Winter boating

M

meide

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I am considering keeping my boat (sterndrives, raw water cooled) in operation over the winter near Baltimore. I would use it about once per month and re-winterize the engines and the generator after each use.

I would like to use the reverse-cycle heat pump, but not sure if it will work with the low water temperatures.

Any suggestions for things to consider?

Mike
 
I think your crazy to leave the boat in the water all winter with out drives. Your going to have more problems later with your out drives. But if you think you be ok use safe space heaters.
 
Reverse cycle will not work when the water gets cold.
 
Boat is kept on a lift slip, so it will only be in the water when in use.

I'm not in favor of using space heaters since any electrical power failure would put the engines at risk. It only takes me a few minutes to drain the engine blocks and pour some antifreeze.
 
Like Mike said, your "heat pump" will not make much heat in cold water. But take heart, the cooling cycle will be very efficient!

OK, funny stuff aside. We have several friends that keep their boats in the water in marina's around the Inner Harbor. Most use those oil filled radiator type space heaters. Very efficient, no flame or exposed heat coils and they have thermostats. Not too expensive, either.
 
Thanks for the idea Mike. I think I can keep warm. And not planning on staying out overnight.

My main concern is ensuring I have time to get the antifreeze back into the engines and generator at the end of the day.
 
You should have no roblem getting the AF back in the RW side of the engines and genny at the end of the day if you do it while the boat is still in the water. They won't freeze that quickly because they will be warm from running and I doubt you would be there running them in the first place if the weather outside gets rediculously cold.
 
Call me crazy, but my boat stays in the water in Pasadena except for when we have it in Florida each spring.

Oil filled heaters - do not leave unattended. Do not use in a gas engine room. They are not ignition protected and it's very easy to see the spark when the thermostat trips on.

I use Xtreme engine room heaters. USCG approved. If you've got the boat on a lift, by all means re-winterize the engines each time. If it was in the water it would be better insulated and engine room heaters would be an option.

Reverse cycle - Mike, being that I used to be at MYC, and almost all of those boats stay in all year, I heard reports of people still getting heat as long as the water temp was above 40-45 or so.

Where are you thinking of keeping it?
 
My worry about relying on the reverse cycle is what happens if there is a power outage. I know in theory it would not get cold enough to freeze for several hours after losing power, but what if power was out for several days?

It is why I winterized last year even with the engine room heater and will be doing the same again this year. I do plan on spending most weekends through winter on the boat though doing projects so having the reverse air comes in handy. As does a small portable heater.
 
Thanks for the inputs. It sounds like it is not unreasonable to operate the boat over the winter.

Kurt,
Boat is kept at the Atlantic Marine Resort which is located between the Magothy River and Rock Creek.

Mike
 
Mike, no option to stay in the water there as I think they pull everybody out? But they'll launch you over the winter? That's pretty decent. I've had Lincoln service things for me in the past. He's a good guy.

John, I lost power a few years ago for about 36 hours and wasn't able to get to the boat due to weather and a funeral. Highs, of course, were only in the teens. With the boat in the water, nothing froze by the time power came back on. I have online temperature sensors as well as my "boat cam" so I know as soon as there's an issue. But no, I wouldn't rely on the reverse cycle to keep things safe. And if you're not going to use the boat, winterizing the engines is the safe bet. I have the advantage since I have outboards that are self-draining and don't need to be winterized. I do have my potable and black water systems though that I keep above freezing.

Note: DO NOT LEAVE ANY NON-MARINE HEATERS PLUGGED IN! I have a friend who lives on the Bodkin and his boat burned up the other year. It was as short at the shore-power inlet. Insurance sent a diver. The diver found one of those oil-filled radiator heaters that was only in use if my friend was working on the boat. The diver told him it's a good thing it was unplugged or the insurance company would have used that against him.
 
Boat is on a lift slip, so I can drop it into the water whenever I plan to use it. I think this means it is more at risk of freezing when out of the water, which is why I will plan to drain and re-winterize after each use.

My next step will be to change my insurance to extend the operating season. They currently consider the boat as being on dry storage when it is on the lift slip as long as I am not using it. I expect there will be a significant increase in costs to add back the 5 winter months.

Mike
 
Yes, out of the water there is more of a threat of freeze damage.

Depending on your underwriter, there may be no change in rate at all. I've had at least 3 different insurers on my boat and when I have checked there has been no difference in MD for 12 month coverage. If there is a big change, then it's time to shop around. I'm currently with Progressive and have 12 months of coverage up to 125nm offshore plus northern half of the Bahamas. I do not even have hurricane restrictions.
 
Kurt,
Agreed on the heaters. I wasn't suggesting that he use an oil filled heater as an engine room heater or unattended in the cabin as it was clear that the boat would only be in the water when he was aboard and te engines winterized when it was out of the water.
 
I figured that, but I wanted to make my point :-)

I know of at least half a dozen people that leave those heaters on in their engine rooms all winter. Thankfully, I believe all of them are diesel (not that the insurance company would care).
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

I figured that, but I wanted to make my point :-)

I know of at least half a dozen people that leave those heaters on in their engine rooms all winter. Thankfully, I believe all of them are diesel (not that the insurance company would care).

Click to expand...


That is what was recommended to me at my previous marina. No need to winterize just use one of these. You can get it Home Depot.

I winterized.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

Note: DO NOT LEAVE ANY NON-MARINE HEATERS PLUGGED IN! I have a friend who lives on the Bodkin and his boat burned up the other year. It was as short at the shore-power inlet. Insurance sent a diver. The diver found one of those oil-filled radiator heaters that was only in use if my friend was working on the boat. The diver told him it's a good thing it was unplugged or the insurance company would have used that against him.

Click to expand...

Here's my question. Should the oil-filled cause a fire when the owner is not aboard, the insurance company would use that against him. If the same oil-filled heater caused a fire in the winter while he was working on the boat, why wouldn't the insurance company use that against the owner?
 
Good question. The point in this case was that it was unplugged.

You do realize we could drive ourselves crazy trying to make sense out of insurance underwriters? :-)
 
Attended vs. un-attended. I would be willing to bet that every one of them say to never leave it plugged in or even on un-attended if for no reason to cover themselves and put the liability on the owner.
 
I would never rely on an electric powered heater to prevent freezing on a boat. An electric power outage during a cold spell would cost me a couple of engines.
 
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