New G21 is in the water. What about below freezing temperatures at nighttime?

[enzo thecat]

We are taking delivery of our G21 today. This is the earliest we've ever taken delivery of a boat, but I wanted to take advantage of having this week off. Days are going to be close to 70 then cool down at the end of the week. There are several nights when the lows are in the low 20's. It will be in the boat lift with the cover on.

Do I need to be worried about damaging anything with the freezing temperatures? The Marina wants to pull the boat and drain everything and store it indoors after we are done with it this week. But I can't leave the boat lift without the boat in it because it could get damaged from high winds.

Thoughts?


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[Quinner]

Don't the 16's have a single point drain on the motor?? If so just drain it. In reality you are likely fine regardless as it would take some sustained below freezing temps before things start breaking. Another option is keeping a light going in the motorbox overnight.

[NautiqueJeff]

It isn't a single point drain, but it is very easy to drain. No tools are required, and it can be done in about five minutes. The manual has a great diagram of the drain locations, and the drains are all removable by hand.

The only other thing is that if you have a heater, the lines will need to be disconnected and blown out. That's another five minutes and you only need a nut driver. I have drained my 2016 probably ten times since I picked it up last fall. Very easy.

If you do this on the lift, be SURE that you close your seacock on the freshwater inlet, just in case the boat somehow ends up in the water. And don't forget to open it again after you put the drainplugs back in.

[MTRBTR]

If I spent that kind of $$ on a new G I wouldn't be worried about a boat lift at all. Seems like it would be easy enough to secure or pull the lift. I would rather loose a boat lift than a $100K G. That's just me though.

[Quinner]

Have you ever seen the aftermath of a boat lift taken by the wind, it can get real ugly, lol, you don't want that either!!

It would be way easier to drain the block/heater then to remove the canopy vinyl or put the boat on the trailer and back in storage.
Keep it simple, drain it when you are done and you will be fine!!

[enzo thecat]

If I spent that kind of $$ on a new G I wouldn't be worried about a boat lift at all. Seems like it would be easy enough to secure or pull the lift. I would rather loose a boat lift than a $100K G. That's just me though.

Spent bout 12G's on the new Floe lift so I kinda care about it.


As for the boat, we decided not to bring it home. We left it at the marina. I didnt want to get in the cold water to drain it and the marina said the'd feel culpable if any damage was done. So they pulled it and drained it. Will keep it dry until the temperature cooperates.

PS Thanks for the help and suggestions.

[pSchwade]

Seems like kind of a moot point now, but if you have access to shore power you could just use one of those extension cord heaters or put an incandescent light in the engine compartment to keep it a little warmer so you don't have to worry about draining it.

[NautiqueJeff]

Be careful with that. Besides the known dangers of the light bulb method (an Xtreme Heater would be a much safer bet), there is also the heater core to worry about if the boat has a heater. The heater core is under the dash, and is usually the first thing to freeze. It gets virtually no heat from the light bulb or Xtreme Heater solution.

[robertsmcfarland]

jeff, I thought on a closed loop boat the heater lines were filled with the coolant..but must be wrong...

[nyryan2001]

Yes antifreeze in the block.

But there is still water in all the pickup lines, tranny, exhaust, water pump and heat exchanger.... And the heater under the dash. All that can freeze damage.

[jesutton3]

Rob, you are correct. Closed loop boats have antifreeze in the heater.

But the 2016s are not closed loop.

[Quinner]

Yes antifreeze in the block.

But there is still water in all the pickup lines, tranny, exhaust, water pump and heat exchanger.... And the heater under the dash. All that can freeze damage.

Not 100% correct, in closed loop anti-freeze would run thru the heater core under the dash.

In a raw water cooled boat water runs throughout.

[enzo thecat]

Not 100% correct, in closed loop anti-freeze would run thru the heater core under the dash.

In a raw water cooled boat water runs throughout.

So does my 2016 have anti-freeze or not? From what I'm reading here, it looks like it doesn't. I've had several Supra inboards and a 2006 220 SANTE. They all had antifreeze.

[NautiqueJeff]

NO! The only 2016 engines that are cooled with anti-freeze are the 550 engines. The rest are completely raw-water cooled, and raw water runs through the heaters too in those boats.

[enzo thecat]

Ok thanks. Learn something new all the time here.