Bilge full of Ice

AuxiliaryComms · Post by **AuxiliaryComms** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:00 pm

Remember my bilge that I could never keep dry? Well now it's about 6 inches of solid ice.

I'm guessing my bilge pump (if it worked in the first place) is dead now, but I'm more concerned about the hull.

Do you think it would have caused any harm.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:33 pm

Not enough info....

Is it in the water or stored in a yard?
Is it covered or just open to the elements? Are the windows/hatch(es) closed?
How did the water get in the bilge, or was it there when you stored it?
Your bilge pump runs off the battery, and it the boat's stored why do you need the bilge pump, and why is the battery still hooked up?
Is the 6 inches in the hollow compartment under the bilge floor or is it a solid 6 inches of ice throughout your bilge?
Did you add any RV/Marine antifreeze to the bilge when you stored the boat - to all plumbing/pump area (water tank, bilge, shower drain area, etc)?
Bottom line, I don't think the ice will damage the hull. You're in VA so the weather will moderate a lot quicker than here in northern NY state. When it's melted (or you can do the same with a hairdryer) bail it out and refer to the questions above.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:05 pm

Be very very carful in you put RV/Marine antifreeze in your bilge . I bought some a while back and added it to the head and it smelled funny .
guess what its made with alchol ( same brand last year was not )and that just like pour gas in the bilge ( almost as bad anyway) so check what its made of .

http://www.camco.net/Menu.cfm?SupCatego ... uctId=2289

capt ralph · Post by **capt ralph** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:38 pm

as long as there is no sub zero temps and not much water you should be ok.suggestion always make sure the boat is winterized and covered.

ltbrett · Post by **ltbrett** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:08 am

For two years, I had a leak into my bilge while the boat was on the hard. In CT, that means a hard freeze for most of the winter. Bilge pumps were encased in 6" of ice. Perhaps I'm lucky, but I had no damage. The pumps were fine.

Brett

TADTOOMUCH · Post by **TADTOOMUCH** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:34 am

As long as the water is not trapped and has some place to expand your boat will act like an ice cube tray and it will expand up and outward out of the bilge. If the water is trapped in a pipe or between bulkheads and can't find a way to expand without pushing on something it will cause damage.

AuxiliaryComms · Post by **AuxiliaryComms** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:51 am

randyp wrote:Not enough info....

Is it in the water or stored in a yard?
Is it covered or just open to the elements? Are the windows/hatch(es) closed?
How did the water get in the bilge, or was it there when you stored it?
Your bilge pump runs off the battery, and it the boat's stored why do you need the bilge pump, and why is the battery still hooked up?
Is the 6 inches in the hollow compartment under the bilge floor or is it a solid 6 inches of ice throughout your bilge?
Did you add any RV/Marine antifreeze to the bilge when you stored the boat - to all plumbing/pump area (water tank, bilge, shower drain area, etc)?
Bottom line, I don't think the ice will damage the hull. You're in VA so the weather will moderate a lot quicker than here in northern NY state. When it's melted (or you can do the same with a hairdryer) bail it out and refer to the questions above.

We're in a yard.
We don't have a cover and our efforts with large tarps have so far been useless.
Windows and hatches are closed.
The water is rain accumulation, there's no drain in the boat (mysteriously).
We have no battery.
The ice is under the cabin floor, most of which has been torn out.
Nope, no antifreeze.

So the gist of it is the boat should be fine (it looks it) and the bilge pumps may even have survived.

Now I just need to find a way to get a cover on.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:38 am

The other thing to watch out for is weight... if things keep accumulating and you don't get rid of it somehow, can your trailer / blocking system handle the extra weight and what might that do to the boat bottom ? The hull, rib, and stringer structures are desiged to float in the water, not hold a few thousand pounds of it. I would be concerned about some degree of hull or bottom warpage or deformation.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:43 am

AuxiliaryComms wrote:We're in a yard. We don't have a cover and our efforts with large tarps have so far been useless.

For tarps to work well you need to run a support rib down the centre line of the boat above the highest point. Then the tarp can be draped across this and snow & water will roll of this inverted V shape.
The support rib can be as complex as aluminium/plastic tubing web to just long wood 4x2 planks running lengthwise down centre supported by V legs. Protect the sharp top edges with old carpet strips to not rip the tarp. Tying the tarp down over this frame and over the side of the boat should keep it dry all winter. If you do it now make sure you open it up at the start of the thaw so as not to trap moisture as it warms up outside... may cause mold.
It might be best to just live with it for the rest of this season and then do it right next winter.

Buckknekkid · Post by **Buckknekkid** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:29 pm

I had ice last year when we wrapped the thing in late Dec. It left a film of ice in the forward bilge and didnt seem to bother anyhing. Needless to sayI wrapped ealier this year

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