Staying on the water during winter

[John McCurdy]

Hi, thanks to the moderators for the add. Very new to boating and this forum is fantastic!

Some background: I’m hoping to close on a 2017 R25SC that will be kept in a covered slip with a lift, on a lake in northern Arkansas. We have pretty mild winters, but occasionally see temps close to zero. Unfortunately the marina doesn’t have full shore power, just a standard 110V receptacle. I’m looking at other marinas but waiting times are about a year.

I’d really like to be out on the water all winter, but I don’t know if that’s feasible. The idea of pulling the boat home and then storing it up all winter is a bummer!

Is it possible to winterize the fresh water system but keep the engine usable during the winter? As I understand it the boat has a bilge heater, but I doubt I’ll be able to keep it powered up given the limited power at the dock. I was thinking it might be possible to keep an oil-filled heater on a thermostat in the cabin and open the access port, but I really doubt that would keep the engine room above freezing on really cold nights. Maybe there’s a lower wattage safe way to keep the engine compartment warm?

Guessing this isn’t really feasible given the lack of full shore power, but thought I’d at least throw it out there. I know a lot of you all use these boats in much colder climates than Arkansas.

 

[Mastercraft]

Buy an adepter plug from Amazon 30 amp to 15 amp….

RV Cable Electrical Locking Adapter Converter Plug Socket Connector 15A Male to 30A Female 3-Prong 125V​

Use twin hornet 45 700W bilge heater
Maybe one for cabin and one for bilge, may be pushing the limit for 15 amp cord, maybe you have 20 amp household type plug cord

 

[Mastercraft]

Another option for cabin is Amazon metal milkhouse heater

$35 instead of $299

HOMEBASIX LH872 Mini Milk House Heater, 750/1500-watt​

Make sure the low setting is 750w and not 1300w …. Many of them have a low of 1300w
The thermostat is not vary accurate on these it still functional.

 

[it4llc]

I keep our C28 in the water year round. I do winterize the fresh water system by draining the water I can and then blowing out the lines with pressurized air. I have an Xtreme bilge heater in the engine compartment - I know there are a lot of cheaper options out there, but I read too many articles on heater fires to be comfortable with that. Our marina has bubblers in case it gets that cold, which it rarely does here in DC.

 

[Chimo]

We have a 2017 RT25SC…..Good choice. It’s kept in the water year round and I do run the boat every couple of weeks.

I used to use a https://www.westmarine.com/west-mar...e_demandware_net__WestMarine__products__en_US in the engine compartment, knowing that it wasn’t protected for that environment. My argument (with myself) was that I was running diesel not gas so the fire risk was low. Then I thought about the imaginary conversation with my insurance company if I had a fire. They would use any reason not to pay out. I also thought about the value of the boat vs the price of the correct heater and bought a https://www.westmarine.com/caframo-pali-bilgesafe-heater-400w-with-thermostat-12960282.html. It works beautifully, low power and is safe for an engine room.

I do winterize the water system.

 

[Maggie Anne]

If you haven't already you should check out the Ranger Tug webinar on winterizing. After watching their video, I made up a air compressor system like they describe and use it to blow out the water lines after draining the water heater and fresh water tank. I also pump out the black water tank (as much as possible, it never seems to go to completely empty) and then add anti-freeze. I also use an Xtreme bilge heater in the engine compartment

 

[John McCurdy]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is the best online community, and one of the main reasons we decided on a Ranger Tug.

 

[Jcat2010]

On water storage - anyone use their generator in the winter ? It's winterizing time again, but with the Yamaha we still have nice days when we can get the boat out for the day. Boat will stay in salt water this year. I plan to drain the fresh water, winterize the air conditioner, winterize the raw water pump, and shower. Pump out the black water and flush some pink. Lower the outboard to protect the lower unit. It would be nice to have the generator available. Anyone have a good solution for not winterizing the generator ? A bilge heater might work, but in a bad storm the power is always the first to go. Just looking for others' experience.

 

[Pau Hana Port Ludlow]

where do you run the power cord to the heater? Picking one of these up tomorrow for the cold spell coming next week in puget sound.

We have a 2017 RT25SC…..Good choice. It’s kept in the water year round and I do run the boat every couple of weeks.

I used to use a https://www.westmarine.com/west-mar...e_demandware_net__WestMarine__products__en_US in the engine compartment, knowing that it wasn’t protected for that environment. My argument (with myself) was that I was running diesel not gas so the fire risk was low. Then I thought about the imaginary conversation with my insurance company if I had a fire. They would use any reason not to pay out. I also thought about the value of the boat vs the price of the correct heater and bought a https://www.westmarine.com/caframo-pali-bilgesafe-heater-400w-with-thermostat-12960282.html. It works beautifully, low power and is safe for an engine room.

I do winterize the water system.

 

[William Sanborn]

For my R27 Diesel I have two Milk House type catalic heaters one in the Engine bay, and the other under the dining table. Open all the doors on the galley side, and in the head pull out the false floor under the sink and block the head door open. All this allows heat into all the spaces with plumbing. The Boat is in the water (River) and current mixes the water so very little chance of the water freezing.