Bilge heater questions

LastCall350

LastCall350

Active Member
Aug 31, 2020
108
Middle TN
Boat Info
1991 Sea Ray 350DA
Engines
Mercruiser 454's
Have a 1991 350 DA, trying to decide on bilge heaters. I'm here in Middle, TN so our winters are for the most part pretty mild with the occasional cold snap. I am trying to decide how many bilge heaters i need, i was planning to go with the 600w Extreme. Should i buy two? or will one placed between the two engines on the floor of the bilge do the job with the vents stuffed?
 
I'm over in E. TN and looking hard at the twin hornet 45 which is a 700W heater. I'm probably going to build a small platform to mount the heater to and place it down between and slightly aft of the engines on our 340DA
 
You could also put a 100 watt bulb in the engine area and that should keep it warm enough and keep it from freezing, could use a heat lamp bulb the type they use for keeping chicks warm.
 
Loyd Dinneen said:
You could also put a 100 watt bulb in the engine area and that should keep it warm enough and keep it from freezing, could use a heat lamp bulb the type they use for keeping chicks warm.
Click to expand...

That is a great way to blow up the boat.
 
LastCall350 said:
Have a 1991 350 DA, trying to decide on bilge heaters. I'm here in Middle, TN so our winters are for the most part pretty mild with the occasional cold snap. I am trying to decide how many bilge heaters i need, i was planning to go with the 600w Extreme. Should i buy two? or will one placed between the two engines on the floor of the bilge do the job with the vents stuffed?
Click to expand...

I have a 600w Xtreme heater. The water temperature you sit in is more important than the size or number of heaters. Our lake water never goes below the mid 40s. The bilge heater is more peace of mind. Plus, I don't winterize the fresh water lines.
 
I dont see where having a light bulb would blow your boat up I had onre in my boat all winter last year with not problems, perhaps you could explain too me what or how it would blow up.
 
I'm in Clifton Tn. I have a 390 Express and I use 1 Twin Hornet in my bilge and it works fine for me it's been down into the teens several nights in a row before (4-5) and the lowest i've seen it is 39 degrees....
 
Loyd Dinneen said:
You could also put a 100 watt bulb in the engine area and that should keep it warm enough and keep it from freezing, could use a heat lamp bulb the type they use for keeping chicks warm.
Click to expand...

most marinas frown upon this! Also it’s a good way to blow the boat and any other boats to bits.
 
Loyd Dinneen said:
I dont see where having a light bulb would blow your boat up I had onre in my boat all winter last year with not problems, perhaps you could explain too me what or how it would blow up.
Click to expand...

Gas Fumes + Spark from lightbulb = Explosion
 
Fly4Kix said:
I'm over in E. TN and looking hard at the twin hornet 45 which is a 700W heater. I'm probably going to build a small platform to mount the heater to and place it down between and slightly aft of the engines on our 340DA
Click to expand...
I may look into the twin Hornet heaters before I pull the trigger on the extreme. I think I will build a removable shelf to sit between the stringers for the heater to sit on. I'm also going to run the sensor gateway to be able to monitor it off my phone.
 
JimT said:
I have a 600w Xtreme heater. The water temperature you sit in is more important than the size or number of heaters. Our lake water never goes below the mid 40s. The bilge heater is more peace of mind. Plus, I don't winterize the fresh water lines.
Click to expand...
I don't believe our lake ever gets below 50 degrees normally...and I'm not winterizing my fresh water system other than the ice maker, wash down, and sink on the back deck.
 
what about winterizing/blowing out the windshield washer circuit?
That's exposed to the elements and could easily freeze
 
Ha... well that answers that..
:)
 
Loyd Dinneen said:
I dont see where having a light bulb would blow your boat up I had onre in my boat all winter last year with not problems, perhaps you could explain too me what or how it would blow up.
Click to expand...
On off equals spark that is why you have a blower in gas engines to ensure engine room is gas vapour free. My insurance has a note that sort of reads "Any non marine approved mortifications may void coverage"
 
Install engine heaters in the freeze plug holes would protect your engine, use them all the time in our cars in Alaska.
 
What is everyones opinion of Extreme vs. Twin Hornet heaters? Other than the price difference.
 
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