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| Winterizing Suggestions https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14554 |
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| Author: | PierPressure [ Tue Nov 03, 2015 11:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Winterizing Suggestions |
Okay... So the boat is new to me by 3-4 weeks. Which means that I'm on it every chance I can get. We've been sleeping on it every weekend since we got it and I don't see that stopping anytime soon. While we don't use the water for cooking, I do use the shower pretty regularly. That being said, I have absolutely no idea what I should do to "winterize" this boat. I'm looking for steps to Winterize a Vista 288...what I need to buy....and what I can and can't do once winterized. I live in Grand Prairie, TX (75052) and the boat is Wet Slipped year round. Historic Record Temperatures range from 2 degrees Fahrenheit to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Historic Average Temps range from 36 degrees Fahrenheitto 96 degress Fahrenheit. Here is some info about the lake temperatures: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?tx4597 |
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| Author: | Paul I. [ Tue Nov 03, 2015 3:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Winterizing Suggestions |
I would talk the the boaters in the slips beside you. You need to winterize your engine, water system, A/C if you have it and your head. Its not hard to do. |
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| Author: | Parkrat [ Sat Nov 07, 2015 9:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Winterizing Suggestions |
You really don't need to do anything. You have a bilge heater? It really doesn't get cold enough here to worry about it. It sits in the water so it doesn't get cold like it would if it was on land. I do fill up the gas tank and add fuel stabilizer. We boat in the winter too on nice days. |
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| Author: | LouC [ Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Winterizing Suggestions |
It sounds like you don't need to do anything now based on your past weather patterns. However, I'd make sure I knew how to drain the engine and manifolds and your water systems just in case you get a freak freeze where it goes down to the 20s for a day or 2. It has happened but likely to be rare. |
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| Author: | Lfm614 [ Mon Nov 09, 2015 7:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Winterizing Suggestions |
Not to sidetrack the topic but I'm in north Alabama and it gets in the low 30s - high 20s here over the winter. I was going to winterize the boat but had another idea. Has anyone used something like this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEMRGZE/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0YZHSWXYARZ66ZBK83ZH&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop heater for a boat stored out of water in a boat house over the winter. I was thinking one of these under the engine cover might do the trick. Thoughts? |
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| Author: | 702Steve [ Mon Nov 09, 2015 9:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Winterizing Suggestions |
Funny you bring this up Lfm614. This year I decided to do the same so I added 2- 300w Xtreme Heaters. They are made for marine use and turn on @ 40 degrees then turn off @ 50 degrees. They have great reviews from the Coast Guard and many others. We went ahead with two to circulate the air better due to the fact I have a hot water heater and generator. We went ahead and plugged them into a 3 prong extension cord and attached that to a external plug out the back of the boat(same concept as a external cig power outlet with the rubber flap) below the transom shower. This way all I do is plug in the extension cord and Im good to go. With the extra power port from the cord I plugged in a camera to see and hear the heaters turn on and also added a outdoor thermometer with a LED display you leave in your house so I can keep an eye on the temp inside the engine bay. |
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| Author: | 97_245_sd [ Mon Nov 09, 2015 10:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Winterizing Suggestions |
My only concern with bilge heaters is "What if the power goes out?" Like LouC said, even if your area doesn't normally see freezing temps, a bad winter storm that brings cold is also likely to kill the power. Having bilge heater is a great idea but I'd make sure you know how to at least drain the cooling system. If power goes out and you are trying to protect your house from freezing are you going to remember to get to the boat? |
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| Author: | Lfm614 [ Mon Nov 09, 2015 10:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Winterizing Suggestions |
Good points Terry, I am a fellow North Avenue Trade School grad. I see you're in MI where you get real and prolonged freezes. I am in north AL, our freezes are short and infrequent if at all but you never know. I do think the remote thermometer with alarm is a good idea. Isn't everything that could get damaged by freezing under the engine cover? Has anybody used one of these heaters for a while? How's it been working for you? |
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