That big freeze in the PNW

[Hydraulicjump]

There was a lot of chatter over how to handle the very low temps around Seattle and the rest of the PNW this winter. I was wondering if any of you recorded real consequences. I am sure all of those who put in heaters in their engine compartments and drained their pipes did just fine. We got back to our boat this week to see how it did. We had a friend turn on the space heater in the cabin and open/drain all the lines. No sign of any damage (had the boat out on glassy calm waters yesterday with temps in the 50’s!…where were the rest of you?). Other than one head-scratcher I cannot figure out, the strategy worked. In the galley only (this has no impact on the head) the hot water now runs slowly, about half the discharge of the cold water in the galley. That makes absolutely no sense unless there is a constriction in the hot water line only as it comes from the main line to the galley sink. Again, everything else works to spec.

So, other than this weird loss of flow rate on just the hot water in the galley—and correlation is not causation, meaning I can’t necessarily blame the deep freeze—the 49 degree bath of Elliott Bay plus the space heater was good enuf.

Dense fog in Elliott Bay this morning. Not a good morning for boating.

Jeff

 

[JeffreyAC77]

Our R-31 CB (LE) is on Lake Union. We made sure the water pressure was off and opened up all the faucets. Had an automatic heater (turns on at 38 degrees) in the forward part of the cabin......nothing else.....didn't drain anything. Had no consequences and all systems functioning properly. Also did not have any frozen water around the boat during the freeze.

 

[SJI Sailor]

We lost one bilge pump (actually both, but I think the forward one was just coincidental in the timer circuit dying).

We were berthed in Friday Harbor with pretty choppy water. That formed a big sheet of ice on the aft starboard side, where the water sprayed up from the swim platform and dock action bouncing in the water. I suspect the pump was pumping against the exterior ice and broke -- the timer circuit would activate but pump was dead when I went to check (we were staying on land).

Everything else did great using Twin Hornet bilge heater plus Caframo cabin heater (and Webasto on low as a backup). All cabinets etc. open. IIRC the lowest low was 9F and a couple of days had highs around 17F. No plumbing issues or anything. We do have shutoff valves for the transom shower and have not yet tried it but assume it will be OK.

I would do everything the same way again except try to find a quieter slip that would get less spray!

 

[Diatom]

Same here - no damage from cold with bilge/cabin heaters & occasional hot water heater (though the hi amperage may have contributed to subsequent shore power cord failure). What bothers me most is contingency upon steady power supply - we have frequent/protracted power outages. I'm close enough to run down & burn some diesel (Yanmar + Wallas) in a pinch, but I'd rather have a failsafe setup a bit more robust than relying upon bulk ocean temp.

Inner harbour had significant ice sheet; had to brush snow off canvas daily; lots of icicles decorating the Misty Blue.

/tmm

 

[Ernie]

My r31 was lowered into the water for delivery just as the bottom fell out of the thermometers, 12/27 there was no freshwater on board. A couple days at Des Moines then home Elliott Bay
I had no engine room heater. I kept heat pretty high inside. No damage or problems after the thaw.
Good cold weather lessons this year.

 

[CaptT]

Went down last week and put a second Damp Rid on the boat, 80 degree Temps with humidity in the 70's.
After living in Minnesota for 22+ years I feel your pain.......but I doubt if you can feel mine and I understand it. :mrgreen:
Flag on the play for taunting!

 

[zekeandboone]

Here's what I did.....
Maybe WAY too much..
Our 31 is on the RT dock in Des Moines. We are 2 1/2-3 hours drive away.
I drained the water tank and the hot water tank. Left all taps open. And heater tank safety valve open
Ran pink antifreeze thru shower sump and the engine..
Opened up all doors/cupboards.
Set a Hotbox heater on low in cabin, and one aimed towards the engine bay through the open hatch just inside the cabin door..
Worried about it... Calmed worries with applications of quality beer.
Visited boat after the big freeze, but still cold at the dock ..28Deg.. I used an infrared thermometer and shot all over the boat.. Lowest was 41...
Filled the water tank, and tried my best to bleed the system. Took a while..

 

[Chriscz128]

No issues for me with the boat at Shilshole in Ballard. I had a Pali heater in the main cabin and was able to check on the boat regularly. SJI Sailor (or anyone) do you know what temperature the Webasto on low setting the cabin stays at?

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Very informative. Thanks everyone. Today was another perfect PNW winter day after the fog burned off—with views of Mount Rainier and the Olympics, but our granddaughter wanted to only mess around on the boat, rather than in the boat, so we did not venture out on another day qualifying for a penalty flag from our tug friends living on the frozen tundra of the Midwest.

Jeff

 

[strangecrew]

No issues in Pleasant Harbor on the hood canal. Was very concerned and snowbound up in the Olympic foothills but clearly altitude is everything and the boat was fine.

Have been out since to flex everything and all's well. The water is _empty_! Saw one vessel last week via radar (heavy fog) and that's about it. Sea conditions have been amazing so maybe this is the pocket to explore!

 

[SJI Sailor]

@Chris0128 If I set the Webasto on low (first mark on the thermostat dial, and the "eco 1" setting, the cabin stays around 45 as best I can tell. Partly depends where you measure, since its heat rises. I would not want to leave it very long with that on, but if I'm able to stop by and check every day, I feel great about that as backup for a few days' cold snap.

 

[Chriscz128]

Thanks SJI for the info on the Webasto, I was considering running it during the cold snap, but was unsure. I am 5 min from the marina, so checking regularly is easy. I have been resistant to winterizing since I have been going out fairly regularly this winter and want to keep doing that.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Our experience might help / be indicative. We keep our boat at EBM.

Our Caframo Pali heater failed the week before the "big freeze" (it trips the ELCI breaker whenever the thermostat) and no replacements were available.

All we had running for most of the freeze was a standard Caframo cabin heater (the one that's the size of a college textbook) set to a medium setting and "3" on the fan and a fanless heater/dryer (one of the larger square ones) in the head. We also left the hot water heater on.

We did not open any of the cabinets etc. in the cabin, but I did turn off the water pump and opened the tap at the swim platform (but not, because I forgot, at the cockpit sink).

I was out of town for the first few days, and then I stopped by the boat right after the height of the freeze. Air temp highs had been well below freezing for five days. There was liquid freshwater/meltwater in the engine compartment and nothing froze.

So, YMMV but it seems like the Pali heater is unnecessary. I will still be getting it replaced under warranty though!