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Author Topic:   Ice Problems

Austin Whaler posted 03-07-2009 09:13 AM ET (US)
I have a 19' outrage it is the original 73' model. I had it covered and recently moved, i moved only 5 miles away but i am only 15 and couldn't check on it as much as i wanted to. Anyway my problem is the snow and ice caused holes to tear in the tarp and allowed water in. I am in the middle of restoring it and there is currently no gas tank in it, the water filled the empty gas tank area below the deck plate and froze. it also has an inch and a half of ice on the port side in the stern above the deck. The reason i posted is i am trying to remove the 40+ gallons or 330+ pounds of water in it. The water has also frozen itself into the rigging tunnel and all drains except the anchor locker. Let me know if you have any ideas. I have had two so far a hairdryer but that would be a long day, and ice melt but i am afraid it would hurt the gelcoat.
ChocLabWhaler posted 03-07-2009 09:29 AM ET (US)
You're going to have to warm the whole boat and pump out the water. Anying else and you'll damage the boat by chipping out the ice - plus it still won't get all of the glaze ice of the surfaced.
Looks like you're done until it warms up.
home Aside posted 03-07-2009 09:32 AM ET (US)
Here's a thread that might be of help
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/012552.html
Pat
Austin Whaler posted 03-07-2009 09:42 AM ET (US)
well i just checked the weather and it looks like the coldest high temp in the next week is 35 but mostly mid to high 40's today and tomorrow are in the 50's so it looks like thee weather might start to cooperate with me i wish i had a nice warm warehouse for it that would make it a lot easier to work on.
Phil T posted 03-07-2009 09:59 AM ET (US)
Austin -
Many of us have had the tarp fail. Don't fret.
Since today and tomorrow will be FANTASTIC. You could help the melting by getting the boat in the sun. Additionally, if you can run a hose with cold water, it will help in the melting.
You are correct on the forecast. NWS long range is for a few storms, rain for you, snow to the north and colder temps starting Wednesday.
Do what you can today, cover tonight, try again tomorrow, then cover her back up.
Melting ice actually contracts so it will not do damage.
Phil
-formerly Casco Bay Outrage -
DaveS posted 03-07-2009 10:07 AM ET (US)
One other thing you might try that'll assist in warming the area, you could also cover the boat with a dark covered tarp (think blacktop on a sunny day). This way, it'll heat the surrounding area faster and hopefully melt the idea quickly. If you just open the boat up and expose it to the sun, most of the sun't energy will be reflected.
Good luck...
Austin Whaler posted 03-07-2009 12:12 PM ET (US)
I used some manual labor to remove roughly 10 gallons of ice off of the deck there is only a little bit left over on deck. Then the true pain is going to be the rigging tunnel/below deck gas tank area. I will try some hot water down the tunnel eventually but right now it would just run all over the deck because the ice is even with the deck. I have to get the deck panel off and then the ice that has been insulated in a giant cooler (the boat) will begin to melt hopefully.
DaveS posted 03-07-2009 12:41 PM ET (US)
I'd be careful using hot water...you might be better off with Phil's suggestion using cold water.
Austin Whaler posted 03-07-2009 12:44 PM ET (US)
when i said hot i ment warm but there isn't that much of a chance of me having to do that unless the ice stays in the tunnel for a long time afteer the rest of the boat is thawed out.
Jerry Townsend posted 03-07-2009 01:03 PM ET (US)
I have had the same problem - and put on a new tarp - and set a small (1000 - 1500 watt) electric heater/blower on the deck. The circulating warm air does a beautiful job in melting the ice and letting the water drain. And if there is relatively large block of ice - an infared heat lamp directed right at the ice works too. Don't let the infared light be directed to the glass/gelcoat.
Be very cautious of using any mechanical means of removing the ice - as a hammer, chisel, screwdriver, ice-pick et al - can damage the glass/gelcoat. ---- Jerry/Idaho
Phil T posted 03-07-2009 06:09 PM ET (US)
Austin -
If the deck is attached and the cavity is full, I would not try lifting it off. There is a chance the block of ice is attached to the deck. If you force it, it may crack.
I would go slow and just pick your good days with sun.
Cold tap water is ~50 degrees and will melt the ice via thermal transfer.
I would jack up the bow really high and use the hose in the rear of the tunnel, working forward. As the ice melts, push the hose forward. Do not remove the deck unless you know the ice is not attached.
Then again, the temps are going south so you may want to just wait a bit more.
crabby posted 03-08-2009 09:32 PM ET (US)
Austin:
A BW is like a big cooler; the foam is just insulation. The ice will eventually melt. Hot water is one way to speed the process, salt is another. Yours won't be the first BW to get filled with ice, it won't kill it.
Have fun!
Austin Whaler posted 03-08-2009 10:54 PM ET (US)
well all the deck ice is gone and i removed the deck plate. I thought that the ice inside was solid but when i stepped on it my foot went right through it and i found that it was only 2 inches of ice and the rest was water so i got a nice wet shoe to walk around in school tomorrow with. Tons of fun! but its worth it cause all thats left is the rigging tunnel, then the real work can begin.
ronniet posted 03-09-2009 09:40 AM ET (US)
Sometimes in Life Lady Luck smiles at you!I was not that lucky!I too store my boat away from home,Having read your post I was curios to see if My boat was taking in water,shure enough water was getting in and there's 12"of ice bellow deck.My idea was to leave the useless"cover"off the boat,and take a large black doormat and lay it aft on the deck.I had to check out some things on the boat before I left for home,about 10 minutes or so,then I touched the mat,it was allready Hot!I closed all hatches to store the heat.C'mon Sun.I wonder if a pipe heater would work?Ron
Austin Whaler posted 03-10-2009 02:25 PM ET (US)
all the ice is gone i have successfully removed all of it, including all water. Now just have to keep it that way.
Bella con23 posted 03-10-2009 03:22 PM ET (US)
Could always be worst - http://www.pbase.com/metuchen/image/107722413
I think rain water got the best of this one.
Joe
jollyrog305 posted 03-10-2009 04:01 PM ET (US)
A few weeks ago the bow portion of my cover sank on my 305. Log story short, there was a solid block of ice 4 – 15” deep from the windshield to bow pulpit. I was very fortunate that the cover held and am totally amazed that the bow rails didn’t bend from all that weight. It took me three days before I was able to get all the ice and water out. What I did find helpful was that I poured an entire gallon of windshield washer fluid on the block and went home for the day. The fluid caused small cracks to form in the ice and it eventually made its way to the bottom creating a “barrier” that made the block a floating berg. The next day I put some ice melt (not salt) on the berg and let it sit in the sun (still was 30 degrees out though). The following day (50 degrees), I could see that enough melting had occurred that I was able to take a hammer and flat head screwdriver (one not longer than the shallowest point of the berg) and create stress cracks. Eventually I was able to lift the large blocks out and then bucket out the remaining water. Not sure though I would have done any of this if the cover had been compromised/torn.

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Author	Topic: Ice Problems
Austin Whaler	posted 03-07-2009 09:13 AM ET (US) I have a 19' outrage it is the original 73' model. I had it covered and recently moved, i moved only 5 miles away but i am only 15 and couldn't check on it as much as i wanted to. Anyway my problem is the snow and ice caused holes to tear in the tarp and allowed water in. I am in the middle of restoring it and there is currently no gas tank in it, the water filled the empty gas tank area below the deck plate and froze. it also has an inch and a half of ice on the port side in the stern above the deck. The reason i posted is i am trying to remove the 40+ gallons or 330+ pounds of water in it. The water has also frozen itself into the rigging tunnel and all drains except the anchor locker. Let me know if you have any ideas. I have had two so far a hairdryer but that would be a long day, and ice melt but i am afraid it would hurt the gelcoat.
ChocLabWhaler	posted 03-07-2009 09:29 AM ET (US) You're going to have to warm the whole boat and pump out the water. Anying else and you'll damage the boat by chipping out the ice - plus it still won't get all of the glaze ice of the surfaced. Looks like you're done until it warms up.
home Aside	posted 03-07-2009 09:32 AM ET (US) Here's a thread that might be of help http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/012552.html Pat
Austin Whaler	posted 03-07-2009 09:42 AM ET (US) well i just checked the weather and it looks like the coldest high temp in the next week is 35 but mostly mid to high 40's today and tomorrow are in the 50's so it looks like thee weather might start to cooperate with me i wish i had a nice warm warehouse for it that would make it a lot easier to work on.
Phil T	posted 03-07-2009 09:59 AM ET (US) Austin - Many of us have had the tarp fail. Don't fret. Since today and tomorrow will be FANTASTIC. You could help the melting by getting the boat in the sun. Additionally, if you can run a hose with cold water, it will help in the melting. You are correct on the forecast. NWS long range is for a few storms, rain for you, snow to the north and colder temps starting Wednesday. Do what you can today, cover tonight, try again tomorrow, then cover her back up. Melting ice actually contracts so it will not do damage. Phil -formerly Casco Bay Outrage -
DaveS	posted 03-07-2009 10:07 AM ET (US) One other thing you might try that'll assist in warming the area, you could also cover the boat with a dark covered tarp (think blacktop on a sunny day). This way, it'll heat the surrounding area faster and hopefully melt the idea quickly. If you just open the boat up and expose it to the sun, most of the sun't energy will be reflected. Good luck...
Austin Whaler	posted 03-07-2009 12:12 PM ET (US) I used some manual labor to remove roughly 10 gallons of ice off of the deck there is only a little bit left over on deck. Then the true pain is going to be the rigging tunnel/below deck gas tank area. I will try some hot water down the tunnel eventually but right now it would just run all over the deck because the ice is even with the deck. I have to get the deck panel off and then the ice that has been insulated in a giant cooler (the boat) will begin to melt hopefully.
DaveS	posted 03-07-2009 12:41 PM ET (US) I'd be careful using hot water...you might be better off with Phil's suggestion using cold water.
Austin Whaler	posted 03-07-2009 12:44 PM ET (US) when i said hot i ment warm but there isn't that much of a chance of me having to do that unless the ice stays in the tunnel for a long time afteer the rest of the boat is thawed out.
Jerry Townsend	posted 03-07-2009 01:03 PM ET (US) I have had the same problem - and put on a new tarp - and set a small (1000 - 1500 watt) electric heater/blower on the deck. The circulating warm air does a beautiful job in melting the ice and letting the water drain. And if there is relatively large block of ice - an infared heat lamp directed right at the ice works too. Don't let the infared light be directed to the glass/gelcoat. Be very cautious of using any mechanical means of removing the ice - as a hammer, chisel, screwdriver, ice-pick et al - can damage the glass/gelcoat. ---- Jerry/Idaho
Phil T	posted 03-07-2009 06:09 PM ET (US) Austin - If the deck is attached and the cavity is full, I would not try lifting it off. There is a chance the block of ice is attached to the deck. If you force it, it may crack. I would go slow and just pick your good days with sun. Cold tap water is ~50 degrees and will melt the ice via thermal transfer. I would jack up the bow really high and use the hose in the rear of the tunnel, working forward. As the ice melts, push the hose forward. Do not remove the deck unless you know the ice is not attached. Then again, the temps are going south so you may want to just wait a bit more.
crabby	posted 03-08-2009 09:32 PM ET (US) Austin: A BW is like a big cooler; the foam is just insulation. The ice will eventually melt. Hot water is one way to speed the process, salt is another. Yours won't be the first BW to get filled with ice, it won't kill it. Have fun!
Austin Whaler	posted 03-08-2009 10:54 PM ET (US) well all the deck ice is gone and i removed the deck plate. I thought that the ice inside was solid but when i stepped on it my foot went right through it and i found that it was only 2 inches of ice and the rest was water so i got a nice wet shoe to walk around in school tomorrow with. Tons of fun! but its worth it cause all thats left is the rigging tunnel, then the real work can begin.
ronniet	posted 03-09-2009 09:40 AM ET (US) Sometimes in Life Lady Luck smiles at you!I was not that lucky!I too store my boat away from home,Having read your post I was curios to see if My boat was taking in water,shure enough water was getting in and there's 12"of ice bellow deck.My idea was to leave the useless"cover"off the boat,and take a large black doormat and lay it aft on the deck.I had to check out some things on the boat before I left for home,about 10 minutes or so,then I touched the mat,it was allready Hot!I closed all hatches to store the heat.C'mon Sun.I wonder if a pipe heater would work?Ron
Austin Whaler	posted 03-10-2009 02:25 PM ET (US) all the ice is gone i have successfully removed all of it, including all water. Now just have to keep it that way.
Bella con23	posted 03-10-2009 03:22 PM ET (US) Could always be worst - http://www.pbase.com/metuchen/image/107722413 I think rain water got the best of this one. Joe
jollyrog305	posted 03-10-2009 04:01 PM ET (US) A few weeks ago the bow portion of my cover sank on my 305. Log story short, there was a solid block of ice 4 – 15” deep from the windshield to bow pulpit. I was very fortunate that the cover held and am totally amazed that the bow rails didn’t bend from all that weight. It took me three days before I was able to get all the ice and water out. What I did find helpful was that I poured an entire gallon of windshield washer fluid on the block and went home for the day. The fluid caused small cracks to form in the ice and it eventually made its way to the bottom creating a “barrier” that made the block a floating berg. The next day I put some ice melt (not salt) on the berg and let it sit in the sun (still was 30 degrees out though). The following day (50 degrees), I could see that enough melting had occurred that I was able to take a hammer and flat head screwdriver (one not longer than the shallowest point of the berg) and create stress cracks. Eventually I was able to lift the large blocks out and then bucket out the remaining water. Not sure though I would have done any of this if the cover had been compromised/torn.