De-winterizing- When is it safe?

[Ajax]

When is it safe to de-winterize (and leave it that way)?

Even if the water temperature is 40 degrees, the engine is on a pedestal, exposed to the air. If the air temperature plunges to 29 degrees, isn't the engine at risk?

What say you?

[Mo]

Ajax, where do you live?
I find that I can fire up the engine and leave it here without winterizing:
-on the hard around the 1st of April.
-in the water around 1st of March.

Believe it or not, the temp inside a boat in the water, is a little warmer than if on the hard.

FYI, in January of this year we had a C30 sink alongside a dock in Eastern Passage. Temp dropped to about 0 F and he hadn't winterized it. The strainer froze and broke then she filled with water until she sat on her keel...she was half full inside. Her lines kept her upright and they put a pump on her, re-floated her and closed the intake thru hull. This time of year the days are getting longer, and sun is on the boat. Temp may be around the freezing point at night, however, with a boat in the water the water is warmer and will make the difference.

My boat is on the hard so I won't fire it up and loose my anti-freeze for a couple of weeks...unless, of course we show signs of an early spring.

[Ajax]

I'm in the Chesapeake Bay, near Shawn.

I'm up in a cove, where the water is a tad fresher, and hence freezes a tad earliear than the main bay. The boat is in the water.

[edwardc]

As I recall, you're a little further south on the Bay than me (Solomons vs Baltimore), but I usually wait until April 1st. But last year was so warm that I did it in mid-March. In any event, I think we're almost there.

Even at an outside air temperature of 29, it's going to take a 300 lb engine, sitting in an enclosed compartment surrounded by 40 degree seawater, a long time to get down to freezing.

I kept my boat in the water this year, and I have a recording thermometer in the cabin. For what its worth, the air temp in the cabin never got below 19 this winter, despite some week-long hard freezes we had that were well below that. Being in the water definitely moderates the temperature in the boat. As always, YMMV.

[roadnsky]

Ajax-
To go with Mo's comment's I'll add this...
I think your surrounding WATER temp is important.
I keep my boat in the water year 'round and do not winterize it.

The AIR temps drop below freezing a few times during the winter.
We even get a little snow.
But the water temps surrounding the boat stay in the 50's.

As Mo said, I've been on my boat when it's in the 20's outside and it's at least 10-15° warmer in the cabin.
As a precaution, if I know it's gonna get to low temps, I leave the engine hatch off and the bilge boards off to let the warmer cabin air circulate.

EDIT: Ed was typing while I was. Mo and Ed know better because they're in equal climates.

[Ajax]

Ok, thanks guys.

I ask the question because I want to test the engine after all the winter maintenance I'm performing, but I don't want to have to re-winterize.

[Mo]

I think you are good to go at this time. I could have mine in the water here and be fine.

[edwardc]

EDIT: Ed was typing while I was. Mo and Ed know better because they're in equal climates.

Things must look different from Nevada.
Nova Scotia is about 1000 miles North-East of me!

I guess out there in the "Big Country", 1000 miles is considered next-door!

[ndutton]

Man, I feel for you guys. Jerry, how was it in NV yesterday? 107° in San Bernardino with snow still on the mountaintops for us.

[joe_db]

I have been running since last weekend.

http://www.dellabarba.com/sailing/findcoquina1.html

My cabin temp is 55 degrees right now. The heat won't come in until it gets down to 40. so the sun must be warming the boat up.

[roadnsky]

Things must look different from Nevada.
Nova Scotia is about 1000 miles North-East of me!

I guess out there in the "Big Country", 1000 miles is considered next-door!

Funny guy...
Iknow, I know. I should'a wrote that you both winterize and live in colder climates than me.

[roadnsky]

...Jerry, how was it in NV yesterday? 107° in San Bernardino with snow still on the mountaintops for us.

Unfortunately, I don't know. I'm in San Antonio...
But, as I write this I'm in the airport on the way home and plan to spend the next four days on the hook "camping" and sailing!
Temps are supposed to be Hi of 80's and Lo of 60's
Suuuueeeeeet!!

(Sorry guys who are still on the hard)

[Ajax]

I have been running since last weekend.

http://www.dellabarba.com/sailing/findcoquina1.html

My cabin temp is 55 degrees right now. The heat won't come in until it gets down to 40. so the sun must be warming the boat up.

Joe,

You're de-winterized? It's supposed to get down into the 20's tonight. Bleh.

Well, I didn't let the temperatures stop me. I got the last of my engine maintenance done this afternoon, and tested the engine by running the last of my pink anti-freeze through it rather than open the seacock.

[Mo]

Joe...you are in MD right? .... if the boat is in salt water should be fine. -10 Celcius is about 14 F....I had mine in the water fairly early last year had -10 C a few times without a problem at all...no heat either. It would do damage unprotected on the hard though

[joe_db]

The cabin is down to 46 now. The heater won't let it get below 40, so no worries. I did have to replace my hose nozzle - it froze at some point and cracked. I forgot to drain the hose and left it on deck

EDIT - This morning down to 39.

Joe,

You're de-winterized? It's supposed to get down into the 20's tonight. Bleh.

Well, I didn't let the temperatures stop me. I got the last of my engine maintenance done this afternoon, and tested the engine by running the last of my pink anti-freeze through it rather than open the seacock.