Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

[MJG24]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

Who said this????????? I sure didn't!

You said 'not starting it can be harmful'. What is the "no win" situation you referred to? I assumed you meant winterizing (or storage) vs. starting it up a few times per month.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

May be true, but not starting it can be harmful as well. Mercruiser dealer told me it can be a "no win" situation. Since we've owned this boat ('09), during our winters here in northeast Florida, we've started the engine a couple of times each month and let it run to op temperature.

In my opinion you are being misinformed or not understanding the information as presented to you. One 3-4 month layup will not harm an engine if it was ok when it was stored. Leaving water in it when temps can get to freezing or below is definitely a LOSE-LOSE, again just my opinion.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

There are folks who store their boat during our winters and never start them until Spring. For those that do winterize them here, it's obvious that they wouldn't start their boat due to being winterized. Once a boat is winterized and then started before Spring/warmth sets in, that "winterization" is gone. But those that don't winterize, some of them don't start their boat each month to get everything in the engine going and I was told that that isn't good either. The "no win" situation is: when it's not winterized, I was told to start it up a couple of times a month so the engine can circulate oil/pistons run. On the other hand, by starting it up on the muffs, a person is putting water into the engine that has the possibility of freezing at some time. Obviously, when it's winterized that posibility is not there. BTW, winterizing is not the same thing as "storage". Winterizing is something done by folks who live in a real winter climate and storage is just that........storing a boat, period (being in a garage, by a house, in Dry Storage or in a Boat/RV storage facility like we do.

You said 'not starting it can be harmful'. What is the "no win" situation you referred to? I assumed you meant winterizing (or storage) vs. starting it up a few times per month.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

And, I was told that Florida doesn't have hours upon hours of freezing temps......like the northern states do. A few hours of cold-to-freezing temps isn't going to hurt a boat engine, like all the hours in a day/night that would occur in Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, etc.

In my opinion you are being misinformed or not understanding the information as presented to you. One 3-4 month layup will not harm an engine if it was ok when it was stored. Leaving water in it when temps can get to freezing or below is definitely a LOSE-LOSE, again just my opinion.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

I have been told that "winterizing" is not needed in Florida. We haven't "winterized" our 1992 20' Cuddy Cabin since we bought it here in 2009 and it seems to have been fine each Spring.

So why did you even start this thread if you were told you didn't need to and haven't done it before? Are you trying to get someone to talk you into doing it, or do you just want reassurance that you're doing the right thing?

I'll bet there's a little voice in the back of your mind saying "You better winterize, you better winterize" and you're just trying to make it shut up. I don't know about you, but every time I go against my instincts it comes back to bite me in the butt.

 

[MJG24]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

OK. I agree with Maclin, that you've been given a lot of misinformation.

And, like jigngrub, I also don't see the point of the thread either.

 

[Vankaye]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

Living in Central Florida, the TampaBay area for the last 27 years... I've never had to winterize anything. I also never find any ice
outside more than a very thin sheet. Around here water just doesn't freeze solid. Cold temperatures are big news items in this area. We get warned and warned about the one or two nights a year that get below 32* On those night, I do stick a droplight with a 60w bulb in the engine compartment for the night. But this year my boat is in high+dry.

But where you are is prolly different. Do puddles or buckets of water freeze solid around your house? If so, I would take the time to winterize...

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

I started this Thread in HOPES that I would get some replies from folks here in northeast FL.........to see what they think/do. I know that winterizing is like a MUST in the a lot of states, it sure was when we lived south of Denver, CO. My concern was over this new long block that we had put in in August, but have been told that having both covers (full and deck) and blankets or perhaps a few sheets of house insulation over the engine would be all we'd need. Our current overnight temps have been in the higher 40's to mid 50's w/daytimes in the 70's. Heck, this coming weekend we will be close to 80.
Perhaps my curiousity about what other FL boat owners do was getting the best of me.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

No (to your question below).

Living in Central Florida, the TampaBay area for the last 27 years... I've never had to winterize anything. I also never find any ice
outside more than a very thin sheet. Around here water just doesn't freeze solid. Cold temperatures are big news items in this area. We get warned and warned about the one or two nights a year that get below 32* On those night, I do stick a droplight with a 60w bulb in the engine compartment for the night. But this year my boat is in high+dry.

But where you are is prolly different. Do puddles or buckets of water freeze solid around your house? If so, I would take the time to winterize...

 

[sktn77a]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

The block would actually get as much as 4 degrees F COLDER than the air temperature on nights with a calm, clear starry sky.
This is due to radiation cooling and the effect is very real.
There is the real possibility that the block could freeze on a calm, clear night with the air temperature between 33 and 36F!

Huh???

 

[smitty28]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

Theres such a simple answer to this that will solve your problem....... Use your boat as much or as little as you would like to this winter BUT after Each and Every time you use it, PULL THE DRAIN PLUGS on the block and manifolds... it takes 3 minutes. Your engine is now protected from freeze damage IF the temps get below 33. Running the engine once a month does NOTHING for it except fill the engine with more water.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

It may take YOU 3 minutes, but I think you COULD be much younger than I am.......and in better physical shape (I'm 63)! Anyway, we are going to start it up this weekend and I will see if I can get my body in the engine compartment to do this......absolutely nothing guaranteed however that I will be able to do it! Pull plugs on the block (already know there is one on each side) and manifolds (didn't know about those). I'm the "computer" type of dude, not any kind of mechanic!

Theres such a simple answer to this that will solve your problem....... Use your boat as much or as little as you would like to this winter BUT after Each and Every time you use it, PULL THE DRAIN PLUGS on the block and manifolds... it takes 3 minutes. Your engine is now protected from freeze damage IF the temps get below 33. Running the engine once a month does NOTHING for it except fill the engine with more water.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

If getting down there to drain the engine block/manifolds is getting to be too much for you, perhaps it's time to consider selling the I/O and getting an outboard powered boat.

PROBLEM SOLVED!

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

The Admiral/Boss (wife) wouldn't go for that at all........period! Nope, not even a consideration. I have to agree.

If getting down there to drain the engine block/manifolds is getting to be too much for you, perhaps it's time to consider selling the I/O and getting an outboard powered boat.

PROBLEM SOLVED!

 

[Maclin]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

Ask the Admiral to drain it then

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

Huh???

Radiative Cooling; It isn't something to be ignored!

Many folks in the South will commonly see ice on the puddles, or in a bucket, with the Air Temperature still in the mid 30's.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

plain and simple... folks in florida and all other parts of the world make mistakes!... Not winterizing a boat if there is any chance that the temp is going below about 40 is one of those mistakes... ALL of the ideas you mentioned... insulation, covers, timing how long it will be cold are VERY poor risky decisions.... If you can't drain the water and can't afford to have it drained for you then you can't use your boat till spring unless you are willing to gamble on needing a new engine.

Also there is no electric heat source that would work off of 12v without about a truckload of batteries every couple days

This is a really simple question with a really simple answer.... Do it right or take a chance. No amount of talking in circles will change the physics that want to crack your engine block.

One more thing.... after you decide whether you can reach into the engine compartment, if yes, then I would HIGHLY suggest that you get a service manual that covers your engine and read the winterization procedure... the are a couple more steps besides opening drains... there are usually a couple of hoses that should be removed and drained and often a couple spots that a little rv antifreeze should be added..... also yes you also have to drain and protect any and all systems that have water.... After first draining, I use 2 gallons of rv antifreeze on my fresh water system and water heater, and 1 gallon in my head, and my generator and it's muffler.

My engines are closed cooling so they have normal green antifreeze in them all the time but I still have to drain my manifolds and remove a hose on each engine to drain the heat exchanger and power steering cooler.

 

[sam60]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

plain and simple... folks in florida and all other parts of the world make mistakes!... Not winterizing a boat if there is any chance that the temp is going below about 40 is one of those mistakes... ALL of the ideas you mentioned... insulation, covers, timing how long it will be cold are VERY poor risky decisions.... If you can't drain the water and can't afford to have it drained for you then you can't use your boat till spring unless you are willing to gamble on needing a new engine.

Also there is no electric heat source that would work off of 12v without about a truckload of batteries every couple days

This is a really simple question with a really simple answer.... Do it right or take a chance. No amount of talking in circles will change the physics that want to crack your engine block.

One more thing.... after you decide whether you can reach into the engine compartment, if yes, then I would HIGHLY suggest that you get a service manual that covers your engine and read the winterization procedure... the are a couple more steps besides opening drains... there are usually a couple of hoses that should be removed and drained and often a couple spots that a little rv antifreeze should be added..... also yes you also have to drain and protect any and all systems that have water.... After first draining, I use 2 gallons of rv antifreeze on my fresh water system and water heater, and 1 gallon in my head, and my generator and it's muffler.

My engines are closed cooling so they have normal green antifreeze in them all the time but I still have to drain my manifolds and remove a hose on each engine to drain the heat exchanger and power steering cooler.

Great advice. Last year I drained the block, manifolds and drive. This spring I had to sweat the end of a heat exchanger back on to the barrel. What a pain to remove and re-install!

 

[aerobat]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

The Admiral/Boss (wife) wouldn't go for that at all........period! Nope, not even a consideration. I have to agree.

what boat and what engine are you talking about in all this thread ?

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Winterization In Florida........Yes or No?

1992 Celebrity 200 Cuddy Cabin.
Engine: GM/Chevy 5.7L-350
Bought here (northeast FL) in 2009 and never winterized. Have had no problems due to not being winterized.

Now, I am finding out, thru replies from boaters that live here in Florida, that winterizing a boat is not necessary here. I've even heard, "it's a waste of money, it just doesn't stay cold enough here." It was 42 degrees this morning when I got up, but will be going up to 77 today. I was told that that couple of hours of 42 degrees isn't going to hurt a boat engine here at all.

what boat and what engine are you talking about in all this thread ?