Newbie with a bad itch

[wtx]

Bought my first boat last Dec. Tested boat at lake and she ran fine. Winterized the boat and stored her under a covered shed but outside . Now in West Texas currently the temp at night is staying around 34-40 days 70-80's.

I am itch'in to get the boat out but afraid a cold front will come in and freeze it up.
Question is how cold is cold enough to freeze something up. I know I can drain the water but all the water does not drain. What is the chance of freezing?

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Newbie with a bad itch

your in Texas dude does it go below 32 degrees? if not your good.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Newbie with a bad itch

What kind of engine ? Ive pushed my luck here in Mn. its pushed 20 deg and my non-winterized boat suffered no damage. A 4.3 IO Mercruiser. Though on the other hand, there are people on this site that seam positive that your engine will explode into a zillion pieces the second the temp hits 31.5 deg. Running a 100watt light bulb, or other heat source, in the engine compartment on cold nights will give you a few degrees of protection as well...If its an IO, draining the block and exhaust manifolds is the most important. 4 plugs on my IO, draining all the hoses is a little less important, rubber has a little bit of...give..

 

[jonnymarquis]

Re: Newbie with a bad itch

i was gonna suggest a heat lamp as well when those forecasted cold night come around. it sux when we get those itches and then there is that worry in the back of our heads. i was teased for the last two or three weeks with temps in the 70s and 80s then most of this week and next week is supposed to be in upper 50s and lower 60s .

 

[oldfordcrap]

Re: Newbie with a bad itch

hey if it gets up to 70 or 80 degrees in the day you have nothing to worry about the heat gained in the day should offset the not evan freezing temp at night

 

[cribber]

Re: Newbie with a bad itch

You're in west Texas so the chances of going below freezing (32 degrees) for a significant amount of hours this time of year is pretty slim. I would say go ahead and scratch that itch!!

 

[wtx]

Re: Newbie with a bad itch

Thanks guys:

The boat is a 06 stingray 5.0 alpha stern drive. I've read too many stories of froze blocks, cracked heads, outdrives and such. We could "possibly" get a few hours of 32 degrees at night for a couple of more weeks. Was curious about how many hours it would take to freeze up if it had been drained.

I've been cruising this site and there is a ton of great advise for us newbies here...so thanks again

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Newbie with a bad itch

Thanks guys:

The boat is a 06 stingray 5.0 alpha stern drive. I've read too many stories of froze blocks, cracked heads, outdrives and such. We could "possibly" get a few hours of 32 degrees at night for a couple of more weeks. Was curious about how many hours it would take to freeze up if it had been drained.
I've been cruising this site and there is a ton of great advise for us newbies here...so thanks again

If its drained it wont freeze, I assume you mean if its not drained..
Your welcome, And ya just cant beat all the free advice ya get from all of us self proclaimed experts on everything !