26' Sedan Winterization

[Blue Wazzu]

Good afternoon, All

We are learning as we go here, and hoping for some feedback on what you are doing to winterize your water-kept Tolly. 

We keep Blue Wazzu in the water up in La Conner and it is a 1973, 26' Sedan with a inboard (Direct) MerCruiser. 

-We have three (overkill?) west marine air dehumidifier fans running in the cabin, but no antifreeze heater system. Should we have a boat bilge (combustible gas safe) engine compartment heater running with antifreeze settings? 

-Are you keeping your water heater plugged in and on?

Any tips and tricks that we can use this winter season are much appreciated! Have a great week~

Best, 

Trevor & Rachael

[William Kleiser]

We run the same West Marine dehumidifiers (see comments below).  Given that your boat is in the water you should have less freezing concern than an out of the water boat.   That said I would be inclined to have some low level heating anyway.   I assume your raw water feed to the engine still has sea water in it.  Salt water will freeze around 28F, so you don't want to risk those lines freezing.  I assume the engine itself has antifreeze so isn't an issue.   Also,  make sure ALL the below water through hulls are closed!   Also close the fuel tank shut offs.  I've seen a boat where over the winter a fuel leak developed, and the bilge filled with gasoline.

You should drain the fresh water system and either blow the lines or use rv anti-freeze.  When we had our boat in the water we'd just empty the water system so it just pumped air, never had a problem.  Now we're out of the water we use RV antifreeze since the lines at the bottom of the bilge will always have some water in them.  You shouldn't leave the water heater on, rather just drain it out or make sure the hot side has RV antifreeze as well.

I've used a number of the West Marine 'dehumidifiers'.  They don't actually dehumidify, they move slighly warmed air around the cabin.  What they are is a small heater (70-100w element) with a fan.   I find that after a year the fan starts to get sticky and you have to disassemble and lubricant the fan motor.  

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From: tollycraft-boa...@googlegroups.com <tollycraft-boa...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Blue Wazzu <Teva...@outlook.com>
Sent: Monday, December 9, 2024 2:36 PM
To: Tollycraft Boating Club Forum <tollycraft-boa...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: 26' Sedan Winterization

 

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