Inboards and cold weather?

[bsb]

I don't have any experience with inboards. My boat is FWC and i was wondering about the sea water side of the cooling system freezing after i flush it when it is below freezing out. There is a small amount of water that stays in the system from the sea water pump to the exhaust outlets. Is this something to be concerned about? If i don't flush the motor after i use it i don't think the sea water will freeze but fresh water will. Any advice or experience would greatly be appreciated. I have found that loosening the cover on the sea water pump will drain this excess water but is that necessary?

[ocuyler]

Winterizing

[Scott]

for whatever reason I couldnt open that link ...sure its on my end [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

but

Ummm. Salt water freezes ...just lower than fresh due to the dissolved solids in it .... around 28 degrees ..depending on salinity

The inboards we had were FWC but the raw water side always got flushed with antifreeze...

Even on the 38 I worked on (diesels/block heaters) ...that boat wintered in the water and we flushed the engines .... We had T's off the raw water intakes as "crash pumps" ...used then to flush out and winterize the engines. Even at that we had corrosion problems in the heat exchangers .... I would want to flush that salt out of there at the very least

[bsb]

Thanks for the info. I plan on using the boat most of the winter. I trailer the boat and really did not want to have to winterize it every time i took the boat out. Sometimes 3-4 times a week. I have seen engine compartment heaters and thought maybe that might be an option. Usually doesn't get that cold here in southern virginia but sometimes it does. I guess if there is no option i will flush with antifreeze everytime. WHAT A PAIN!!!!!!

[ocuyler]

If you're going to use the boat that much throughout the winter, I would seriously look into a block heater and/or engine compartment heater.

We use Kim Hotstart for our forklifts.

[Miles Offshore]

Hey Bandit, not saying that its not a bad idea but I never winterize mine- if it gets really super duper cold like it did for a while last winter I put a 60 watt light bulb in my motor box. I normally fish through about the 2nd, maybe 3rd week of february depending on the fish and usually haul it in March/april. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Scott]

Bandit ....I thought you were taking her out for the winter !!
Like Otto and Miles ...keep the block warm ....we actually use to do the light bulb thing too ... but I figured you would think I was crazy .... It really helps ... Up here things get to cold …the Bay is solid frequently …even the river so almost everything is out of the water by late December

Now, get an electric blanket, a long power cord .... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Capt Chuck]

In New Jersey we "

actually use to do the light bulb thing too

and we also

get an electric blanket, a long power cord

because

It really helps ... Up here things get to cold

[Miles Offshore]

Dont laugh to hard Chuck, remember you ARE in florida- weahther patterns could change.............LOLOL [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]