When water freezes and expands, it can wreak havoc with pilings, piers, and boat hulls. Whether the ice forms inside hoses or outside the hull, your boat isn’t going to like that extra pressure. To protect a boat or pier, install a deicer, which will circulate warmer subsurface water, melting ice or preventing its formation. These devices can easily be hung from boats and piers, and if you add a timer and thermostat, the unit will only run when necessary. Deicers generally cost somewhere between $500 and $600, and a combination thermostat-timer will add another $150. These simple products are well worth the investment and only require easy, routine maintenance.
At West Marine in Edgewater, MD, liveaboard and assistant store manager Scott Hilbert says, “We sell a lot of Kasco deicers and replacement zincs for them, but another big seller is anti-freeze. It’s important to protect a boat’s freshwater, bilge, and engine systems, including the hoses, from freezing. We have products with minus 50-, 60-, or 100-degree temperature ratings, all made with propylene glycol, so they’re sea safe, biodegradable, and nontoxic.” Hilbert continues, “For an engine room, regular or ceramic heaters without ignition protection aren’t safe, so we suggest Boatsafe heaters with ignition protection.”
While boats and piers are important to protect, more critical is the safety of yourself and anyone else who ventures near the cold water and frosty piers. Use salt or other eco-friendly ice melt on docks and decks. Wear a PFD, and either attach a whistle or put one in your pocket. Boots should have good traction or add-ons such as Yak Trax. Even plain wool socks sort of “stick” to snow or ice and will help prevent slipping. Remember, your number one goal here is to stay dry. Immersion in cold water will slow down thinking and your ability to move and breathe within a matter of seconds. Memorize the location of all ladders from the water to the pier, and use the buddy system.
Be smart and safe, and watch out for each other out there. But don’t forget to look up and appreciate how pretty our waterways are this time of year.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - 08:30
A little bit of snow and ice can transform the Bay into a winter wonderland, though slippery conditions and frigid water are serious business. As always, Mother Nature demands our utmost respect. A few common-sense precautions go a long way to keeping safe boats, piers, and self.
When water freezes and expands, it can wreak havoc with pilings, piers, and boat hulls. Whether the ice forms inside hoses or outside the hull, your boat isn’t going to like that extra pressure. To protect a boat or pier, install a deicer, which will circulate warmer subsurface water, melting ice or preventing its formation. These devices can easily be hung from boats and piers, and if you add a timer and thermostat, the unit will only run when necessary. Deicers generally cost somewhere between $500 and $600, and a combination thermostat-timer will add another $150. These simple products are well worth the investment and only require easy, routine maintenance.
At West Marine in Edgewater, MD, liveaboard and assistant store manager Scott Hilbert says, “We sell a lot of Kasco deicers and replacement zincs for them, but another big seller is anti-freeze. It’s important to protect a boat’s freshwater, bilge, and engine systems, including the hoses, from freezing. We have products with minus 50-, 60-, or 100-degree temperature ratings, all made with propylene glycol, so they’re sea safe, biodegradable, and nontoxic.” Hilbert continues, “For an engine room, regular or ceramic heaters without ignition protection aren’t safe, so we suggest Boatsafe heaters with ignition protection.”
While boats and piers are important to protect, more critical is the safety of yourself and anyone else who ventures near the cold water and frosty piers. Use salt or other eco-friendly ice melt on docks and decks. Wear a PFD, and either attach a whistle or put one in your pocket. Boots should have good traction or add-ons such as Yak Trax. Even plain wool socks sort of “stick” to snow or ice and will help prevent slipping. Remember, your number one goal here is to stay dry. Immersion in cold water will slow down thinking and your ability to move and breathe within a matter of seconds. Memorize the location of all ladders from the water to the pier, and use the buddy system.
Be smart and safe, and watch out for each other out there. But don’t forget to look up and appreciate how pretty our waterways are this time of year.
When water freezes and expands, it can wreak havoc with pilings, piers, and boat hulls. Whether the ice forms inside hoses or outside the hull, your boat isn’t going to like that extra pressure. To protect a boat or pier, install a deicer, which will circulate warmer subsurface water, melting ice or preventing its formation. These devices can easily be hung from boats and piers, and if you add a timer and thermostat, the unit will only run when necessary. Deicers generally cost somewhere between $500 and $600, and a combination thermostat-timer will add another $150. These simple products are well worth the investment and only require easy, routine maintenance.
At West Marine in Edgewater, MD, liveaboard and assistant store manager Scott Hilbert says, “We sell a lot of Kasco deicers and replacement zincs for them, but another big seller is anti-freeze. It’s important to protect a boat’s freshwater, bilge, and engine systems, including the hoses, from freezing. We have products with minus 50-, 60-, or 100-degree temperature ratings, all made with propylene glycol, so they’re sea safe, biodegradable, and nontoxic.” Hilbert continues, “For an engine room, regular or ceramic heaters without ignition protection aren’t safe, so we suggest Boatsafe heaters with ignition protection.”
While boats and piers are important to protect, more critical is the safety of yourself and anyone else who ventures near the cold water and frosty piers. Use salt or other eco-friendly ice melt on docks and decks. Wear a PFD, and either attach a whistle or put one in your pocket. Boots should have good traction or add-ons such as Yak Trax. Even plain wool socks sort of “stick” to snow or ice and will help prevent slipping. Remember, your number one goal here is to stay dry. Immersion in cold water will slow down thinking and your ability to move and breathe within a matter of seconds. Memorize the location of all ladders from the water to the pier, and use the buddy system.
Be smart and safe, and watch out for each other out there. But don’t forget to look up and appreciate how pretty our waterways are this time of year.