Post Freeze Check

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Just a note for everyone who like us had their boats go through the deep freeze.

After spending 5 days below freezing last week I decided I'd better check out the boat water system. While I have one of those 150w anti-mildew heaters running in the boat all the time with all the lockers open, it was overmatched during temps that dropped into the teens.

I found a leak in the line that feeds the head faucet. No doubt if froze and split the clear pipe. There was water along the hose where it runs outside the stringer under the cooler. Lying along the hull with the boat on the trailer doesn't provide any insulation to these areas. Most likely it has been siphoning water through the damaged area once it thawed.

The tank area and the galley side feed to the pressure pump and the pump itself made it through with no leaks. In my installation that line is up off the hull surface itself.

I just made a simple fix. I removed the Tee that splits the supply to feed the two sides of the boat. I hooked the tanks directly to the galley pump side. We never use the manual pump in the head anyway. It's just a backup. The sink is just a storage area. At a later date I'll pull the clear hose, find the leak, cut it out and splice things back together.

All those who just had their boat frozen might want to make a similar inspection of ther water system.

[Don T]

Hi Duane,
I always worry about freezing. We don't get as much here but this year the cold spell just hung around, kinda like 2004. I still have snow in the yard. My boat is on the trailer so I check the centerboard. Twice there has been water inside which froze and split it open. It depends on how soon it freezes after I pull it out (30 days this year). I pull the fresh water tank out and purge the lines, as part of the winterization.

On Edit: I just remembered the drain for the engine well. I haven't checked that. If it froze it might leak and I wouldn't notice it for a while (would probably forget about it by first launch in spring).

PS: We are headed up to the San Juan Is. the first 2 weeks in July. Maybe we'll see you out and about.

[Rich Plumb]

I use a couple of those deep cycle batteries from Costco. After this freeze, voltage with the charger off is 11.3 and with it on is 12.4. The battery water levels are fine. These batteries are about 3 years old so they are due for replacement anyway, but I suspect that this cold snap was the kiss of death.

~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~~~~
Rich Plumb, "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA

[Glide47]

I own a 2006M w/Suzuki 70. I live in Alaska. It gets cold here. Very Cold. I prepared my boat as best as I could for the 4 months of sub-freezing temps. All water lines flushed. RV antifreeze added to all, including motorwell and anchorwell drains. 4 bags of Dri-z-air hung, 2 bags of mildew inhibitor hung. Top deck framed with PVC and entire boat completely shrink wrapped. Vents added to Shrink wrap to allow air flow. Steep sides of shrink wrapped frame above deck allows snow to slide right off. Currently have 4+ feet of snow on house and in yard. Boat looks like it is floating on white sea. If anyone wants pics, let me know. Shrink-wrap winterizing is service that has blossomed here in Alaska, lots purchase it. Question is, is this enough?? Does the centerboard often carry moisture that may freeze and crack it??? I took great efforts to remove all freezables from the boat, including compass, but am looking into more insight as to what may not be readily prevalent.

On a side note, the E-tec motor series are the way to go for cold weather sailing. Very popular up here. Tried to get one for my purchase from BWY, but logistics made it impractical. The Auto-Winterizing function is great, highly recommended.

[Frank C]

I own a 2006M w/Suzuki 70. I live in Alaska. It gets cold here. Very Cold ...

Welcome abd, Glide, and that's a great first-post!

You have at least one MacNeighbor up there in the great frozen north ... for details,
click this Winterizing thread, look for member Mark Chamberlain, click for his profile.

IIRC, one of Mark's posts included a picture of a Halibut they caught ...
must have weighed about a quarter-ton~!
Fish story 1
Fish story 2

We hit -50 below every year and the 26x is under a tarp hybernating for the next season. The Honda 50 went to bed with fresh gear oil, oil change with mobil 1 and the motor tilted up then down to drain all water out of lower unit. The last tank of gas for the season gets a half can of SeaFoam
to be sure the carbs are free and clear. This year I changed the fule filter for the first time in 5 years. Batteries are removed and charged full and moved to the heated garage. I have followed this routine for the last five years. I start it each spring with the hose attached to the ear muffs and let it run for about 5 minutes before I head to the Port for the season.

I change the oil and filter every 50 hours= one season, always use Mobil 1
since the day it first started. I expect my body will wear out before this motor will

So leave the motor on the boat, just take good care of it and it will take care of you.

Wind Musher

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Here in the Northwest I don't really winterize the boat. Cold below freezing normally never lasts for more than a day or so. Extended freezes like we just had are rare. I mainly started this thread for those who like me don't make special winterizing preparations and whose boats were caught in the recent deep freeze.

As we sometimes make winter trips it would be a waste to go to a bunch of extra steps. Then I would feel bad about taking the boat out in January and un-doing all my special preparations.

We almost went out for a day trip this last Saturday, but my wife bailed and took the ferry across the sound instead because she was worried about the weather. I was upset when she got back home after seeing what a gorgeous sunny winter day it turned out to be. The place she went to on the kitsap pennisula even had a great dock open for all guests to use.

Now it looks like our first outing may be in mid February.

For winter my boat gets the little heater and Dri-Z-Air for moisture buildup, but other than that it just stays parked longer than usual under it's boathouse tarp.

I ended up using the last of the fuel I had on board for the generator during our 5 day power outage in December, but in past years I have used fuel that wintered over with no problems. Likewise the motor has always fired right up in the spring for 6 years with no special maintenance. I did change the plugs a few years back and will probably do so again this spring. Maybe I'll even splurge and do the lower unit oil as well. I also have the feeling it's time for a new water pump impeller as I would guess the '96 original is still in there.

You can't beat these old 2 stroke carb Tohatsu's for maintenance (or lack of).

[Glide47]

There are quite a few of us that have Mac 26's here in Alaska. I have seen Mark's boat around, as well as that demon with the Suzuki 140 mounted flashing past me, man does that boat fly. The summers here are quite enjoyable, since we can have up to 20 hours of sunlight. The days can indeed seem endless. Mark's pictures of his boat near the shore do little to express the technical knowledge one must constantly use sailing up here. For instance, since tides vary +- 20 to 30 feet each cycle, beaching time and anchoring spots require critical evaluation. I have pictures of my boat, originally anchored in 20 feet of water, 6 hours later there is no water within 50 yards of my boat. High and dry. Not a problem if you consider bottom conditions, beaching angle, etc. I personally am going to spend this summer launching my mac on lakes here in Alaska that have never seen a sailboat..... but for now I just dream.

[blanton]

glide47, hello there. That demon may be me! I live over here on Belmont behind West High (Anchorage). Oddly, here to the South of Westchester Lagoon, on USDA climate charts, we are in a postage stamp sized "banana belt", one climate zone warmer than most most of Anchorage. The hillside is a climate zone colder than most of town.

I cover the boat with a couple of tarps for the winter, and leave shore power plugged in to keep the batteries charged up.

After fishing Bristol Bay for 17 years, and leaving the gillnet boat high and dry for 10+ months of the year out West in King Salmon, I've a fairly casual attitude about winterization. Batteries left fully charged seemed to do well year after year.

Once or twice a winter I'll fire up the forced air Wallas heater and warm her up. She seems to stay pretty dry inside.

[Hardcrab]

Winterize?
I thought folks sailed all winter
We do.

The freezing 48 degree lows do get to be a tough burden, sailing while wearing a jacket.
Hee Hee.
Sorry.

Hee Hee.
Oops, sorry again.

[beene]

I thought folks sailed all winter

We do.

The freezing 48 degree lows do get to be a tough burden, sailing while wearing a jacket.
Hee Hee.

Sorry.

Hee Hee.
Oops, sorry again.

I question the sincerity in that apology.

Suck's to be us "EH"

G

[eric3a]

..

[Terry]

Here in the Northwest I don't really winterize the boat. Cold below freezing normally never lasts for more than a day or so. Extended freezes like we just had are rare. I mainly started this thread for those who like me don't make special winterizing preparations and whose boats were caught in the recent deep freeze.

And I live a few hours north of you! I don't do much to winterize either outside the normal stuff, like remove everything out of the boat and store in the garage or basement and cover boat with tarp. I emptied all water containers/bags and put gas treatment in the tank and start my engine every weekend and run for 15-20 minutes. I have in previous years seen my big water bucket for the engine leg freeze over but it does not last long. Usually it just rains or blows a lot here, and never mind Eric he is just jealous cause he doesn't get to ski and we have better sailing grounds than he does.
Funny, I heard someting about inclement weather comming but it must have just side swiped us right at the 49th and continued south, it did not freeze here. We may be up north but at least we can say to the rest of Canada that this is "Lotus Land"

[eric3a]

..

[Craig LaForce]

Can you provide info on the mildew inhibitor bags?

I am allergic to mildew and would be very interested.

THanks

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Burrr, sure feels like winter here.. 47 degrees F this morning! And only supposed to reach 73 this afternoon My wife and kids are all bundled up like Eskimos. There will be no swimming in the pool today!