MacGregorSailors.com

I like the Alcohol idea...think giant margarita....couple of long straws when you go down to check on the boat...hmmmmmm

I've done some rough calculations:

Water Ballast 26M: 1150 lbs. = 137 US gallons
15% liquid antifreeze protects to about 24 degrees F
Need 20 gallons @ $25.00/ gallon = $500.00 +tax.
WOW!

Salt would have to be dissolved into the ballast water to be effective. I don't think that just pouring raw salt into the vent hole would work.

Did I miss something? Why not just take the boat out of the water?

He did .... But allow me to ask? What kind of anti freeze are you buying for $25 a gallon.. Or ...Ice melt ( calcium Chloride ) maybe in slurry mix ?

dennisneal wrote:I've done some rough calculations:

Water Ballast 26M: 1150 lbs. = 137 US gallons
15% liquid antifreeze protects to about 24 degrees F
Need 20 gallons @ $25.00/ gallon = $500.00 +tax.
WOW!

Salt would have to be dissolved into the ballast water to be effective. I don't think that just pouring raw salt into the vent hole would work.

Did I miss something? Why not just take the boat out of the water?

Octaman wrote:Dido,
Further to all the above, my suggestion would be for you to leave open the tail gate and the bleeding valve. If water freezes then this will be the escape route for the greater ice volume.
Just a thought, as I have no experience with ice conditions on boats.
Good luck,
Octaman

If I leave my water ballast fill valve open any my air vent open, my would take on water and sink eventually. Maybe some macs are different.

sailor141 wrote:If I leave my water ballast fill valve open any my air vent open, my would take on water and sink eventually. Maybe some macs are different.

You must have a serious weight distribution problem and are very bow heavy to get the vent below the water line.

~Rich

No weight problems that Im aware of. I only have an 8hp Johnson and 1 fuel tank. Inside there are no heavy mods or extra batteries. I have left my ballast vent and valve open before and by the time I remembered it, water was gathering in the overflow basin. I would not feel comfortable leaving my boat unattended with the valve and vent holes open. I think that is a risky at best. Just my opinion.

If your gate valve is shut, there is only so much water in the tank, and it cannot expand into the overflow basin, UNLESS the gate valve is leaking, and the vent is below the outside water level. Ifthe vent is left open and all else is ok, the ballast water may splash a bit when the boat is rocking at anchor or in a slip or at a buoy, but that moisture would not be able to collect in the cup because it would drain out thru the same vent hole back into the ballast tank.

By the same measure, you should worry that water will fill up your sinks via the drains and sink the Mac.

Divecoz,

I did a very quick internet search for propylene glycol, (NOT ethylene glycol). Its a relatively safe, biodegradeable, chemical that can be used as an antifreeze. I came up with prices from $20.00/gal, (Sierra), to $35.00/gal, (Amsoil). West Marine's, (#337447), sells for $24.99.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... &langId=-1

I'm sure there are better deals, and maybe there are better products. And, maybe I've got it wrong.

Also, could removal of all of the water ballast, (by forced air, or, by a pump), permit hull failure as the water surrounding the boat freezes and expands?

Am I missing something? Why not just pull the boat out on the trailer?

cbig wrote:Am I missing something? Why not just pull the boat out on the trailer?

'Is possible that some owners do not own, but have to rent/borrow a tow vehicle, and prefer to just keep the boat in a slip year round.

If u have shore power any way to use an aquarium heater? Still haven't bout one so I'm not to familiar with how the exactly the ballast system works. Just my 2 cents.

With 6 teenagers and gear for a week cruise, my bow vent on my2002 is still above the water line....total crew weight about 950 pounds...

Went down to the Marina today, the ice is melting around the boat, however the ice is over 2 inch thick between me and the slipway, hence the reason I have not taken her out of the water. Air temp is around 4c and -1c and night for next few days so hopefully the ice will melt so I can make it to the slipway.
No shore power so heaters out of of the question, just keeping my fingers crossed that I can get her out soon, even the local river acency boat is stuck, so I don't feel quite as stupid...

This is why I live in South Carolina!

Bob

If it gets really cold, and your still stuck in the ice, you may have to get a generator and push some heat trace cable into the vent hole. How about a kerosine heater inside the cabin.?

You might be able to pump most of the water out of the ballast tank. There is a way to siphon the water out using a hose.

I used to have an old 30`wooden boat. with a bad leak. The first few weeks I owned the boat the bilge pump broke. IT took us an hour to bail it out with buckets. The following week, A fellow boater came over with a hose, he turned on the hose and let the water flow into the bilge. He turned off the hose, crimped it to trap the air and water flow, unscewed the hose and put that end into the water, a few feet deeper than the hose in the boat. He un crimped the hose and it started to siphon out the water. It took a few hours, but it works.

You just have to find a way to get the hose into the ballast vent hole and get flow. You will have to break a hole in the ice behind the motor so you can get the hose end lower than the bottom of the hull.

Good luck..