Hi All
I've put my boat into a tidal mud berth for the winter. I didn't empty the water ballast and am now wondering about what might happen when we reach freezing temperatures? Could the ballast freeze and damage the boat?
I'm popping back down to check on the boat tomorrow and obviously no harm in emptying the ballast regardless, but just wondered if there was any thoughts on this?
Cheers, Jack
Probably no big risk since tank may still have some space and the mud under boat and hence tanks are unlikely to reach freezing due to thermal mass. However best to empty or at least remove inner bung to allow expansion
Hi Roly, thanks for your reply.
I'd had similar thoughts but will empty ballast tomorrow. Also my tank definitely leaks very slowly when sat on the mud so by the coldest months it'll probably only be half full. And saltwater has a lower freezing temp anyway!
If I was leaving the boat on a mooring for a long period of time especially in the winter, I would have the ballast tank empty with the inlet valve closed & the vent plug sealed & locked. I would also take down any jib/Genoa on a furler & possibly take off the main with the boom . This is to reduce the amount of drag in strong winds.
Hi Andrew, thanks. I'm going to empty the ballast tomorrow. Pretty much everything else is winterproofed.
Hi Jack.
Speaking from a purely Plumbing perspective. Partially filled pipework, cylinders, vessels and void spaces are potentially prone to damage by the expansion of water caused by freezing temperatures. Standing water has a nasty habit of expanding in a linear rather than a volumetric fashion.
Good luck with the boat.
I haven't heard of anyone having a problem, more likely to happen in American where temperatures can be more extreme. Even on a drying mooring the boat will be surrounded by moving water for a number of hours per day, site dependent. Any ice formed in our climate is highly likely to defrost.
I would be far more concerned about how much the boat will swing about without water balast. Lowering the mast is a very good suggestion. If you are concerned just let out a third or less of the water so there is plenty of expansion room.
Jonathan
Hi Hugh, Jonathan - thanks for your responses.
The reason I didn't empty the ballast initially was for that very reason: I wanted the extra stability.
I'll check the ballast level tomorrow and make a decision then.