Light bulb or drain them ???
 

It hit 85* here last week,
and like an over anxious kid,
I dewinterized, and changed
my sea pump impellers.

Needless to say, now I have 2
engines full of water.

Now it's 34*, suppose to get
down to 24* tonite,
do you guys think a drop light
will keep them warm enough ?
or should I drag it down to the shop
and drain them ?

The forecast says a low of 17*
monday night, but I don't really
think the weather people's "crystal ball"
works that far ahead.

Going to LOTO tomarrow to do
some comcrete work, so I gotta,
make a descision soon.

jt

takes a while for those bbc do cool down if you put a 250watt drop light in there and close it up itll be fine.my.02

light bulb
 

Get a light bar that holds (2) light bulbs. Make sure they're not touching anything and you'll be fine. I've had a 1984 Mastercraft since new and it's never been winterized. BH

If it only gets down to 24, the drop light would probably be ok. Is it suppose to warm up any tomorrow up there? If it's going to get down to 17, I personally wouldn't risk it. You will be kicking yourself in the a$$ if you have a problem... Just my opinion.
Dean

If it were going to be 24 for more than a day, then you should be worried, 24 as a low, that mean below 30 for maybe 6 hours...not enough to freeze up a block, If your worried, throw a light bulb in there.

I did the light bulb thing this past fall. I also pushed the freeze plug out of the block. How much does it cost you to drain and antifreeze the engine? How much does it cost to rebuild your engine due to a cracked block or cooler?

Put the ears on them and run them up to temp. Shut them down and then do the lightbulb thing. 250 watts will start a fire though. 100 watts is plenty with this system

Thanks for the input guys,

I 've made an executive descision,
and decided to do what any lazy,
procrastinating S.O.B. would do.

Once the:eureka: turned on.

........... Take it down to the shop,
and leave it inside all weekend.
I'll deal with it sunday night after
I get back from the lake.
Hell by then, the forecast may change.

I may have torn up some grass at
my friend house, getting her out,
but grass will grow back, all
that black and blue stuff won't:D :D

Buy a small ceramic heater at home depot. If they are safe enoungh for a house they are plenty safe for the bilge of a boat and it has an adjustable thermastat. Otto

That happened to me last year, so I took my plug in little space heater tossed it in engine bay and let it stay on low all weekend. Everything was fine. Freezing cold here In Philly today going down to 20's again tonight.

If you use any electrical heat source use two. Put them on separate breakers. Hate to rely on a cheap bulb to protect your hardware. I have used two ceramic heaters. They each have a t-stat so let them fight it out. If one dies you are protected.

100 watt bulb would keep my engine compartment 10 degrees warmer then the outside temp

Bulb em and Hug those bravos for a month or two!!!!!!! No probs from there....your arms might get cramped a little!!!!:D:D

Light bulb would have gotten ya through the night ok just make sure the drain plug is in and that your light is susspended down low in the bilge (warms up the cold air at the bottom that way :D:D

Jon

My buddy's boat had 2 bulbs in his sea ray this winter sitting in the water .It froze and busted the block and 1 head . It got down to 18 just one nite this winter here in Mississippi,even sitting in the water i would have thought it would have been ok.He got lucky Boat US paid the insurance claim.Is it worth the chance?

Update:

Got back from LOTO,
went to the shop,
drained them, put it
back to bed,
now we get to enjoy :rolleyes:
3" to 5 " of snow:mad: