Boats left in water thru winter?

I live aboard in NYC. Shrink film storm windows, plug up all vents, Reflectix taped over air intakes, heat with the reverse cycles until the water temperature gets near 40 degrees, antifreeze the reverse cycles and then portable 110v ceramic heaters. May put a heater in the engine room this year but I've lived aboard for 50 years without one.
If you use oil filled radiator type 120 volt heaters the temperature will be more constant. I use them when I work on the boat in the winter. It is dry constant heat.
 
We stayed in the water last winter and plan to do the same this winter...

Appreciate any thoughts and your plans...

My plan last September 2019 was to...

  1. Do all the typical maintenance in November e.g., oil changes, gear fluid change, fuel filters, impellers, belts, etc.
  2. Run the bilge heaters
  3. Run the Cabin Heat at 65 for as long as it will make heat from the bay water. And then winterize the A/C Systems.
  4. Winterize the water system (with Forced AIR) in December/Jan depending on ambient temperatures.
  5. Start and run the Mains and Gen on any warm weekends throughout the winter.
Reality set in and I could not take the pressure and winterize everything...

  1. Did all of the above but winterized the engines and blew out the fresh water systems in early December.
I am going to try again this winter to hold out and not winterize the engines assuming the water temps stay up and we have a mild winter.

Again appreciate to hear what you all plan and any thoughts...

I keep the block heaters plugged in on each engine and the cabin @ 60 degrees. I have a Caframo heater in the enclosed cockpit set to kick on @ freezing. I have had this going for 13 years now without a problem. https://www.amazon.com/Caframo-Heat...3MT3Z8Q9426&psc=1&refRID=0V8BRKW183MT3Z8Q9426
 
I live aboard in NYC. Shrink film storm windows, plug up all vents, Reflectix taped over air intakes, heat with the reverse cycles until the water temperature gets near 40 degrees, antifreeze the reverse cycles and then portable 110v ceramic heaters. May put a heater in the engine room this year but I've lived aboard for 50 years without one.

Is the Reflectix tape easy to remove in the spring? Last year I used Shrink wrap tape.
 
I live aboard in NYC. Shrink film storm windows, plug up all vents, Reflectix taped over air intakes, heat with the reverse cycles until the water temperature gets near 40 degrees, antifreeze the reverse cycles and then portable 110v ceramic heaters. May put a heater in the engine room this year but I've lived aboard for 50 years without one.

I still haven’t mustered up the coverage to stay in over the winter. If I lived on the water and could see the boat every day I would be more comfortable staying in.
But a guy across the canal from me who does it every year told me he put a 100 watt bulb in the bilge last winter and it cut out condensation.
He lives right across from his dock so he is on and off of his boat all winter.
 
Quick question for those who winterize in the water. I stay in but i have never touched the hoses that go to shaft seals. Is there any harm in leaving them as is. I know most of the AF will run out but since the boat is in the water i don't see a freeze risk.
 
Quick question for those who winterize in the water. I stay in but i have never touched the hoses that go to shaft seals. Is there any harm in leaving them as is. I know most of the AF will run out but since the boat is in the water i don't see a freeze risk.
You install block/oil pan heaters on your mains
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,890
Members
60,933
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top