frozen water in hull

[simple]

I notice yesterday that I have some frozen water on my hull floor from it raining and then freezing. (about 7 inches deep) Does any damage occur when this happens? I don't have my boat tilted on an angle because I won't be able to keep the lower end down all the way. The boat is kept level with my canvas cover and top, but water seems to still get through a little.

 

[wvit100]

Re: frozen water in hull

I doubt if there is any damage from freezing. I would be more worried about the humidity under the cover with all that water. The humidity could be damaging all sorts of things from the wooden parts of the boat, the cushions, rusting metal, etc. You don't have to keep the outdrive run all the way down, I think it's more important to let the water drain out of the boat.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: frozen water in hull

Is the water just surface frozen, or all the way down?<br />And is the water in an area where it can expand easily as it freezes (like outward sloping gunwales)?<br /><br />If surface, and able to expand easily, no problem. Otherwise, worth checking carefully when you get it out.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: frozen water in hull

Did you say 7 inches of ice?????? Sure it can do damage,a lot of damage.Less than that can crack steel.You have to get that in the sun fast to melt and get that boat on an angle to drain properly.Dig a hole for the drive.If you have to tilt it then cover the drive with plastic or better yet remove it as most do.Charlie

 

[cc lancer]

Re: frozen water in hull

Did you say 7 inches of ice?????? Sure it can do damage,a lot of damage<br /><br />Charlie's a 110% right, if water get between the floor and gunnel it can split the floor from the hull, if it gets under the floor it can lift the floor.<br />Ice expands....period, you have a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: frozen water in hull

Don't jump to too fast a conclusion, Simple.<br /><br />Before panicking, determine first if the water is solid frozen or just surface frozen. That makes all the difference in the world.<br /><br />If solid frozen (drill a hole into it to find out) then as Crazy says, you could have big problems.<br /><br />If the water has been able to expand with the increasing width of the hull, then you might get away without any hiccups, even if its frozen through.<br /><br />You'll know as soon as you can thaw it out!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: frozen water in hull

Simple, in case you never realized this:<br />It's more important to have the boat at an angle, to drain water, than it is to have the outdrive "all the way down"! <br />Really, what's more important, saving a drive bellows or having ice break your boat in two?<br />That said, I hope the ice isn't really 7" thick, and if it is, I hope that it expanded up the sides, not pushed them out. Good luck

 

[JRJ]

Re: frozen water in hull

I hope it thaws so you can drain the water out. You can block up the trailer so you can have your drive down and block under the jack to get the height you need for drainage. Good luck

 

[jlinder]

Re: frozen water in hull

I jacked up the trailer and put some jackstands by the rear wheels (board of wood between the stand and the frame). Then lifted the bow even more. On the whole I gained enough clearance in the rear so I could leave the drive down and still have the bow tilted up.<br /><br />I did this so I could take weight off the tires for the winter, bonus was the ability to tilt the bow up pretty far for a nice drain.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: frozen water in hull

put 7" of water in a glass and place it in the freezer. does the glass break?<br /><br />i'd say you're fine, unless that 7" completely filled a void with something on top of it.

 

[mercrewser]

Re: frozen water in hull

Mine filled up with alot more than 7 inches and froze solid. Took a week to thaw out in a heated warehouse. Pull the outdrive and drain the water out of the bellows. My boat was fine except for failure of the upper drive seals 2 yrs later from water damage. I was really embarassed but it was a simple mistake and thats how it goes with boats sometimes. There was enough water in my boat to contaminate the oil. OK, I dont want to remember any more.

 

[simple]

Re: frozen water in hull

Originally posted by stillfishing:<br /> Is the water just surface frozen, or all the way down?<br />And is the water in an area where it can expand easily as it freezes (like outward sloping gunwales)?<br /><br />If surface, and able to expand easily, no problem. Otherwise, worth checking carefully when you get it out.

My bad. I took another look yesterday and it's not frozen the whole 7 inches. Yeah, it's just surface frozen and it does have room to expand.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: frozen water in hull

If you are worried about the exhaust hose, disconnect it. Tilt the boat with the front jackstand. Still too low ? Buy a cement block. make a 6" X 6" square out of 2X4 nailed on a larger piece of wood and put that on top of the cement block. Jack wheel in the 6"X 6" and drive 2 pieces of pipe or rebar at angles away from the hitch. Rope the hitch to them so a strong wind does'nt blow it off the block. Water vapor is heavier than air. It will find a way out of a tilted boat. Don't go splashing bleach and covering the boat. Colors will fade by spring.

 

[rwidman]

Re: frozen water in hull

Originally posted by crazy charlie:<br /> Dig a hole for the drive.If you have to tilt it then cover the drive with plastic or better yet remove it as most do.Charlie

I don't know anyone who removes the outdrive for winter storage. To get clearance to tilt the boat with the outdrive fully down one can:<br /><br />1. Dig a hole for the outdrive remembering that it may fill with water depending upon the soil conditions.<br /><br />2. Raise the trailer by putting the wheels on blocks or ramps.<br /><br />3. Raise the trailer with jack stands or blocks under the axle(s) which also takes the load off the tires.<br /><br />The weight of seven inches of ice (or water) puts quite an additional load on the hull as well as the trailer. It's critical to not let water accumulate inside the boat.