FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

[lmannyr]

Anyone taking precautions for the near freezing temps on tues night? It forecasted to be 37F here in West Palm Beach, FL.

Should I be draining my holding tanks and engine block? Or not do anything?

 

[Sea Raider I]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

Well I am not in Florida, but the Central Valley here in California is usually very mild. We regularly hit 35-37 d every night, as this is not freezing temperature I never worry about it.

If it drops below 32 d for a sustained amount of time, then worry....

Just my 2 cents.

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

I was on the st johns Saturday. Weather was forecasted to be in a low of 37. Woke up at 6 am and it was 28 and there was a hard freeze on my windshield. Don't always believe the forecast. I freaked out. IF the boat wasnt in the water I bet the engine would have cracked.

 

[Don S]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

I wouldn't worry about the holding tank, but if you have concerns about how low and how long the temps could be BELOW freezing drain the raw water cooling system of your boat. You know where the service manual links are, don't you, along with winteizing info? If not, see the Adults only sticky at the top of the forum.
Lots of Florida people here laugh when others talk about winteizing and say how it never freezes in Floridu, but now, panic sets in, even after TD's sticky about Florida freeze warnings all last week.
Wasn't there some sort of fairy tale about some animals preparing for winter and others just having fun.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

For a night or two I wouldnt worry. Its not a constant freeze. I wish ohio was near freezing lol. Were at about 5* right now lol

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

I had a block crack with one night at 25 or so .... Forecast that night was for 35

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

I had a block crack with one night at 25 or so .... Forecast that night was for 35

Really? Thats weird for the motor to freeze solid. I have bottle water in the garage thats in the mid 20's for the past 2 months without any freezing.

Heck it takes amost 2 days to just freeze those freeze pops in the freezer lol.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

Forecast now dropped a couple degrees to 35F . Guess I'll be draining fluids when I get back from work later tonight.

Thanks!

 

[300sflyer]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

A trick we boaters up here in the "great white north" have used in the fall when a cold night is expected, is to place an automotive "trouble lamp" down in the bilge under the engine. You would be surprised at how much heat can be generated by a 75 or 100 watt light bulb. After placing it in there, close all of your hatches and covers to help hold the heat in.

 

[aspeck]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

Good advise 300sflyer. I remember years ago while in College just outside of Chicago there was this extremely cute and very wealth (blonde) girl from Texas. She called me one morning crying because her car would not start ... Daddy had called her the day before to tell her it would be cold in Chicago that night so she better get antifreeze in the car. I went out and there were icicles and a pool of ice under the car. Asked her where the antifreeze was and she opened the trunk - yep, there was a case of antifreeze IN the car!

Moral of the story, it doesn't take long to freeze and bust a block! The trouble light will buy you enough time unless it is REALLY COLD (like 0*F). In Florida you SHOULD be okay with this method of keeping the block from freezing.

 

[Don S]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

Makes you worry though when you go out the next morning and find the bulb burned out at some point.

 

[300sflyer]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

Use a new bulb. Or better yet, two of them. The chances of both burning out are pretty slim. Course you dont want anyone to unplug them either.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

Wow..Finally something that is my forte..I'm a National Sales Manager for the 4th largest light bulb manufacturer in the world...

Be very careful where the bulb is placed in proximity to fuel sources, oil ectera...Wouldn't want it just laying under the motor (making contact with the flooring) in the bilge area either.
A standard 75-100 watt incandescent bulb can reach upwards of 2,500 degrees C. at the filament.

Don't use anything halogen..Like the Halogen lamps you may have on your motion detectors/security lighting outside your home or workplace. Those devils get 3 to 4x's hotter than the 75 watt Incan lamps!

If I HAD to use a bulb for warmth, I would use an IR (infra red) heat lamp. Commonly used in food service...

Me, I'd wrap the block in an electric blankie set to high and sleep better at night.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

As I look out at the 12" of snow on the ground, the themometer hovering just above 0, and the weather man saying its going to get "real cold" your post brought only one reaction.

Bubba1235, I envy you! I had to drag my cooler out by the pool to BBQ tonight, you could just stick your beers in the snow, much easier!

 

[lmannyr]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

I used two auto mechanic hanging lights with 75W bulbs for the two cold nights. Everything still works and runs!.. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Ridemywideglide]

Re: FLORIDA NEAR FREEZING temps on TUES Night.

I had a block crack with one night at 25 or so .... Forecast that night was for 35

I'd suspect the problem existed prior.. 1 night at 25* won't even freeze my chihuahua's water dish. Over several days, yes.. But I can't see it freezing "solid" in the engine from just overnight.