[623162]

hay guys some rain water got in my fish boxes and is now ice The boxes are on the floor and are covered One hatch is open and the other is closed I tried to fill them with antifreez Will this cause any damage Maybe rip the hatch off its a brand new boat Aquasport 22'
Should I get out there with a heat gun or something

 

[Leprechaun]

Heat gun or even your wife's hair dryer will work there.

Antifreeze won't hurt anything, but won't dissolve the ice either.

On my boat, I put two light bulbs in the bilge, pour a little non-toxic anti-freeze in the bilge and keep a small bag of "Ice-melt" for situations like you have now or for slippery decks offshore.

Come to think of it, a can of that automotivr spray windshield de-icer might be the solution to your current issue.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[JPBass]

Fish box or live-well? If it's just the box with no aeration system there shouldn't be too much danger. But I'd certainly get the ice out of there just to be safe. It could crack the box.

If it's the live well,Yes!!! It could cause a lot of damage!!

If your pumps are full of water/ice they could be toast and it could crack you wells as well not to mention the hoses. Thaw it out and fill with anti-freeze. This hopefully would of been part of your original winterizing.

Didn't you shrink wrap it? Or at least cover it securely?

Unless of course you're still in the water????BRRRRRRRR

 

[Scratcher]

Check your scuppers too. I had rain water get into the "self bailing" scuppers on a boat I owned. It froze and cracked a plastic threaded fitting that was about an inch below the water line. One day I went to check on the boat and found a huge amount of water in it. Another fifteen minutes and it would have been on the bottom. The combo of a float-switch going bad and that leaking fitting nearly sank it in the slip. Anywhere the rainwater can get, and then be restricted when it freezes and expands, you need to keep dry. If its already frozen make sure to check for any below-waterline cracked fittings.

 

[SummerBrz]

Windsheid washer fluid

A friend of mine told me to use windshield washer fluid in anything that has rubber parts. Like a livewell pump or a masirator pump. He said that antifreeze will destroy rubber over time.
I am not sure if antifreeze will damage anything, but I am sure window washer fluid will not. So I have been running WW fluid into my masirator and live well pumps for two years now. Its also cheaper than antifreeze. I even run it through my powerwasher.

 

[623628]

Summer your friend might be rite. I used anti freeze. It my pump and the folowing year it wasnt pumping it worked just not pumping. Had to flush with fresh water. Now i jut blow it out with compressor.

 

[JPBass]

I've been using anti-freeze for my livewell/washdown. Had to change the pump every year. Maybe that's why??

Too late this winter though.

 

[SummerBrz]

My friend is in the carpet cleaning buisiness and has all kinds of pumps and tanks in his van. This time of year he has to winterize everything using window washer fluid on a daily basis to prevent freezing overnight.

Window washer fluid makes sence considering that cars use it, and those pumps and hoses are are crap, but last a long time.

 

[happyhrs]

antifreeze

Is the anti freeze you guys are talkin about the green engine coolant? or the pinkisk stuff they use in a rv?

 

[Leprechaun]

The green automotive stuff works better, but is toxic to the environment if pumped overboard or dumped on the ground. So if you are environmentally concious, then the pink non-toxic RV potable water system antifreeze is the stuff to use.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[happyhrs]

rubber

Lep,
I was inquiring which antifreeze eats the rubber pump parts, I am hoping it is the green type? The pink is made of alcohol , the same stuff as windshield wiper antifreeze I believe

 

[623628]

No the enviromental pink product is what harms small washdown pumps probally the potent green stuff also. But i hope you no longer use that product!! But now that i think about it my farther uses 10 galons of this stuff on his 42' Post. In the motors , plumbing, and air condtioner as well as his pumps without ever a problem and he treats is boat like gold. I dont know maybe it just cause problem on smaller pumps like the shorfows!!!!

 

[STRIKERTHREE]

you need r/v antifreeze i use it and it doesnt harm the pumps or bilge you should definetly try and get the ice out of there you never know if its gonna cause damage

 

[Capt Ed III]

antifreeze & rubber

anti-freeze should not ruin any rubber parts. think of what your engine hoses are made of!
-ken

 

[623162]

anti-freeze

Thanks for all the info I did have the boat covered with a tarp big mistake the weather tore it apart next year I will have it wraped I use the pink anti-freeze and my brother has a heat gun the fish boxes have mansapaters on then hope the don't get damaged