Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

[Adams]

Have a 2000 Bayliner 3055 with twin 350's. She is in covered moorage on Lake Washington and this is my first winter. We intend to use her during the winter. She has raw water cooling, I empitied the holding tank and drained fresh water to about 1/2 full. Do I need to do any other winterizing?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

Well,......... I have No Idea where Lake Washington is, Nor how Cold it gets there.......

If it Ever gets to 32* or Below that,.......

Ayuh,.......
You'd better be Winterizing a Whole Lot Better than you've done so far...............

I empitied the holding tank and drained fresh water to about 1/2 full.

It's all the Plumbing between those tanks that Freezes,+ Breaks, Long before the tanks themselves Freeze..........

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

Better plan on draining the blocks and manifolds every day too.

 

[Don S]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

Since you have a covered morage, I assume you have electrical power. Here are a couple of safe options for when the temp drops below freezing.
Boatsafe Heaters

Golden Rod Dehumidifiers

As long as the boat is in the water, they should help prevent any freeze damage.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

I'll add to this since I am from Seattle......
Don S has some good suggestions which will work when ya have power.....
However, if we get into a situation like last year's storm, (I fergit the name all ready) :redface:, where people lost power for days & we had sub freezing temps, that will change things......
I like Don S soloution, but, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with draining all of your engine/boat systems so you don't get suprised......
Also, ya think you will use it alot in the winter, but ya won't.....
I'd just keep an eye on the forecast, or drain it if you will be out of town.....
& what Bondo said is true about the pipes & stuff, I would drain them completely.........
Welcome to iboats, btw........​

 

[Adams]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

Thanks for the good advice. Had not thought about the blocks & manifolds would hold water. I will spend some time with the manuals and fiqure out how to drain them. Appreciate Don S guidance on a heater. I will install this weekend. I hope Haut is wrong and we will use her this winter, but of course experience is usually right! I started out thinking I would just pay someone for taking care of the boat but after a quick $15k of little things in 3 months I guess I will have to get dirty. Nice to have some good sources and experince to call on. I will try to not abuse the privelage.

 

[Don S]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

If you do get a storm, and loose power, and it looks like it could be out for a while, just go drain it before it's too late.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

If your covered AND enclosed, that would really make a diff..that said, if we get another wind storm like last year (I sure hope we don't)..could be a few days with out power. Of course we have plenty of warning here anyway, but on my 350, its a simple two rear plugs on the manifolds with a Stubby 1/2 Ratchet (remember..use a little pipe dope and just snug them up), the 2 block ((9/16th) brass drains, pop the large lower Circ pump hose. Should take a few minutes after you do it once (well twice on two motors..and NOW, in nice weather for a trial run)...
Weather seems its gonna get lousy, run down and do it. We always seem to get at least a few days of below 32..
Another thought is during a cold snap, go down and fire'em up once a day..motors hold heat for quite awhile. And I'd drain the water tanks...drag a couple milk jugs down..and get a cheap Porta pot..

 

[scorpion230]

Re: Raw Water Cooling - Do I have to winterize?

Dont forget that you have an inline on each engine that has to be drained in addition to the manifolds, circ. pump and block.
Once you have all the plugs out and the hoses turned down to drain, bump the starter to push any left over water out.
And as for your fresh water system pump all your old water out and dump a gallon or two of marine atni-freeze into your water tank and run all your outlets until it flushes all the water out.....
Be smart dont wait for weather to get bad.
Plus you realy should drain your block and manifold pretty regularly you would be suprised at the crap you suck up and how much corrosion is in you engine.