Winter water usage

[GJD]

Here ins the midwest (temps usually not below the 20's) is there a safe way to have water useage onboard (in the tanks) without freezing? Space heaters keep the inside 'generally' at least in to 40's.

Wish to have the ability to stay over weekends etc. with the ability to use at least 1 shower without popping pipes!

Should certain 'key' areas be kept above freezing? If so which ones?

Any advise much appreciated!!!

 

[fissioneng]

I don't fill our tanks. I connect a hose to dockside water (we have a freeze proof faucet) while we're there. Then before I leave, I disconnect it and I hook up an air compressor and blow the lines out. This takes about 20 minutes.

 

[Diver Down]

We are liveaboards and have had an unusually cold winter in coastal Virginia, with many nights into the teens. When the temps are predicted to be less than about 28 deg, I plug in a small ceramic heater in the lazarette to keep the water tank above freezing. It's worked OK for us.

 

[REBrueckner]

Water tanks are usually the last thing to freeze when a boat is left in the water...the outside water temperature usually sets the temperature down low in the hull. And it would take a long time for the large mass/volume to freeze. What typically freezes first are small volumes like water lines, faucets and so forth, exposed to sudden temperature drop extremes.

Water lines routed along exterior sections inside the hull might be first. Always drain cockpit faucets, deck outlets,etc. Copper water lines and metal faucets are susceptible to bursting, hose, not much...Try keeping a 15 watt (small) conventional light bulb under each sink when you are not aboard....

I leave my hydronic heater system aboard in NY set at 41 degrees ,the lowest on the thermostat, and the only thing I notice when I first come aboard (besides the fact that its darn cold in there) is my fresh watyer pump can't get enough pressure to shut off automatically....haven't figured that one out yet, but an hour or twp later when thengs begin to warm at about 60 or 65 degrees, the pump operation returns to normal....

 

[aquacraig@shaw.ca]

On this topic I am an expert! If the interior of the boat is kept at around 40F (5C) then you are probably totally safe. The tanks will be kept in motion by waves etc and "internal pipes" will be protected by the ambient temp. To eliminate the risk of freezing when you are not aboard, shut off the pressure pump and open all valves (taps). The water will drain to the low points in the ER and back to the tanks which will be safe. We cruise all winter in th Pacific NW and often have quite cold nights of -10 to-15C. Never a problem if some air space in pipes for expansion in event of a freeze. If pressurized, however, a burst will put your tanks into the bilge!

Craig

 

[GJD]

Great advise all - Thanks so much!

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

As one who lives in "Florida" even though it's Jacksonville.... (aka, south georgia).....

We had unusally cold weather early January... Temps in the low-mid 20's for a couple of days. Much colder than usual.

For the first time in the 8 yrs we have been liveaboards, I had four water leaks in the boat within a week.

All 4 were where I had copper tubing connect to plastic tubing.

It was a simple fix, just tighten up the clamps....

But all 4 connections were double clamped.... Should't of happend, "In Theory"...

Great thing about boat ownership is.... "Theory" means nothing when it comes to boating....