Winterization in NC

[seveet]

Just moved to North Carolina. I am storing my boat in indoor heated storage. Do I need to bother winterizing or just routine maintenance? In Michigan I still winterized even with heated storage just in case. My local maintenance person did not recommend it.

thanks

[Evening Shade]

Well that depends on how dependable the heat source is where you store the boat and whether you can easily check to ensure that the heat is working on cold nights.

I personally wouldn't trust this scenario unless it was at my house where I could check it frequently. Too much at risk, IMO.

[MLA]

If the heat fails, and depending on the building construction and how long the heat out goes unnoticed, it can get cold enough in NC to freeze and crack a block. Besides, it takes 30 minutes or less to drain the typical boat drivetrain.

[Nautiquehunter]

I live in Georgia [Lake Lanier] for the last 7 years I have kept all my boats inside a 40x60 unheated building . I keep a bottle of water on a shelf near the door. It has never froze. That being said I still winterize all of them just like I did in IL. The only difference is no fogging and protection only down to 0. It sounds like you will be fine doing nothing but for 20.00 and 30 min of time do you want to chance it?

[75Tique]

Just to echo others. Yes it can get cold enough in NC to crack a block. Happened to my neighbor. Full blown winterization like we used to do up north, not necessary. Drain the block to be on the safe side, absolutely. Our layup is shorter so other aspects of winterization are not necessary and on that occasional lovely 50 - 60 degree winter day, I've been known to drop in my boat for a quick pull, followed by the 10 minute drain again procedure.

[obd666]

I live in Georgia [Lake Lanier] for the last 7 years I have kept all my boats inside a 40x60 unheated building . I keep a bottle of water on a shelf near the door. It has never froze.

That is fascinating. In contrast, here in NC (outside of Charlotte) last year for instance the ol' water bottle froze many times in my unheated garage. We had a particularly cold winter last year, but just goes to show the difference a little latitude and elevation makes ...

In short, yes I would at least drain the water out of the block. It's too easy and cheap not to, and takes miscalculation mostly out of the equation.

[charlesml3]

That is fascinating. In contrast, here in NC (outside of Charlotte) last year for instance the ol' water bottle froze many times in my unheated garage. We had a particularly cold winter last year, but just goes to show the difference a little latitude and elevation makes ...

In short, yes I would at least drain the water out of the block. It's too easy and cheap not to, and takes miscalculation mostly out of the equation.

Yes and do not forget to drain the heater (if you have one). I can't stress this enough. The heater core will freeze and split long, long before the block does.

-Charles

[75Tique]

Not sure if the new boats have a flimsy, easily cracked, copper transmission oil cooler like the old boats do, but I always make a point of draining that too.