Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

[SeaKaye12]

Hi,

I live where boating is enjoyable all year long. The days are often at least in the 60's but the nights frequently drop to 20F....sometimes even lower.

Assuming that I don't want to do a complete winterizing each time I pull out...what do you folks do to protect an I/O from freezing when used like I describe?

Block heaters? But what if storage is outside; away from electric power?

Thanks for reading, Chuck

 

[Don S]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

Drain the raw water cooling system. Air don't freeze.
Once you figure out all the places you have to drain, and do it a time or two, it won't take but a few minutes when you pull the boat out of the water.

 

[cosander]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

where do you live? that sounds nice.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

I have put a 100W drop light (incandescent) in the bilge for the rare short bursts of cold weather here in FLA.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

Drain the raw water cooling system. Air don't freeze.
Once you figure out all the places you have to drain, and do it a time or two, it won't take but a few minutes when you pull the boat out of the water.

that's the ticket......

man it's gettin close to freezein here too. gonna be 39* tonight.....bummer......i'm watchin it real close and aint playin......1st weather forcast of freezein, i'm dumpin the water out my block and manifold... it only takes a few minutes.......

 

[Lola22]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

What if the boat stays in the water?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

What if the boat stays in the water?

ya should still be able to drain the raw water side with it in the water i'd think.....

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

If'n you live in So Cal and nightime temps drop into the 20's, you must live out of the LA basin, say SF Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster or points south.

I lived in the San Fernando Valley for 42 years. Never, ever, gave a thought to winterizing the boat, even in January when water would freeze in the street gutters.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Warm boating days...Freezing Nights...How to protect engine?

Southern California Coastal regions rarely freeze; although it does happen if you live back in one of the canyons.

I'm talking specifically about the Paso Robles area. In California just 50 miles in one direction or another yields a large variance in climate.

Thanks for reading...and for the replies.

Chuck