East Coast Boating season

[Mike_Maranto]

Hi I have a question, I live in baltimore and I am planning on using my boat till the weather allows me, I know I should not have any problems in Sep but what about Oct when the weather gets chillier and the water temp drops, shoud I be draining water from Engine after every trip and till how long into Nov I can keep on doing this until I decide to winterize.

Thanks

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: East Coast Boating season

Need to know: what boat/engine? How stored/moored? Is freezing your only concern?

Striper season is over Dec. 31, so that is when boating season is over, too.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: East Coast Boating season

Mike - I live on the Severn and typically keep my boat in the water until mid-November or so. Just keep an eye on the weather and be ready to pull and drain or use an engine compartment heater if need be.

 

[Mike_Maranto]

Re: East Coast Boating season

Home Cookin'
Crownline 210 CCR, 5.0 I/O Alpha 1 Gen2, the boat is at a slip in downtown area, yes I am concerned about freezing and want to use it till I can through the winter.

dsiekman
I was thinking what you suggested, engine compartment heater that is slick but what about the drive? I was planning on draining the water in mid october and onwards?

 

[dingbat]

Re: East Coast Boating season

Home Cookin'
Crownline 210 CCR, 5.0 I/O Alpha 1 Gen2, the boat is at a slip in downtown area, yes I am concerned about freezing and want to use it till I can through the winter.

dsiekman
I was thinking what you suggested, engine compartment heater that is slick but what about the drive? I was planning on draining the water in mid october and onwards?

Don't worry about it. Leave your leg down and our good. The Bay waters generally stay above 32 degrees year round. Water temps stay into the 40's well into December.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: East Coast Boating season

I am not familiar with the Alpha, but understand that the raw water pump is housed in the drive. I used to have a BIII and now have Volvo DPs.

If you are talking about keeping it wet slipped, seeing as how the drive is in the water, I would not think it would freeze unless the water surrounding it froze. At that point I'd be more concerned about the hull. If the boat is on a trailer I would expect any water to drain from the drive. Again, guys, I'm not familiar with the Alpha so please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: East Coast Boating season

Mike, I use my Mercrusier I/O into late December. I put a standard heating pad (40 watts, remove fuzzy cover), under the oil pan to keep the oil warm on those cold nights. That in conjunction with the water above 32* (28* freezes salt water), kept the block ice free.