Freezing...those in the know.

[Deuce]

Okay, so here is my scenario. Looks like we are having an unusually strong cold front coming in this weekend. I have my boat in a slip on a mountain lake. Temperatures Saturday and Sunday(the coldest days) are forecast to be the following 52/34 & 49/34. The boat is “in the water” which is approx. 58 degrees at present(assume this will help insulate).

Do you think it is advisable to pull the boat out of the water and bring it down to the Valley, which will not get anywhere near freezing? On the other hand, do you feel I am worrying over nothing?

For those saying, “It isn’t even going to get to freezing”……I will assume that weather.com “could” be off 5 degrees and wouldn’t be thrown off the net…..

[Fredk]

Better safe than sorry!

That being said, at 29 degrees air temp and even with a drop in water temp to 53 or 54 degrees, your boat should be fine. The heat of the water will actually rise and warm the air above the surface (fog layer) which will keep it warm. If you want to feel better, but not pull the boat , you could even throw a heavy blanket or packing pad over the engine for more insulation. If you are going to get weather with this front (rain, wind or snow) I'ld pull it just because I wouldn't want my SN sitting out in it, especially wind. Wouldn't want a tie down breaking loose and my boat banging around on the dock or shore across the lake. But that's just me. Good luck!

[gotwake]

RE: Freezing...those in the know.

I don't think you'll have any problems at all. If you are really nervous about it - run it, it'll stay warm a long time! A light bulb in the motor box works well too. But to really freeze you'll need to be below freezing for quite a few hours, not just "dipping" below.

[j2nh]

Shouldn't be a problem especially since it is in the water. Mine has been on the lift several nights when the temps have dropped down into the mid twenties. Sometimes I'll run down and lower the boat, warm it up, and then raise it back up. Once warm its good for the night.

But....

IT'S YOUR BOAT AND WHAT EVER YOU DO YOU CAN'T COME BACK AND SAY "BUT HE SAID"! :mrgreen:

[redelf75]

You seem to have enough feedback, but I'll drop my 2 cents in anyway.

As per my dealer - it needs to be in below freezing temp for a few days before you risk serious damage. Plus if it's in the water, that's all the buffer you'll need.

[gotpwr]

This should help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics
Just kidding, I wouldn't worry about it. :grin:

[surroundsound64]

I was just going to add some to what gotwake said... My engine compartment will stay warm for 24 hrs if I leave the hood shut.

That being said, I'd probably pull it out just to get it out of the elements... but if there's no rain or wind I'd probably leave it.

[Deuce]

You guys and your rain....afraid of a little water on the boat.... Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

I worry about the sun a ton more than either wind or rain....

........but I worry about freezing temps above all!!

[Mikeski]

I don't winterize my boat in California. During the winter we have many nights that get down in the 20's. Even when I wake up with lawns being completely frosted over and windshields frosted over the boat motor does not get close to freezing. One night about 4 months ago it was down in the low 20's and I started to get nervous so I went out to the boat around midnight and put my drop light in the motor box. What really surprised me was how warm the motor compartment was when I popped the cover, it felt really comfortable, maybe 40-50 degrees. Since I was already there I put the drop light in anyway.

Based on my experience you only need to worry when the temperature in the daytime stays below freezing for more than a couple days with little sun.

[Onthewater]

it will be more than fine, don't sweat it

[jmo]

For piece of mind you might consider draining the block, manifolds, etc - should only take you 15 minutes to drain it and put the plugs back in, no need to pull the boat out and fully winterize. That way if it ends up colder than predicted (weathermen are never wrong!) your covered, not sure I subscribe to the theory the ~50 degress lake water will keep the block warm since the block is not in the water...

[ag4ever]

Don't waste your time it will be fine.

Here in houston we never worry about freezing, unless it is for more than 3 days in the 20's.