Winterizing

[warren631]

No trailer so I must leave my 1988 26D over winter in slip on bay at Ocean City MD. I don't know what the weather will be - maybe 1/2 inch ice with snow. The 8 hp motor is too heavy for me to lift off by myself. Should I raise the motor out of the water or leave it down (the water will probably be warmer than the air)? I'll put antifreeze into the motor water passages. Should I pump out the water ballast in case it freezes and cracks the tank? I'll fog the motor and squirt oil into the cylinders and turn it over every month. And I'll add theft alarms to the boat and motor. What does anyone think of this? Anyone want to buy it?

[Brian]

Outboards are self draining so I would tilt it up.

[NiceAft]

Not wanting to give a gut feeling answer, and wrong information, I placed a call to my boat mechanic.

He said either way is OK, but personally, he would leave the motor up.

It is recommenced if leaving the boat on the hard, to leave the motor down because of potential leakage of water into the outboard through the prop. Because you're in salt water, he leans toward leaving the motor up.

As to the ballast; you're in salt water, does the marina freeze over in the winter? If yes, empty it. If not, don't.

What have you done in the past Apparently you have been an owner for awhile.

[Russ]

When I had a keelboat in slip for winter I had a temp controlled bubbler. Basically, an air pump with a leaky hose under the boat to prevent freezing. It kept the ice from pinching the boat. It worked but caused worry.

I would find a way to lift the boat out. Not worth leaving it in.

[kurz]

@Russ
What's the problem with the boat in the water in winter? I have it there since 2011. All inclusive snow and the lake was frozen. Nothing happened so far...

Think all time if motor tilt up or down.
Down you may be complete save concerning frozen gear. If you had water int the gear it could frezze and burst the gear house.
OB down gives many plants on the OB. Put a a big old black grill shelter over the foot of the OB, then down in the water. So nearly no plants.

Maybe this year I will let the OB it. Not shure yet.

[Russ]

I had a keelboat. It's been a while and I don't remember all the reasons for using a bubbler to prevent freezing. Mine was just an air compressor plugged into a thermostat so when temps were below 0C it would turn on the compressor that pumped air into leaky pipe around the boat preventing freezing.
I was nervous about the compressor running unattended. Probably would have been smarter to have it on the dock. I only did it one year then just hauled the boat for winter.

I don't' remember all the reasons: Maybe to prevent thru hulls from freezing. Ice from damaging waterline. For some reason, I remember hearing it pinches the boat.

Our boats have outboards and my Suzuki says to store DOWN so it can drain. If the boat is in the water, it is full of water and as you mentioned, that could freeze and cause damage. In which case I would probably run some antifreeze and store it up.

As long as you have a trailer, why keep it in the water and risk. One of the best things about the Mac is we don't have to pay hundreds of dollars to haul our boats.

[kurz]

2 things:
1st: I have no place to store my boat.

Second: as long as the OB is down in the water, nothing can freeze. A freezing lake normally does not freeze deeper than some inches. So the gear stays in warm water.

[warren631]

Kurz, good idea about the bag to stop growth. I'll try a garbage bag.

[warren631]

Russ, with the ballast water pumped out she rocks in the slightest breeze so I don't think I need a bubbler. The only boat I know of that got pinched with ice was Shakalton's Endurance - but that was a lot more ice than I expect in MD. lol.

[NiceAft]

2 things:
1st: I have no place to store my boat.

Second: as long as the OB is down in the water, nothing can freeze. A freezing lake normally does not freeze deeper than some inches. So the gear stays in warm water.

Kurz,

I agree.

If the bag idea is yours, it’s ingenious. If you stole the idea from another sailor, we won’t tell.

[kurz]

Kurz,
If the bag idea is yours, it’s ingenious. If you stole the idea from another sailor, we won’t tell.

Well, don't askt how many years it took me to come to this. AND: If you see the same... It MUST come from me...

No joke: In the Mediterranean sea you can see in the early spring some yachts that have a black plastic tarp UNDER the boat. So the sun is blocked better and the the surface is cleaner. Maybe this inpired me.

Not sure how I go this year. To leave the OB down all winter... In my brain works the fear that some water COULD enter in the gear box.
Please tell me all that this is bulshit...

[SeagrovePirate]

I'm interested in this topic. I've always been at a dock with power and ran a heater in colder weather. My boat is on a mooring now and no power. I'm in North Carolina and concerned about freezing in the ballast. I'm interested in hearing what others have experienced. I hope I'm worrying over nothing.
I'm taking it out in a couple of weeks anyway to change the rigging. But I've been working on the trailer and didn't get finished in time for a freeze this week.

[Russ]

I'm interested in this topic. I've always been at a dock with power and ran a heater in colder weather. My boat is on a mooring now and no power. I'm in North Carolina and concerned about freezing in the ballast. I'm interested in hearing what others have experienced. I hope I'm worrying over nothing.
I'm taking it out in a couple of weeks anyway to change the rigging. But I've been working on the trailer and didn't get finished in time for a freeze this week.

I wonder if you could dump a bunch of rock salt into the ballast and mix it up to lower the freezing temp.

[Neo]

I always shiver we I see this thread (and similar ones) come back .... You guys are far braver than I

[warren631]

I'm leaving my 26D in the slip this winter. I closed the ballast fill valve and pumped the water out using a 'drill pump' and garden hose.
Only took ten minutes.

My main problem is rain water getting in.