clynn
Senior Member
This is a general question for folks in the mid section of the US where it gets cold in the winter, but not too cold for too long. I'm curious how many don't fully winterize and how you keep the boat warm.
I'm in Memphis, so it doesn't really get cold here until February, but the last few winters have seen temperatures overnight as low as 10F or so.
Last year I had a 34 foot trawler and I would only winterize the generator (sat on the cockpit) and the washdown lines. I'd leave the engine, interior water system, and AC system unwinterized so that I could use the boat year round. I had a bilge heater by the engine and a radiator heater near the in cabin water lines (both on automatic thermostats). I kept portable, battery powered thermostats at various points in the boat to monitor low temperatures and they never got below freezing. I live near the boat so I could get to it in the event of a power outage.
I now have a 46 footer that has a more complicated setup. I will be winterizing the engines, generator, and washdown pumps, but I'd like to keep interior water and AC systems available. I now have a lot more space and "watered" areas (multiple heads, kitchen, etc.) to keep heated, so what is the best method? Several ceramic heaters? What about diesel heaters? I know nothing about those... I have the old style turn nob handles for my AC system, so I can't just set it to come on when it gets below say 40F or so.
Thoughts?
I'm in Memphis, so it doesn't really get cold here until February, but the last few winters have seen temperatures overnight as low as 10F or so.
Last year I had a 34 foot trawler and I would only winterize the generator (sat on the cockpit) and the washdown lines. I'd leave the engine, interior water system, and AC system unwinterized so that I could use the boat year round. I had a bilge heater by the engine and a radiator heater near the in cabin water lines (both on automatic thermostats). I kept portable, battery powered thermostats at various points in the boat to monitor low temperatures and they never got below freezing. I live near the boat so I could get to it in the event of a power outage.
I now have a 46 footer that has a more complicated setup. I will be winterizing the engines, generator, and washdown pumps, but I'd like to keep interior water and AC systems available. I now have a lot more space and "watered" areas (multiple heads, kitchen, etc.) to keep heated, so what is the best method? Several ceramic heaters? What about diesel heaters? I know nothing about those... I have the old style turn nob handles for my AC system, so I can't just set it to come on when it gets below say 40F or so.
Thoughts?