Winterizing Problem

[Meyerld01]

I need to winterize my 2013 276 Cobalt in its marina slip in the water. We live in the south so have done this before with our other boats, leaving them in the slip all winter. When i went to disconnect the larger seawater hose from the water pump, water would not stop gushing out of it into the bilge so i reconnected it to the pump. It is a 380 VP with a closed cooling system. I am pretty sure lake water is siphoning out of the hose since it is the one connected to the water inlet on the outdrive. Am i missing something? Is there an anti siphon valve somewhere in the line?

[bruceb58]

That hose is below the water line...as it's supposed to be. Totally normal.

[Meyerld01]

Thank you. I guess that obvious fact has escaped me since I normally keep my boats on a lift. This is the first time I have not done so. I was hoping there might be a seawater valve to close but i guess not. Will need to get it on the trailer and take it home for the winter. Too bad because the weather here is mild enough that we can boat year round, but there are days in Dec, Jan, and Feb where it can dip down below freezing, even to the 25 degree range.

[bruceb58]

Depending on the water temperature, you might be ok if you drain everything else. Problem is, if the raw water pump freezes, you could sink your boat.

[jhnmdahl]

I don't love this idea myself, but know people who have used these successfully to extend their boating season (and it's safer than the 100w light bulbs people used to use before things like this were available). If you only get down to 25 degrees overnight, it might be a reasonable solution:

https://xtremeheaters.com/

[bruceb58]

I would use a ceramic reptile heater bulb over a light bulb. Safer and won't burn out.

[jhnmdahl]

I would use a ceramic reptile heater bulb over a light bulb. Safer and won't burn out.

Oh, for sure. Incandescent bulbs got pretty hot, so there was always a risk in using them. Ceramic reptile heater is clever, and way cheaper than anything sold specifically for boating.