Leaving it in for the winter?

[AndyTheRookie]

Hi all,
I'm looking at leaving our R23 in the water over the Winter, hoping for some cold but sunny days!
We're on Vancouver Island so temps do drop below freezing sometimes....
What advice/experienc can anyone give....good or bad idea?
Also if I do leave it in, tips on how to winterize the boat so nothing freezes 🙂
Thanks

 

[Cutwater28GG]

I leave mine in the sound for the winter near anacortes. so similar conditions to you. the seawater will keep the boat a little warmer than freezing but you can have challenges if its cold for a long time and items are way from the submerged hull. this means the big question is whether you put antifreeze in the fresh water tank. which has the downside of tasting of antifreeze for a while come spring ... some people put alcohol in instead.

I have a engine room heater. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/caframo--pali-bilgesafe-heater-400w-with-thermostat--12960282

I have two dehumidifier heaters in the cabin. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west...fan-dehumidifier-120v-ac--7867518?recordNum=4

first year I left the freshwater tanks full. no tank issues. But the droplets of residual water in the galley and outside sink deformed the spray heads. Now I just unscrew these and remove come October - will do again this year.
second year the boat was serviced in Jan so it was on the hard. they drained the freshwater system (you can just move the over pressure switch on the hot water tank manually and it will pump out by itself into the bilge). they didnt put antifreeze into the tank.

I will also pour a little antifreeze into the shower sump via the shower drain and also the waste tank via the toilet.

I keep the diesel tank full to avoid condensation int he tank - getting water into the fuel.

keep the seacock closed when not in use.

I can still use the boat in the winter - just no fresh water. unplug shore power and lift out the caframo from the engine bay. (dehumidifiers stay plugged in as the 110v circuit is off anyway - when off shore power. )

for the engine heater, some folks mount the caframo on the bulk head and run the wiring properly. I dont do this, I just let it sit on the high platform in the engine room (out of the bilge) and run the cable over the engine and through the gap where the fuel tank access is into cabin where I plug it into a 110v socket above the oven (cutwater). takes 2 mins to remove if I want to take the boat out. I open the engine door anyway to turn on the seacock so its not a big deal.

Come the spring its removed for the season.

There are some beautiful boating days in the winter, I dont want to give these up with a full winterizatoin and we dont have to here in BC/PNW. not like those poor midwest /east coast boaters who shrink wrap and store boats in heated sheds 😀

 

[Matty]

You mean northeast coast folks. The really nice weather is just starting in FL. This is our first "winter" with our R27 and I cannot wait to be boating November - March with the cooler breeze.


Having owned a travel trailer up north years ago I would not take any chances with freezing. Many of the vulnerable parts are in hard to work places and you don't want split hoses, hot water heaters etc...Found that out when my hot water heater split down the middle one winter. Thought I drained it but apparently not.

 

[jagizzi]

I pulled mine for a part of last winter and it was in for the other part. Fresh water was drained and then I vacuumed the additional water out. That worked fine but I was methodical about getting each circuit.

I pulled antifreeze through the saltwater system as that was simple and protected the toilet and holding tank.

The only other issue, and it is debated here, is the outboard. Rain does collect in the lower unit over time but we all want to tilt up. If you are close and can tilt down for the cold spells then all is good. Leaving it up folks seemed to have no issues but I feel that at some point we'll get a long enough cold spell and we'll see some damaged lower units. That choice in going to be up to you

Jim

 

[Irish Mist]

We leave ours in all winter with no issues at all.. We do live in it full time though 🙂 We only had a few times last year with some frost on the dock. never an issue with any systems not working ever.. this will be our third winter here. I can tell you though winters in Florida are pretty nice and everything works well there all winter as well 🙂 May have to re visit to make sure one of these winters 🙂

 

[10PoundHammer]

I’m looking at the Pali 400 for my C30? Is there a “plug-in” in the engine compartment or do you route it through to the main cabin plugs through the bulkhead somehow. Would appreciate hearing from someone who has done this. Thanks.

 

[YukonRon]

There are some beautiful boating days in the winter, I dont want to give these up with a full winterizatoin and we dont have to here in BC/PNW. not like those poor midwest /east coast boaters who shrink wrap and store boats in heated sheds 😀

Ya, I feel so bad for those who have to put their boats in heated sheds for the winter. :roll:
I do the full winterization for as long as it is freezing at night. Up here that means September to June.
So looking forward to moving to Vancouver Island next summer!! 😀

 

[Irish Mist]

Hammer
I put light bulbs in the engine room.. Surprising how much of a difference a couple 100 watt bulbs make.
For power I did not get the built in BBQ, but the wire and accessory breaker were installed, but not connected. I added an outlet and connected to the breaker.. Not sure if that would work for you. Mine is a 2011 tug so not sure how the c30 is wired. But it was a pleasant surprise.. Same as installing the diesel heater and finding all the wiring for power in place and labeled.
Better to be safe with your heat so you sleep good at night and are not second guessing your decisions for your empty boat.

 

[Kathy H]

I’m looking at the Pali 400 for my C30? Is there a “plug-in” in the engine compartment or do you route it through to the main cabin plugs through the bulkhead somehow. Would appreciate hearing from someone who has done this. Thanks.

We set the Pali 400 on the shelf aft of the engine, run the cord through the hatch access under the cabin door and plug into the corner port outlet near the stove in our C30.

 

[marcham]

In Comox our sailboats also stay in the water year round. We empty the water tanks and either leave a 100W bulb on or a portable heater on it's lowest setting to cut down the humidity. Move cushions in such a way to allow air flow. Biocide in the diesel tank and we start the engines every 2 months.

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