Frost this weekend, what should I do?

[89cruisers]

Hey there everyone, my project still continues on my wellcraft, but this weekend they are saying there might be frost, lows in the mid 30s, I still want to get this boat out this season after I'm done, but the frost is concerning me, I havent learned the computer winterizing procedure for the wellcraft, but should I just open the drains on the manifolds and call it good until later when I winterize it?

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

If it's freezing water you're worried about, it won't freeze if the low is in the mid 30's. Even a couple hours in the low 30's likely won't hurt anything.
But just for peace of mind, I'd drain the water out of the block. I woulnd't bother with any other of the winterizing stuff till you're ready to hang it up for the season.

 

[Don S]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

I'm with Brewman, if you want to continue using the boat during cold nights, learn how to drain the block and manifold. On a 3.0L engine, it's only about a 10 minute job and then you don't have to worry about things freezing and breaking during a cold night.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

I don't want to give any body bad advise But on many occasions I have had my boat outside on a trailer not winterized and the low has hit low 20s. Never had a prob. I notice allot of people on this forum claim that if the temp hits 31 Deg for 5 min the engine explodes. [a slight exaggeration, but only slight ] You could always go with the old light bulb trick, or fire it up and get it up to temp before bed. My 1 1/2 cents worth....

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

Mid-thirties? Why bother doing anything? Even at 32* water is in equilibrium between liquid and solid phases.

 

[89cruisers]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

alright thanks guys, this is for my wellcraft which im still starting up on my off days to get it going okay, I work 14 hour shifts on the weekends. I'll drain the block and manifold, this is the first year I have ever had a boat outside during the winter, the bayliner stays inside a somewhat heated garage

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

Set a 16oz pop water filled with water out by your boat, if the water freezes solid your screwed, but it won't you'll be fine.

 

[JetBote]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

Just like the guys above said, nothing to worry about. Even for nights that get below 32*, you can always put a 100w light in the engine compartment. But generally, it takes 3 good days below 32 to freeze the inside, unless of course you're talking about temps that really dip down.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

gonna be in 35*ish around here sat and sun night. frost warnings.

i drained my block and manifold...

the weather man has been wrong before..

 

[dubs283]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

as stated in previous posts - learn how to properly drain your block and manifolds, it takes ten minutes max

gives you peace of mind on those questionable nights

you are going to need to know this in order to winterize anyways

also - don't forget to cover your tomatoes!!

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

gonna be in 35*ish around here sat and sun night. frost warnings.

the weather man has been wrong before..

How often is the weatherman right?

That being said, even down to low 30's or high 20's, for a couple hours at night, you need several nights consecutively to get the area around the water low enough in Temp. to get the water to freeze and cause damage.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

the bayliner stays inside a somewhat heated garage

Well, to start with, it's the Wellcraft that should be inside ...

 

[Simoniz]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

gonna be in 35*ish around here sat and sun night. frost warnings.

i drained my block and manifold...

the weather man has been wrong before..

The reason that frost warnings are given out even when the temperature is forecast to be (say) 35F is that although the forecast of 35 is for the air temperature, surfaces (windscreens, plant leaves, aircraft etc) can get up to 4 deg C (7 or 8F) below that due to heat radiation. This is what they mean by a ground frost, only the ground and any plants there will be affected by the frost but for a boat engine, the water wouldn't freeze in weeks as long as the actual air temp did not go below 32F.

 

[89cruisers]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

I never knew that about frost warnings before, thanks. I would try the light bulb idea, but right now there is no engine compartment lol. I wish the wellcraft could go in th garage, but the bayliner is a 89, that is still brand new (with the exception of the 400 hour engine knocking for some reason) and the wellcraft wouldnt fit anyways lol

 

[extreme76]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

gonna be in 35*ish around here sat and sun night. frost warnings.

i drained my block and manifold...

the weather man has been wrong before..

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X2
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My general rule is I drain it after everytime I boat in October. I went out today and pulled the plugs and hoses at the ramp before I left. I just like knowing it is done and not worrying about it.

 

[scrdanis]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

Throw a jacket on, you might get cold. But your motor while be fine.

 

[6meter]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

Even if the water in the block starts to freeze and turns slushy, it's not going to expand the block.

 

[cimy3]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

It took me longer to read this thread than to drain my block and manifolds.

 

[ChrisCraftJohnny]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

What if the light bulb burns out?

I once bought a 4-pack of GE bulbs that all popped within 10 seconds of turning on. And no, it was not the fixture.

I would recommend a block heater. It's magnetized and will transmit heat directly to the block. Cast Iron is a wonderful holder and transmitter of heat. Hence why Grandma's cooking was better than everyone's. Cast Iron Skillet.

Johnny

 

[dubs283]

Re: Frost this weekend, what should I do?

I would recommend a block heater

what if the power goes out??

now we're getting silly!

just drain the block/manifolds

and still cover those delicious tomatoes!