Winterization Suggestions

[Helgerso]

It's supposed to get down to 20 degrees for one or two days this weekend in the pacific northwest. We had planned to leave the boat in the water for the winter, but the cold weather has me wondering if I should put some antifreeze in the water tank, run through, etc. Any suggestions for the water system/head/engine? We are running a heater in the cabin….

Thanks!

 

[Bruce Moore]

Is your boat in the water? Salt water? If so, the water's not going to get below about 50 degrees. We've gone through 7 winters, all with freezing and sub-freezing spells. We run a heater in the boat, open cabinet and head doors. But we've never "winterized".

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Helgerso]

Thanks Bruce. Good to hear from a fellow boater in the PNW.

The boat is in fresh water that won't freeze, of course, unless we have a long spell. I have a couple heaters going and the boat is toasty warm (well as of this morning). I found a little trick - moved the sensors that I keep in my fridge and freezer out to the the dining table and one in the head and can easily see the interior temp of the boat from the console that they sync with through the front window (the boat is behind our floating home on the Columbia River).

I was just wondering if I shouldn't dump some anti-freeze in the water tank and run it through just in case. I'm hearing more PNW boaters say that they don't....

Thx

 

[Jake]

Floating home? Now that sounds neat. Love to see some pictures. 🙂

 

[TonyM]

I have had my R25 in the water for a couple of winters down here in Tacoma with air temp in the teens no problems.
I just cover the wash down pump outlet.
Previously my sailboat lived in the water year round for 10+ years with no problems.
Since you have a 28 you probably have a cockpit sink...that is probably your only other weak point. Drain, cover, and insulate it.
A couple years ago I had my boat moored at Hayden Bay from March to November while I fished and looked for a floating home. I found one on the Multnoma Slough but could only live there a couple days a month 😱 and it needed new logs. 🙁