Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

[jedgell]

Temps tonight are supposed to get into the lower 20's or upper teens! Do I need to run to the warehouse and drain my boat, its a fully enclosed warehouse unit. I live in Houston, so I didn't think I'd have to worry about this! The high today is supposed to be around 52, tomorrow around 55. I'm assuming that there would only be a couple hours of freezing temps overnight, so I'm not sure if there is time for the water to freeze. Any suggestions, do I need to worry about this? Thanks in advance for the help.

[Jesse1]

RE: Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

I'd drain it. If you don't run the boat at all during the winter you should drain the block and fill it with no-tox antifreeze.

[skinautique]

RE: Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If the boat is close by, you could go do it to put your mind at ease but otherwise I wouldn't be concerned.

[ag4ever]

RE: Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

Where in Houston are you?

I am between Cypress and Tomball, and don't plan to winterise mine yet. I thought the temps were supposed to only be in the low 30's not down into the teens. If it stayed in the teens for 3+ hours there might be a problem, but since it is in staorgae, the temp in there could be a few higher than those outside.

[jedgell]

RE: Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

Problem with that is I ski just about every weekend all winter. I'm just concerned with the cold weather tonight. At what temp do I need to worry about the water freezing and the block cracking?

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

I'd be more worried about things like your heater than your engine block. Your heater is more exposed, and has thinner walls than your engine block, so it is more likely to have problems than an engine block in a quick freeze situation.

[jedgell]

RE: Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

AG4ever,
I live in the NW part of town, by the Beltway and Windfern. I ski at Banana Bend Ski Lake out by the San Jacinto River. Do you ski/live at Cypress?
The weather channel said that temps could get down to 24, that was the last update I saw at lunch. I think I'll take my chances.

[ag4ever]

RE: Freezing Temps Tonight, Drain the Block?

I live at Cypress-Rosehill and 290, but the boat is near Spring-Cypress and 249. I only wish I lived at lakes of Cypress-Rosehill. Amy and I have thought about buying a lot there, but everytime we think we have increased our income enough to do it, the property has increased in value just enough to keep us out.

We do most of our boating on Sommerville and Travis/Austin.

Now I am kinda worring about my heater core that I just put in the boat. I hope it makes it one night, and I will probably either put a trouble light in storage to keep the temps up a little, or drain the water.

[nch20skier]

I live in NC and have some below freezing temps and have resorted to simply using a hand held mechanics light with a 75 watt rough service light bulb. I run two of these..... one on each side of the block and close the engine cover...................So far so good (and this is with outdoor storage!)

[Rick]

If it only gets to freezoing a couple of days a year and you have a 110V outlet I think I would use one of these.Its an oil heater that keeps the oil and block warm by using a heater in the dipstick. If you keep the oil warm the block and tranny will stay above freezing. The only thing you would have to worry about would be the heater.

[ag4ever]

The only problem with that is it gives no protection to my 1.) Heater, 2.) Shower, 3.)Balast Tanks & Pumps, and 4.)Misc hoses and engine water pumps.

I just replaced the switch in my storage unit for the light from a timer to a standard wall switch (If you decide to do this be warned you are wiring it hot unless you get the storage facility's owner to kill the power) and put a high wattage bulb in the socket. That should knock the soft freeze back a bit and keep me in the "safe" zone. At least till mid january ehwn our cold weather usually arrives.

[BASC]

Over here in the UK the temperature is now down in the area you are talking, however we will still be skiing through the cold period. As we have no access to power were the boat is stored and it can be pretty exposed, my solution which worked last winter and hopefully will work this one is to put up a temporary waterproof marquee type structure that is fully enclosed and keeps any windchill out (the real killer). After each session we mix some non toxic antifreeze 50/50 in a bucket and allow it to suck through, we then wrap the engine block in a padded quilt (the bed type) and park it in the marquee.
Our temperatures are pretty predicatable, (good old weather people at the BBC) but if there was a very cold spell predicted then I would probably go down the full winterizing route just to be sure.
Better to be safe than sorry.

[nch20skier]

With regard to the lightbulbs listed above the bulbs with a closed engine cover will provide enough heat to stay above freezing. However, when in doubt I would err to the side of caution.

[surfsup]

I'd be surprised if your warehouse reaches freezing especially if it's fully enclosed. Normal convection heating during the day typically prevents inclosed structures from dropping that low. Of course, extended periods below freezing (+ 10 hours) might bring the temp pretty close...

[G-man]

ag4ever I'm sure you know about Lakes of Katy & Lago Sante Fe, they are quite a bit less than Cypress. If you get to north Dallas area and want a pull please get in touch.