RECORD COLD TONIGHT

jhofmann

They are predicting record setting cold temps here in Connecticut tonight ( 10 - 12 F below zero ). I have winterized my own boats for over 25 years without incident, but times like this still make me nervous!!

raybo3

We are frozen here in Boston also........ -4 and 65/70 mph winds. We also had a 16.6 foot tide that caused massive flooding.

randy56

When your in the winterize mode, you have to prepare for this kinda weather. I remember after my second trip to get the pink stuff, Maybe it will be mild like last year. Do I really need all this? was the question in my mind. As it turns out YES, needed all of it. 

Handymans342

We had a cold last night 37 but will be 70 today. Working on boat projects and yard stuff. 

raybo3

Yesterday was a record -32 wind chill in Boston............ This is nutz..... Just say'n

reneechris14

I put a gallon of the walmart pink stuff on the deck last night and it is still in the liquid state. So just maybe the boat is ok. It was -7 last night in northern CT.

Handymans342

reneechris14 said:

I put a gallon of the walmart pink stuff on the deck last night and it is still in the liquid state. So just maybe the boat is ok. It was -7 last night in northern CT.

Was that -30 or -60 stuff??

Black_Diamond

Had a -18F without windchill on Sat in upper Mich. Cold skiing day!

Dream_Inn

Yeah, it is weeks like this I wonder how the pink stuff holds up.  An entire week below freezing here in MD is quite unusual, let alone many nights in the single digits. (I know, lots of you guys are colder) 

 I left one or two things in my dock box that I'm afraid may not be much good after this winter (like 303 cleaner and vinyl adhesive).  I had thought about it last week but was too lazy to go down (not sure why, but this really cold weather has made me lazier).  I'll get down there this coming week and start some projects.

aero3113

Dream_Inn said:

Yeah, it is weeks like this I wonder how the pink stuff holds up.  An entire week below freezing here in MD is quite unusual, let alone many nights in the single digits. (I know, lots of you guys are colder) 

 I left one or two things in my dock box that I'm afraid may not be much good after this winter (like 303 cleaner and vinyl adhesive).  I had thought about it last week but was too lazy to go down (not sure why, but this really cold weather has made me lazier).  I'll get down there this coming week and start some projects.

I treaked out into the yard before through the snow to check on the boat. I checked the water lines (what I could see) and the freeze plugs on the engine. Everything still looks to be in tact. The pink stuff looks pretty solid in the lines but didn’t see any cracks or busted connections.

Willhound

We get -30 regularly.  Unless your pink stuff is different from our pink stuff, you're fine.

aero3113

I used Sta-bil pink this year for the first time and it says it has burst protection up to -75. It’s just something that’s always in the back of my mind in the winter.

reneechris14

-50 stuff supertech 0.9° now and its not even slushy 

J3ff

You have to put it in a clear tube and see if it still does that.. 

reneechris14

@J3ff Done,will check in the am

J3ff

Perfect!

aero3113

About 3-4 years ago when we had a really cold week, I put purple and 2 different pinks in paper cups. I think they were  -50, -75 and -100 and all 3 turned to slush. I don't mind if they freeze, it's the burst protection I worry about.

J3ff

What does burst protection even mean? 

aero3113

I believe it means it will freeze but not put enough pressure on an item to crack it.

randy56

Good test. 

aero3113

When I checked on my water lines the pink was frozen but the pink in the toilet was still liquid.

LaRea

Even if it freezes solid, I think it doesn't expand like water does.

gtyee

I used the pink and it froze at 30 degrees, realized I used gatorade!

Ian

Good reference: https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Selecting-Antifreeze

Our boat is in a bunker, unheated but out of the weather. Comparing my garage last week (unheated), the lowest I saw it at was 26F when it was below 0 outside. Where it's at is a quality marina and service operation that would use good stuff so I am confident all is well, even if it got real low in the bunker.

reneechris14

9° this moning you can see the slush in the line but still can pour it out. Gallon all liquid no slush. Should of put a black line on the tube to check for expansion. Going in to a warming trend this week.

raybo3

This will freeze how many of us with ice makers get pink cube when turning it on for the first time in the spring????? Just say'n

randy56

Sydney set's record high of 116 yesterday, 

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5243107/Western-Sydney-suburb-breaks-citys-time-heat-record.html

Dream_Inn

raybo3 said:

This will freeze how many of us with ice makers get pink cube when turning it on for the first time in the spring????? Just say'n

Yep, I get pink ice cubes!

Liberty44140

X3 on pink cubes. I run antifreeze to the valve and then blow out the line from the valve to the box with my mouth.
Good stuff on the test Chris. I use that same Walmart Marine/RV stuff on all of my water lines and then use Starbrite Wintersafe -50 on my engines and generator. Will be interesting, I keep the boat in cold storage but on the other side of the wall is their heated storage. Last year it never went below 45 where I am but this year will be different I am sure. We saw single digits for a week. I left a digital thermometer on top of the Generator in October that should record the lowest temp it sees. 

Willhound

Interesting. So it sounds like most of you guys run the pink stuff into the water system and leave it there? And leave blue engine plugs in? Around here we usually use the pink stuff by running it through the system like a flush to push out water, but then pulling plugs and lines so most of it drains and the system is "dry"so to speak. Any residual pink stuff left will then handle the cold. And then opposite in spring, running water through everything and hooking up as you go so the pink stuff mostly gets flushed so no pink smelly water or ice cubes. Or at least not as bad.

Liberty44140

Yes, I leave all pink stuff in the engines and water lines. There has been debate on this here before and it ends with personal preference. Some feel that its better to drain the antifreeze for the winter as air does not freeze. Some feel that its better to leave the antifreeze in as it has corrosion inhibitors and keeps gaskets lubed. Again, personal preferance.