Temps will be dropping into the low 20's this week.  With our boat outside and under cover, I still get nervous about her well being when the temps go below freezing, even though I drained the block well (did not fill with antifreeze) and fogged the engine.   Is it worth my while to tuck some blankets/old comforters around the engine or can I feel confident all is good?  Its my first winter with a boat.  I had a friend crack his block last winter, but it sat outside and he did not drain his block.

 

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"Mother Hen"
2003 202BR
Vancouver, WA

Heath,

As long as you're sure that you drained the block well you should bo OK. If you're the nervous type and want to do something additional, a heat lamp would be the way to go. A blanket would only help insulate it if there were something generating heat. I can't wait until we get into the 20's again. Low of -10 last night. I'm beginning to get a bit nervous myself and I did use antifreeze. I've never had a problem yet in 15 years of boating, but I still hate the cold.

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Mike & Jeni Isbell
2007 21SS LPX 350 Mag
"No Worries"

I didn't say it was your fault...I said I was going to blame you!

I am also nervous... our 240 sleeps in our heated garage all winter.. but go figure.. this week i took it down to get some work done and it's sleepting outside.  I typically don't drain the block in the winter because its in the garage (so we are ready to go for those rare sunny days).. I do fog the motor and put stabilizer in the tank.  Last week i pulled her out, hooked up the muffs and started her up for a bit, then i pulled the 4 plugs, cranked her over to drain the rest of the water... but I didnt' have the time to really double and triple check things (paranoid me!)... I already called the shop and told them i was a bit concerned and they said they would check it out.. but still... would feel much better it i had the chance to double, triple check things. :-S 

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2007 Crownline 240LS Merc MAG350-BIII
-Corsa thruhull, Social Swim, Sport package, Factory Tower
- HeaterCraft heater
-Mercury Smartcraft SC1000 Tach and Speedo
... in need of a name. :(
Towed with a 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4x4
Redmond, Washington

I just put some comforters around the engine, just in case, maybe it won't help, but can't hurt.  Hopefully, all the water drained out, when I did it.  :[   Mine only has the knob and two plugs. 

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"Mother Hen"
2003 202BR
Vancouver, WA

A rule of thumb posted here before is 20 degrees for 24 hours will freeze your block. It is not too late to run antifreeze through you engine. The 6/8 gallons it takes and the 1/2 spent is well worth it.

 Bill

2008 200LS 5.0L

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Bill Cook
Saratoga Springs, NY
Charleston Lake, On
'08 200LS 5.0L

My dealer in Canada serviced our boat when I lived there. Winterize consisted of removing the blue plugs and some other stuff but we used no heaters or blankets and dealer said no need for antifreeze. Our temps our there was -25 below Zero on celsius scale. We were fine but if it concerns you and it's safe it's good piece of mind.

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CA$HFLOW

A quick and easy thing to do is put a drop light with a 60 or 100 watt bulb in the engine compartment...gives off plenty of heat to keep it warm in there.

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Steve Kroesen
Apollo Beach, FL
Kroes Nest

Steve Kroesen:

A quick and easy thing to do is put a drop light with a 60 or 100 watt bulb in the engine compartment...gives off plenty of heat to keep it warm in there.

Thats what I would do, but alas....mine's in a semi-heated garage....never gets below 50 degrees in there.....

 

I am a little worried about the motor home though...We use it all the time and I don't winterize it.  I keep a heater going in it though.....

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1999 202BR MISS "B" HAVEN
Platform by swimplatforms.com
Samson Wakeboard Tower

Randy, I was poking around here and notices your post on the motorhome. I used to blow out the water lines in my trailer with an air compressor. Drain the hot water heater and then by pass it. Hook an air compressor up to your fresh water intake and open your drain valves. It will blow all the water out of your lines in just a few minutes. I used to open the faucets and then close them before I finished. I used to do this every weekend in the spring after I took it to Detroit for the season. It is easy. Then keep the light bulb in there by the hot water tank. You might also use a ceramic heater. They are cheap to run and they can keep it just warm enough to help in cold weather. John

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John Herbert
1999 Crownline 202BR
Moorage Customer at Kanes at Detroit Lake for 13 years running.

Thanks for the info...I've heard of using air pressure before but not done it.  I have the RV covered all the way to the ground and on the below freezing days, I have a heater going in it which keeps it pretty warm.  The cover helps keep cold winds from blowing under it and traps some heat. I open all the cabinet doors to let the warm air in as many places as posible.  So far so good, have made it through the coldes teens weather we've had in the past 6-7 years with no problem.

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1999 202BR MISS "B" HAVEN
Platform by swimplatforms.com
Samson Wakeboard Tower

Now it's going to be the hottest (record setting) weekend of the year....80's-90's .....ya baby!!!

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1999 202BR MISS "B" HAVEN
Platform by swimplatforms.com
Samson Wakeboard Tower

We will be out on Lk Washington all weekend soaking up the hot sunshine!  Certainly a different story than last weekend!

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2007 Crownline 240LS Merc MAG350-BIII
-Corsa thruhull, Social Swim, Sport package, Factory Tower
- HeaterCraft heater
-Mercury Smartcraft SC1000 Tach and Speedo
... in need of a name. :(
Towed with a 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4x4
Redmond, Washington

So, was that it???  Wheres all the rest of the hot weekends???  Hopefully in Califirnia cuz thats where we'll be in a week, Lake Shasta.........

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1999 202BR MISS "B" HAVEN
Platform by swimplatforms.com
Samson Wakeboard Tower

Well today feels more like December in Seattle... yucky.

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2007 Crownline 240LS Merc MAG350-BIII
-Corsa thruhull, Social Swim, Sport package, Factory Tower
- HeaterCraft heater
-Mercury Smartcraft SC1000 Tach and Speedo
... in need of a name. :(
Towed with a 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4x4
Redmond, Washington

There is hope, next week at Shasta the weather report is 85-90 degrees.  We'll be there for 2 weeks........woo-hooo.......

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1999 202BR MISS "B" HAVEN
Platform by swimplatforms.com
Samson Wakeboard Tower