Record Cold Temps
 

Just wondering how many of us around the country winterized ours boats to withstand these extreme temps for the long duration. I hope I'm safe at -40 with Ethylene Glycol.......We will see in the spring.

I am feeling good about my engines being in the shop right now bone dry. Its -8 here right now. My jug of pure pink antifreeze is hard slush. My test bottle of 25% water and 75% RV antifreeze is like a brick and so is the 10% water 90% RV antifreeze.

Makes you wonder!

my engines and cooling systems are drained and I have an oil filled room heater on low in the bilge with all the vents plugged. fingers crossed.. -2.5 here

bobbo

I'm concerned, because I didn't do it myself, the marina i purchased the boat from did the winterization. Guess I need to trust that Merc repair techs are trained the same whether they are down south or in the frigid north.

This weather should make most boat owners concerned to say the least. An extra heat source in the bilge definately couldn't hurt. Your right about someone else doing it, have to trust them. May be a few engines and heat exchangers being replaced in the spring, if it ever arrives.

I did the same test outside my house last night -18 temps...solid but zero expansion.
My motors are filled with pink. It does freeze but it isnt supposed to expand.

It is has been used in RV plumbing forever. I hope they are correct! Scares the hell out of me.

This is what I'm subscribing to. Fingers crossed.

For those of you that had a marina winterize it check the wording in your insurance policy as you may be covered if there is damage. The policies I sell up in Canada states that if it is winterized by " A Licensed Marine Mechanic or Marina" and you have a receipt that you paid them to do it the insurance company will cover the damage. You need to talk to the marina first as most reputable marinas should come good for the damage as they are responsible and if they refuse to cover it then you could contact your insurance company (if it is covered by the policy). The insurance company will most likley go after the marina to recoup thier money. Not saying this could apply to all but maybe some peace of mind for people that have the coverage. The down side is that you now have a claim against your policy and the rate will most likley go up (10% for the first claim here) for a few years but maybe better to pay that than have to pay for new engines. Just a thought and all depends on your coverage.

Someone on facebook just posted his experience. A guy had not drained the engines, just fired them up and ran 6 gallons of pink RV stuff thru each engine until it came out the exhaust. Everything was frozen solid in the hoses, so he brought the boat in the shop and thawed it all out. Long story short, both engines cracked. He tested the antifreeze mix in the blocks and it was 30% water, 70% A/F.

This winter has been extreme.