Ice in bilge

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mickeydd

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exMember
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Dec 23, 2006
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24647
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I have a little bit a ice in my bilges, had a hard winter some water got in. Does anyone have any little secerts of a easy way to get rid of this other than the hard way.

Vernon
 
I dont have an answer. But curious what the hard way is? Drive it to the equator?"
 
Wait for it to melt maybe????

If there was any damage, it was done already, just wait for the warmer weather.
 
The hard way is a pick and shovel........j/k.....No I dont think theres any damage.
thanks for all the imputs...... but ok...I guess I'll wait for mother nature to work.
 
Pick & Shovel??? Has to be a bit more then a little!!!! Why just fire up the engines and let them heat up the engine compartment?
 
LOL...to funny...you know it always looks worse than it is. Just never had ice in my bilges thats all.
In another 3 or 4 weeks I will be starting "ole" baby up......rmmmmrmmmm.
 
Ice in the bilge is not good. Last time that happened on my boat, the cooler had gotten knock over and all my beer got hot :-(
 
Rocksalt and then rinse with fresh water but pick and shovel will work
 
I'd be more concerned about the bilge pump function at this point. Considering the pump is in the lowest part of the bilge......which is where the water would have been which phase changed to ice......did the bilge pump freeze, or did the float switch freeze?

In either case, and especially if the boat is kept in the water, imagine what would occur if a big leak developed. Regardless, a bilge heater would remedy the problem, and avert any future issue of the same kind. Once resolved though, I would definitely check my bilge pump(s) and float switch to insure there is not a problem with the function of the system. A pump or switch which froze underwater could have been damaged, and you would not know until you needed them and they let you down.

My two cents.

V1
 
quote:
Originally posted by Robyns Nest

Wait for it to melt maybe????

If there was any damage, it was done already, just wait for the warmer weather.

Click to expand...


Just to make use of all the science I never ultimately took advantage of, I thought I would point out some good news.

If you have ice that has been there since it froze, you may NOT have done any damage yet. It is when ice changes phases from solid to liquid (when it thaws) that it expands, not necessarily when it freezes. So, if you chip it out now, you can avoid the potential of expansion damage.

The worst effect is when ice is going from liquid to solid and back in a repeating cycle. That's where the expansion rate is maximized.

bp
 
Uh, Ghost, my 7th grade science teacher taught me that water expands when it freezes, not when it thaws. And, since 7th grade was the best 3 years of my life, I should know.
 
when water changes from a sloshy liquid to solid ice, it expands, becomes less dense. Which is why ice floats to the top of your Coke, rather than sinking like a stone to the bottom
 
Well, Bob made me go check. Looks like I remembered it wrong.

Hmmmmm....must have been some other kind of experiment I was thinking about. Sorry for that!

bp
 
V1 thanks for all the advice....no damage to pumps as there was no power to anything. It's a little cold up here in mid January. The water up here may have the highest tides in the country, (Bay of Fundy). But, "ole" baby is high and dry.

Are you smarter than a "Fifth" grader...to to funny...Grade 7?..........lol

Check on baby last week and time to uncover. By the way ice has half melted. I guess "ole" mother nature loves me.

Thanks all it's been quite interesting, till next time.

Vernon
1978 32' Trojan
 
Mickeydd,

You make me feel like I am in Florida, April 7th, and you still have Ice in your bilge. That sucks, the only ice on my boat now, is in the cooler. Yea I put the ice in there Sunday and it is still there, but hte boat is floating, and ready to use. I feel bad for you.
 
Gezzs nph..thanks for the support...j/k. Yep its cool up here in Eastern Canada. But hey it could be worse..... well no it couldnt. I though about alaska...but hell they are in dark most of the time....to to funny I crack myself up.

Safe boating all. remember keep her off the rocks.

Vernon
 
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