Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

[texasvet54]

I purchased a 52' Three Buoys houseboat back in September and I had it hauled to Lake Waco, in Texas. The prior owner had it on Lake Travis in Austin. I asked him what he did to winterize it and he said that he never winterized it. He said that the water temp in Lake Travis never got below 52 degrees. Since Lake Waco is only 100 miles north, I wouldn't think that the water temp would get much below the upper 40's.

I can see that maybe the Mercruiser doesn't need to be winterized, but what about the fresh water lines or my Westerbeke generator?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

I'd at least fog the motors, change the oil (engines and drives) and drain the water tanks, heater, etc. Pull the batteries and store them on a charger. Fuel stabilizer is a must also regardless of how much is in it, even tho you'll probably not have it laid up that long in your neighborhood. Those of us that have our boats turned into a snowcone annually have to go much further...

 

[NYBo]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

Welcome to iboats!

For us up North, "winterizing" pretty much means protecting the boat from the effects of freezing temperatures. If that's not an issue where you live, the question becomes how often you will be using the boat during the winter months.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

way up in up in North Central Texas (DFW) water temp might get to low 40s- my block sits below the waterline.-I'll bet your do too. but I will turn on the hot water heater tank in the engine compartment and if it is going to be in the 20s more than 48hrs I'll drain the petcock valves.

cover your engine compartment vents- you'll be fine.

you probaly have HVAC in the cabin- I set my heat to 60degrees

We boat year round- just dress warm

2 years ago we had a 80degree day in January! It was great on the lake!

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

Thanks for the replies.

I do have a 32,000 BTU HVAC with a heat pump that is located in a closet in the cabin. When it is turned to heat or air, lake water is sucked up through a fitting in the hull then pumped through the unit and then out the side of the hull it goes. I wasn't even thinking of turning on the heat due mostly to the cost and the wear and tear on the compressor. It costs me 11 cents/KWH for my 220v 50A service. I was considering putting a space heater (radiator filled with oil type) in the engine compartment and turning it on if it is going to drop into the 20's at night. Does that sound reasonable?

Also, I go by the boat every day since it is on my way home from work. I have a covered slip and I enjoy flipping a lure into the water and hoping for a bite. When I get my DishTV setup, I may just spend a good part of my time there.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

winter of 85 may be 84 me thinks.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

Thanks for the replies.

I do have a 32,000 BTU HVAC with a heat pump that is located in a closet in the cabin. When it is turned to heat or air, lake water is sucked up through a fitting in the hull then pumped through the unit and then out the side of the hull it goes. I wasn't even thinking of turning on the heat due mostly to the cost and the wear and tear on the compressor. It costs me 11 cents/KWH for my 220v 50A service. I was considering putting a space heater (radiator filled with oil type) in the engine compartment and turning it on if it is going to drop into the 20's at night. Does that sound reasonable?

Also, I go by the boat every day since it is on my way home from work. I have a covered slip and I enjoy flipping a lure into the water and hoping for a bite. When I get my DishTV setup, I may just spend a good part of my time there.

DO NOT PUT A HEATER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ! it is a real fire hazzard.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

How about a couple of light bulbs? That was suggested to me by a marine service business. He also said that unless the temp gets into single digits, which hasn't happened here in over 20 years, he wouldn't do anything to winterize.

 

[ButchC]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

Here are two USCG approved engine compartment heaters. If water temperatures are in the 45-50 degree range they won't be on much. I use the extreme heater on a boat slipped in Georgia where the water temp drops as low as 48. They WILL provide peace of mind.

http://www.boatsafeheaters.com
http://www.xtremeheaters.com

Butch

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Do I need to winterize my houseboat?

A westerbeke genset is pretty east to winterize depending on which one you have. With ours, all we do is take the intake hose off and stick it in a bucket of -50 antifreeze and run it till it comes out of the exhaust and then some. The entire genest is closed cooling with a heat exchanger for both the engine and exhaust, 10min tops for winterizing that. Put stabil in it, pump anti freeze through it, then fog it.

For the engines, I would just fog them and drain the block+manifolds. You never know when you may not be able to get to the boat and if it does freeze, you will be thankful. What if those bulbs blew, the power went out, etc??