Did something freeze and potentially break?

[Natesms]

My buddy called this morning to ask if he caused any damage by not winterizing his boat this week.

Boat - 1987 Formula, twin 350 mercs.

Scenario - Up on a lift, everything out of the 57 degree water. Yesterday it got down to 27 and got up to 38, that should be fine. Last night though it dipped down to 21. It will have been down below freezing for about 14 hours and below 25 for 6. Do you think anything froze in that time?

I feel like the blocks should be fine but I don't know about the power steering coolers, or are there other sensitive parts he should check right away?

 

[scipper77]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Closed cooling or raw water??

If a raw water system there is a good chance for disaster.

If only the power steering cooler froze I would consider this a lucky break and lesson learned the easy way.

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Closed cooling or raw water??

Raw Water.

I'm optimistic normally, but I'm worried.

He dropped $2,500 on maintenance at the end of the summer to have everything gone through (belts, impellers, drives serviced, etc...) too. Dumb dumb dumb.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Depends if this would be considered a "hard freeze" or not, I'm no expert but if he's unable to winterize soon, he should consider dropping the boat down in the water to utilize the warmer water temps. I've seen this save a I/O before when winterizing couldn't be accomplished before the hard freeze. Hope for the best I guess, let us know the result.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Maybe he should consider a heat lamp/light/heater for his boat?....might save him a lot of $$$$$.....

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Maybe he should consider a heat lamp/light/heater for his boat?....might save him a lot of $$$$$.....

I told him to get down there this weekend and winterize or pay the marina to do it. No reason for it not to be...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

I told him to get down there this weekend and winterize or pay the marina to do it. No reason for it not to be...

It will have been down below freezing for about 14 hours and below 25 for 6. Do you think anything froze in that time?

Ayuh,.... Tell 'im to drop it into the water, 'n light 'er off,...
That'll tell 'im how much damage has been done,....

Years ago, 1 of my mentors said it takes 6 hours are 28? to cause Problems,....

I can't say for sure whether he was Right, or not,...
I've never tested his statement, 'cause I Drain everything, Long before 28? is seen,....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

No sure way to tell about freezing, based on the temps and time below freezing. The 21 degree figure is troubling. . . Best to check and winterize right away. Just draining things down (block, exhaust manifolds, hoses, etc) should do it.

Looks like the weather in your area will be a bit warmer through the weekend

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Looks like the weather in your area will be a bit warmer through the weekend

Yep. Pushing 70 at the lake on Sunday, may have another couple runs left to go this year. I winterized everything but the motors last weekend (my boat is in the water with heat) just in case we got a few nice days. I'll pack it up over thanksgiving for the year.

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Ayuh,.... Tell 'im to drop it into the water, 'n light 'er off,...
That'll tell 'im how much damage has been done,....

Years ago, 1 of my mentors said it takes 6 hours are 28? to cause Problems,....

I can't say for sure whether he was Right, or not,...
I've never tested his statement, 'cause I Drain everything, Long before 28? is seen,....

Yep, he will find out soon enough. I figured the only way to tell was to fire it up and look for water coming in.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Being up on a lift, I would have to say YES. Along the same lines as "Bridges will freeze over first".

 

[alldodge]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Maybe put it in the water as Bondo mentions, then put a heat source in it as Robert graham mentions and let it sett for a bit and warm up. If it is frozen inside and has not yet cracked anything the thawing out would help prior to firing it up. If it's cracked this would change nothing, but if it isn't (in my opinion) trying to push water with an ice obstructing it could cause other issues.

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Maybe put it in the water as Bondo mentions, then put a heat source in it as Robert graham mentions and let it sett for a bit and warm up. If it is frozen inside and has not yet cracked anything the thawing out would help prior to firing it up. If it's cracked this would change nothing, but if it isn't (in my opinion) trying to push water with an ice obstructing it could cause out issues.

It'll crawl into the 50's today, down to 30 tonight then above freezing through the weekend. I'm going to make sure he runs down there and drops it in and fires it up.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

I'll NEVER understand why people gamble thousands of dollars every winter to save a few minutes of draining water.........
It's like being too lazy to put the safety on a gun. The risk soooo far outweighs the effort.

I'll say that at those temps you are probably at about a 70% risk of damage ...... block, manifolds, risers, and power steering are all suspect.

Starting it and running it up to temp will test most of it out but manifolds can crack internally and let water drain back to 1 or more cylinders after shut down so they need to be pulled to check.

 

[SWD]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

I'll NEVER understand why people gamble thousands of dollars every winter to save a few minutes of draining water.........
It's like being too lazy to put the safety on a gun. The risk soooo far outweighs the effort.

I'll say that at those temps you are probably at about a 70% risk of damage ...... block, manifolds, risers, and power steering are all suspect.

Starting it and running it up to temp will test most of it out but manifolds can crack internally and let water drain back to 1 or more cylinders after shut down so they need to be pulled to check.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

I'll NEVER understand why people gamble thousands of dollars every winter to save a few minutes of draining water.........
It's like being too lazy to put the safety on a gun. The risk soooo far outweighs the effort.

I hear you. I was even down there last weekend, I would have drained them if I had known he hadn't had the marina do it yet.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Because the boat was on a lift just above the water there is a decent chance that the water temp acted as a heat sink and saved the boat. I know bridges freeze first and all that but the water temp was nearly 60 degrees!

Please do us all a favor and make sure to come back and let us know if the block froze. Don't leave us in suspense. I personally am very curious if the water temp saved the block. I would say that the block would have frozen for sure if the boat was on a trailer over land.

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Because the boat was on a lift just above the water there is a decent chance that the water temp acted as a heat sink and saved the boat. I know bridges freeze first and all that but the water temp was nearly 60 degrees!

Please do us all a favor and make sure to come back and let us know if the block froze. Don't leave us in suspense. I personally am very curious if the water temp saved the block. I would say that the block would have frozen for sure if the boat was on a trailer over land.

I agree, the saving grace, if there is one, will be the giant "heater" just under the boat.

I will let you know what I find out for sure. It might be a week or two, depends on when he or I get down there (I'll winterize it for him if I have to, can't stand to let something just go to waste like that.)

 

[Natesms]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

My optimism is fading fast for the fate of this boat. Just took the dogs for a walk and the creek, in direct sun and 46 degree temps still had ice on the surface. Granted you can't compare that and a lake. Still, not looking good!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Did something freeze and potentially break?

Tonight will be another 27 degree temp. If it makes it past tonight weather shows it will not go back down for a few days. Do you know of anyone (even the marina) which could lower the boat into the water to just above the waterline? At least this way if it does have a crack the lift will keep it from sinking and the water temp could help save anything else from getting worst. The best could be it still doesn't have a crack and the water temp could save it.