Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

[JasonB]

I'm usually winterized well ahead of any freezing weather so I don't have to worry about the mercrusier freezing. No problems there, but Tennessee has a freeze warning tonight/tomorrow. Temps are forcast to be as low as 29 for an estimated 4 hours. The bad news is that I un-winterized alst week... I'm trying to decide if I need to getr out tonight and drain the block. My thinking is that that all will be ok with such a short. "mild" snap. Any thoughts?

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

15 minutes of time with a few drain plugs is some pretty cheap insurance. I drained mine for the same reason yesterday.<br /><br />Motors are expensive!

 

[JasonB]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

Yup, thought about it for a bit and just went out and drained it anyway. Usually that job takes a while on my engine (petcocks on engine-easy, plugs in manifolds-not easy), but I had installed a couple radiator type drain valves in the manifolds last fall. Makes it much easier. Now I just have a wrist cramp from snaking my hand to one of the engine drains.<br /><br />I don't think this "freeze" would hurt it, but I wouldn't sleep very well if I didn't. Too much time and $$$ in that motor...

 

[weatherz]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

I would hook up a service light and put it in the bilge for tonight. A 60 watter would do to keep her warm.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

Thought about that too Wynter, would be a bad plan on my boat right now. She has a leaky fuel line that drips very slowly until empty until I get to replace it in a few days. That could get ugly...

 

[yoced]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

Jason, <br />I just had a customer call for new manifolds....<br />He lives in TN, and has some brand new horizontal cracks in his manifolds... <br />Glad you got yours done.

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

Just a point nobody seems to mention. Please ignore my bad geography as I dont know where you live. but do you boat in salt water, if so salt water freezes at a considerably lower temperature than fresh water. Please drain anyway its always puzzled me why nobody mentions the difference.

 

[BRG25]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

I've seen this asked about a billion times over the last few years on iboats. The eternal "how cold is too cold?" question. There are about as many oppinions on this as people who ask the question. You can't change physics! My oppinion is that if you have the potential of freezing temps then it's too cold out! Go find something else to do and leave the boat alone! If you must go out, drain the block and manifolds when you get home. It ain't that hard...even I can do it.<br /><br />

Originally posted by JasonB:<br /> Thought about that too Wynter, would be a bad plan on my boat right now. She has a leaky fuel line that drips very slowly until empty until I get to replace it in a few days. That could get ugly...

This illustrates exactly why NOT to put a freaking light bulb in the bilge. If you're going to do this, why not just fire up the old salamander and do it right?? <br /><br />Just my 2 cents...<br /><br />Brian

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Freezing Tenps, damage likely?

One thing I would have factored into my decision: was the boat in the water with a cover (& if so, what is the water temp) or is the boat out in the open on a trailor?