Extreme Winterization

[tlkenyon]

We just took delivery of our R21 (pre-EC) last Tuesday. We bought it from a fellow in North Carolina. On Sunday, we took the opportunity to do a short run on the last relatively warm day this year (38F). After the run, I did the winterization with the RV pink according to the factory guidance and the information in previous posts on this topic. I will also pull the batteries before hard freeze-up.

My question is...will this be sufficient where it gets real cold...like -25F? The boat will be stored outside under canvas cover.

Thank-you in advance for your reply. We are extremely excited to join the tugnut fraternity and can't wait until spring!

TK

 

[rt11002003]

I'm unfamilar with your engine. If the factory told you what to do I'm sure you got good advice. But, if your engine is raw water cooled you need to run it long enough for the termostat to open, then run antifreeze thru the cooling system. If it's fresh water cooled, it wouldn't hurt to put new antifreeze in the cooling system.

I've always kept an engine compartment heater on board my boats. When the temp drops really low, I run it. I tend to be very cautious after having freeze damage to an engine several years ago.

Gene

 

[j&lgray]

In that extreme cold, I would also remove the cover to the sea water impeller and remove the impeller because in that extreme cold, the rubber impeller's folded blades that remain under tension can become brittle or perhaps lose their ability to bounce back.

Put RV antifreeze in the P-traps under the sink and consider running a solution through the head.

 

[River Rat]

TK; I also have a 21 but it is an EC. Be sure to empty the sea water cover as it is plastic and will surly break in your winter climate. It's located on the left side of the engine compartment when looking aft from the pilot house companionway. It simply unscrews and has a metal filter inside of it.

 

[tlkenyon]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I did empty the water strainer and opened the seacock. Is there a way to drain the heat exchanger?

 

[RProffer]

If you installed anti-freeze through the T-fitting, then your heat exchanger should be covered. You won't need to drain the heat exchanger.

 

[tlkenyon]

Thanks....we ran a total of about 6 quarts thru the system and it was really PINK coming out of the exhaust. The rest went into the bilge and it (the pump discharge) ran quite pink also. Then pulled the plug. Will pull the batteries this weekend.

 

[RProffer]

Sounds good to me. Make sure you place the batteries on wood. They will last longer that way. Placing batteries on concrete will kill them.

 

[walldog]

Or you could trailer it South. :ugeek: :twisted: :lol:

 

[Stella Maris]

I say go West! Go west young man! We are starting our second winter of boating in the PNW. While it may be "colder" (I say colder because compared to Vegas in the summer, it is cold in the PNW all the time) the boating is still spectacular! Last year the week between Christmas and New Years, we did the San Juans for the first time.
We virtually had Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor to ourselves!

You do have to keep a close eye on the weather though as the winter storms are much more intense that the summer storms. That being said, you watch the weather and go when you get the window! Next week if we get the window, we will be headed to Victoria for Thanksgiving! Snow and rain will not stop us..... wind on the other hand..... well that could stop us. And, its not the wind that will stop us, it will be the waves created by the wind. And should the wind be a factor, we will simply find somewhere else to go.

 

[tlkenyon]

When I retire...someday. Warm waters and cool breezes. Until then, back to the mines.

 

[Steamboat_Willie]

Make sure you place the batteries on wood. They will last longer that way. Placing batteries on concrete will kill them.

Years ago this storage precaution for wet cell batteries was quite true. Now this is no longer the case due to the improvement of battery technology over the years:
http://www.thebatteryterminal.com/TechTalk_Batteries_on_Concrete.htm
I've always stored my boat batteries in the basement of my home here in NJ where my indoor basement temps can dip to the low 60's in the cold of winter with no noticeable problems come springtime deployment. I will give them a quick charge about once a month or so just to keep them topped off during the storage period.