Remember, wind chill temp is not a factor. Only ambient air temp, around those engines matter.

exactly the concept! since the late 80's (my first IO), I have winterized by draining. last year, for the first time I cracked an exhaust manifold, pretty much made me throw up when I spotted it. I couldn't break the hose loose the previous fall and intended to return with a hook to pull it but never did, luckily I was able to get it welded. This was the only time I have ever seen any damage. I have never recommended it to anyone due to the fact that no two installations are identical and it takes someone to thoroughly inspect the entire system including all heat exchangers and plumbing to determine how to drain it completely. Mine are mid 80's gen IV 454's, I've been inside these engines and am comfortable as long as I see the water drain from the blocks. Often I have had to use a pick to unclog the drain hole but it will drain quite a bit of water, only then will I be comfortable. The manifolds are iron 496 take offs and are simple to drain by pulling the hose at the bottom(unless your an old guy). Bottom line, any remaining water after draining it this way should be negligible. The heat exchangers and plumbing I have are a breeze to drain as well. I keep the heater in there to cut down on condensation.

bobbo

Nice find, good info!

My motor is closed cooling... I still worry about a manifold cracking right next to an open exhaust valve, dumping pink rv into the cylinder, and bending a rod when I go to start it in the spring. I think the term is "neurosis". I'm going to pull all the spark plugs in the spring. If nothing happens this winter, the coldest winter in 3 decades, I'm STILL going to buy a bilge heater for next winter. Neurosis, kids- it's nothing to play with.

I can't claim it, it was posted in this thread a page or two back.

X2 on the heater. Where can you buy a bilge heater?

I found some on flEaBay and at the West Marine website, $200-$350, basically a computer fan in a box with a heating element and long cord, they are forced air heaters.

Made by Xtreme Heaters and BoatSafe.

Not as cold down here, well until this week! But I have a work light sitting on bench seat (seat is in down position) so it's really on the framing with hatch cracked open. Light is set on timer cycles on and off every few hours. I was too lazy, but they sell a thermostat plug at Home Depot on line that comes on at 35 degrees and off at 45degrees. Will have it for next year though!

Good luck to everyone up north, we rarely see less than 32 degrees for 24 hours.

Ready for winter storm Leon to get the F$&@ out of here!!!

Good news! Drove out to the storage building and it is getting completely incased with snow! drifted up about 7ft around the sides and the roof has a good 3ft on it. What a great insulator. Now when the real cold temps come back (and they will) the building should not get quite as cold! Probably not a good theory but it sure sounds good to me!! We had a heat wave blow though here today got up to 20 degrees, NEVER thought 20 would sound (and feel so good). Feb. looks real bad. Maybe I will start a scrap Iron business this spring...........

Tell me about it, it got up to 25 here and I debated shorts.

fell bad for you guys that have it that rough..
I had to pull the boat out today in 62deg weather and take it down to tire shop and have valve stems replaced and it even started to sprinkle.. damm it was rough lol

:ban?::lolhit:

Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah, Whatever! So what's your point??

Just Kidding Man, I'm just jealous, I'm happy for you guys!

My neighbor in Havasu reminds me weekly how big of a Looser I am for still living here through the winters, That dam job thing keeps getting in the way! WTF.

I did the same thing this year as I normally do...

I took my boat off my lift, put it on the trailer, delivered it to Performance Boat Center, had them winterize it, and then they put it in their heated indoor storage building til spring. In the big picture, it's cheap insurance that I won't have any problems in the spring.

My Mechanic pulled my motors out on Friday. I'm going to check with him and see what he finds during the dismantle process. Coming apart this week.

If some of you all decide to winterise with green antifreeze next year, just remember that if your pets ingest any of it they will most likely die. Next year most likey will not be as cold, this is a freak year.

Great advise Nauti very toxic to pets, and children. Don't be sloppy with it.

Those using the pink stuff, I assume you are using -50. How many use the -100 pink antifreeze, I switched a couples years back. Glad mines inside a heated building, think it's better for the boat all around.

OK gang here we go again!!! temps to -27 tonight in the upper Midwest and -10-12 in Michigan and it is to stay for a few days. WTF??

I surrender...........:picard1:

Me Too!! "UNCLE"

I just got out of my pool........:evilb:

S FL has been hot the past 2 weeks, like 80 degrees! I talked to a buddy that just brought a big Viking back from the Bahamas, he said the Gulfstream was 80.5 degrees, that is very warm for Feb....about 6 weeks early for sure!

Blah Blah Blah who cares!! JUST KIDDING I'm truly JEALOUS! glad someone is having fun on the water! But look at all the Gas $$ we are saving????

Winterizing is easy, take your boat to the shop to have work done and tell them no hurry.... boat sits in heated shop all winter. When you want to work on your boat, take the shop owner lunch (decent lunch not to the dollar menu). Also helps to make yourself avail. to the shop owner for work details etc....

**disclaimer**

This works best when the said shop owner is a friend.
If the shop owner is a good friend, you may possibly have the added bonus of rides on his boat as yours isn't finished yet.

FYI:

If you get a ride on the shop owners bigger faster then your boat, do NOT send the lunch meat on another friends boat, even if you are all headed to the same place.


But wait there is more....

The shop owner may encourage you to do extensive fiberglass work on your boat while you are waiting him to finish the fiberglass work he is doing to your boat. I believe this is because said shop owners find it amusing to see you wobble from severe resin fume intoxication as well as watch you wiggle, squirm and bounce around from the fiberglass itchy scratchies.

Soooo -4 coming home tonight -16 predicted -30 windchill for Friday, now I ask respectfully why summarize if we are lucky we might get 2 months to boat this year! also before anyone chimes in and calls me a whiny crybaby I will be the first to call me that because I'm one!!! I will now go and watch the weather channel and slip deeper into a depressed state! OH LOOK 81 degrees in Havasu! you guys suck! (just kidding) Good by gotta put more wood on the fire!

Worst winter ever. Totally depressing in every way. I am a person who not only loves warm weather because it feels good, but because I am just not an indoors person. When it is cold like this, you simply cant get things done. Whether its maintainance on my vehicles, the house, general cleaning outdoors, etc. Just love being outdoors. Heck, you cant even stand outside and talk to a neighbor for more than 1 minute without freezing your dik off. Anywhere you go it is a chore, because you know you have to park the car, bundle up, walk inside, unbundle, walk back out, rebundle, get in car, unbundle, its a pain in the azz.

I think this winter has really made up my mind about living here. I made a promise to myself I will not die in Chicago. Probably much later than sooner, but I will be under blue skies and warm breeze 365.

My 101 year old Mom lives in Duluth, MN. I called her last night to tell her I was sitting in 60 degree temperatures out on my deck looking at the Donzi on the boat lift on the lake after a great day of alpine skiing. She told me it was going to be -41 where she lives and she was right. I used to live there but saw the light 50 years ago and moved.

You my friend are one smart man!

I never understood what aching joints felt like until I lived there for four years. Cold weather definitely ages you faster than warm weather. If it was socially acceptable to dress like an Eskimo then it probably wouldn't have been that bad.

It's just down right stupid! I feel so bad for my dog having to go pee on huge hard snow piles! That must suck! All I can hope for is my parents never get rid of the condo in Naples. After 50 years of this nonsense they said peace out and have been there every winter for 10 years now. Sad thing is I never made it down during the worst winter ever.
:mad::throw:

And the IDIOT global warming nuts are still saying it is man made. Evan as they try to get unstuck from all of the ice. MORONS

Heh...

Cold weather doesn`t age you .. you ever see those wrinkled prunes in Florida, the sun does way more damage.
My self I prefer the cold you can always throw on some layers.. when its hot as **** theres nothing you can do to cool off .(at work) Being in HVAC I suffer so much more in the summer outside. My tools and the equipment gets so hot you can`t even touch it, I sweat thru many shirts a day, can`t see with sweat dripping down my face, come home completely drained, my office staff hates summer cause I`m not a happy camper.. actually one of the big reasons I got a boat is so i could cool off on the weekends.
To me this has been the best winter ever.
As long as you know how to dress I don`t see the big deal.

this aint cold . . . this is comfortable. Heck its like camp'in weather :D

I agree i prefer the cold, no biggie to deal with if ya have the right stuff. Learned long ago the value of good technical clothing.

Like the old Indian said " At my age there is nothing better than a soft woman and a warm fire. " Windchill -20* , dreaming of the warm sun on my skin .

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/...eep/Image8.jpg

You're a sick person.

I agree though, Florida might be a little extreme with the humidity, bugs, and what not, but I definitley wouldnt mind somewhere ''MILDER". IDK, maybe Tennessee or some $hit. California is out, too many earthquakes, fires, and PP wavers, Texas is all steers and queers... SO cross those 3 states off the list.

You live 3 min away near the biggest body of freshwater in the US! .. what else you gonna do?.... downsize and go jumping cruiser wakes on some lake talking about what a bad ass offshore boat you got ? :D

You just need to join us in the suburbs and get away from $hitcago

Hey now! Jumping cruiser wakes on a 12ft deep lake is a good reason to have a 41 Apache with #6's and dual ram race trim tabs. :cartman:

I like the snow. But -25 is too damn cold!!!

-18* just north of Detroit this morning and -24* at the cabin near Oscoda. I have never seen temps like this before in Michigan.