?t thought over the intrinsically safe angle of the heater issue. Just irks me to spend for a heater and only use it for a few months before spring and it is not needed.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Bilge Heater

Yeah hadn?t thought over the intrinsically safe angle of the heater issue. Just irks me to spend for a heater and only use it for a few months before spring and it is not needed.

Yeah, I know. I am with you. Those marine bilge heaters are expensive. You might want to consider what Bond-O suggested and drain the block. I did this with a 1998 Bayliner w/V6 I had. Worked fine for the short period of time I had to do it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bilge Heater

I should have mentioned. I don't have a closed cooling system. Lake water goes in and out.

TexasVet

Ayuh,... All the more reason to Drain it...
It ain't all that hard to do, after you figure it out the 1st time...

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Bilge Heater

I have no idea of how to drain it. Where would I start? Since the block hoses are ported out to the lake water, I can't take those off without letting lake water into the bilge. Is my thinking wrong on this?

TexasVet

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Bilge Heater

A few months ago, I posted about a bilge heater for my houseboat. I received some great advice and I've been watching the temperature in my bilge. Here in Waco, Texas, on some nights it's been dipping down in the low 20's and during the day, it's been anwhere from 35 to 62 degrees. The lowest that I've seen the water temp drop to is 42 degrees and that's about the lowest that my bilge has been since I've got an aluminum hull and it seems to conduct the temp of the water.

Where I'm going with this is I've still got a concern that if I the temp gets into the teens, I may be looking at needing a heater. I've looked at several of Xtreme Heaters like this one:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|406|1066337|732131&id=708323

I've also found a little magnetic 200W like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-1153-Handi-Heat-Magnetic-Heater/dp/B000BOABS6/ref=pd_sim_dbs_sg_3

Since my heating needs are minimum, would it be helpful to buy a couple of the 200W magnetic heaters and put one on the block and one on the intake manifold.

Remember, I'm new to houseboating.

Thanks,
TexasVet

the ones ranging from 350W on up to to

At that water temp..I doubt you will have a problem at all..

Never seen a block freeze from 1 or 2 nights of below freezing temps when the water temp is that high..

If You get Extream temps for a few days..get a 75w bulb and hang it in your bilge ( perminant on ) untill the spell goes away.

YD.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bilge Heater

I have no idea of how to drain it. Where would I start? Since the block hoses are ported out to the lake water, I can't take those off without letting lake water into the bilge. Is my thinking wrong on this?

TexasVet

Ayuh,... Donno what you've Got....

The Block can be drained at the block drains...
Ditto the exhaust manifolds...
Those are the 2 BIG ticket items,...

But, If We knew your driveline, I'd sure it can be Freeze Proofed, without sinkin' the boat...

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Bilge Heater

At that water temp..I doubt you will have a problem at all..

Never seen a block freeze from 1 or 2 nights of below freezing temps when the water temp is that high..

If You get Extream temps for a few days..get a 75w bulb and hang it in your bilge ( perminant on ) untill the spell goes away.

YD.

to TXvet54--the water is not gonna get any cooler. your motors are below the waterline-if you are worried put a 75watt drop lite in the bilge.
also I bet you have a hotwater heater down there too. leave it on.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Bilge Heater

Thanks for the replies everyone.

And 26aftcab454, I do have a small hot water heater, looks like less than 10 gals, in the front 1/3 of the boat. I've been leaving all of my water faucets open and since the bilge temp hasn't been getting below 42, I'm hoping for the best. Remember, I bought the houseboat in Sept, so this is all new to me. I just hope that my first winter isn't too costly because of a dumb mistake.

TexasVet

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Bilge Heater

aside from the recent cold snap we just had- and will have more-I think you'll be ok. now if it is going to stay below freezeing 48hrs you may want to take action. they sell the tough duty 75W bulbs next to the drop lights