Really cold storage?

[Twist]

I've got my 2024 Freedom 275 shrink wrapped and winterized on a lift at my home on the Chesapeake. All my water related systems have been flushed with the pink antifreeze. It's been plugged in to shore power for about a month and my plan was to leave it plugged in until I commissioned it in the spring. We've had a few weeks of sub-freezing weather where the cove I'm on is frozen over pretty hard but the forecast for tonight is a low of 7F. I'm reaching out to the collective wisdom here to ask if there's anything I should be going to make sure I don't have any problems with this deep freeze we're going to be in for several days.

One thing I've been considering is to hang an incandescent shop light inside the cockpit to provide a bit of warmth to knock the edge off the worst of it. Has anyone confronted this problem or am I just over thinking it?

 

[drbatts]

If the boat is properly winterized and wrapped. Then you should be fine.

 

[JJF]

I concur with drbatts.

 

[Ky Grady]

Same,,, I concur as well. You should be good.

 

[DennisG01]

Thousands and thousands and thousands of boats get stored like this in much colder climates than yours.

If the systems were properly winterized, you're good.

Being on a lift doesn't affect the boat... unless the the ice damages the lift

 

[seasick]

Don't do the lightbulb thing. It's asking for trouble. Keep the batteries charged.

 

[Fishtales]

Once it goes below freezing for a period likely any damage is done. Don't worry - wait for spring.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

We've had a few weeks of sub-freezing weather where the cove I'm on is frozen over pretty hard but the forecast for tonight is a low of 7F

Honestly i would never ever leave the batteries in the boat when temp lowers below freezing point and i almost always pull them and bring them home when my boats are on the dry for winter, even in Costa Rica.
They have a much happier life in a cool basement than outside, even if attached 24/7 to a charger.
Yes, i am aware that my car does the same, but i use it every day
Chris

 

[Twist]

Once it goes below freezing for a period likely any damage is done. Don't worry - wait for spring.

I get that for the wet systems on the boat. I went looking for the temperature range for my Garmin 8616 and other nav electronics and can't find anything in the manuals that states a range. I'm not sure what the internal battery technology is on some of these things or if they have batteries at all and maybe just use EEPROM for storing configuration settings, etc. Guess I'll find out in the spring...

 

[seasick]

I get that for the wet systems on the boat. I went looking for the temperature range for my Garmin 8616 and other nav electronics and can't find anything in the manuals that states a range. I'm not sure what the internal battery technology is on some of these things or if they have batteries at all and maybe just use EEPROM for storing configuration settings, etc. Guess I'll find out in the spring...

The spec for temp is 5 F to 131f . I assume that is the operating temperature range. The 'storage' range most likely is much wider.

 

[DennisG01]

Electronics... nothing to worry about. Again, go back to the reality of thousands and thousands of boats are like this with no issues. I get WHY you are wondering - but it really is a non-issue. Think of ALL the boats that have built-in electronics that never get removed. Same with the batteries - it's "nice" to remove them and "better" - but they're fine being left in if they were fully charged. Removing the negative leads is a good compromise.

 

[Fishtales]

I get that for the wet systems on the boat. I went looking for the temperature range for my Garmin 8616 and other nav electronics and can't find anything in the manuals that states a range. I'm not sure what the internal battery technology is on some of these things or if they have batteries at all and maybe just use EEPROM for storing configuration settings, etc. Guess I'll find out in the spring...

No worries.

 

[Fishtales]

The spec for temp is 5 F to 131f . I assume that is the operating temperature range. The 'storage' range most likely is much wider.

I've kept them in the boat for 25 years. Never an issue. Just disconnect and go. Charge in spring and in fall.

 

[JeffN]

For years I just turned my battery switch off charged before storage and charged in the spiring befor launch.