[Rhodes22-list] Ice Rink

[Ronald Lipton]

You just need to generate enough bubbles to keep the water agitated, 
which will
inhibit freezing.  For a small area like the cockpit drain I suspect 
that a fish tank
bubbler might work with a tygon tube inserted down the drain opening. If 
the
bubbles are channeled up the drain it should inhibit freezing in the 
tropical
conditions near the Chesapeake.  It may not work here in Chicago.

Ron

Leland wrote:
> Ron,
>
> Another interesting idea.  I'm not real familiar with pumps or bubblers. 
> Can I assume that no one manufacturers a bubbler for a one inch drain?  Can
> I assume that someone makes a sump pump with a small hose that I can stick
> into the cockpit drain?  I don't want to continually pump the Chesapeake out
> through the drain, so can a sump pump push air out and be used as a bubbler? 
> I thought about buying a bubbler for the whole boat, but I'm not sure if
> that would prevent the icing problem in the cockpit drain.
>
> I'm not really too worried about the ice rink.  It may not happen again and
> if it does I doubt that it will cause any damage before I get to it.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Lee
>
>
> Ronald Lipton wrote:
>   
>> You could use a small pump to provide a local bubbler into the drain area.
>> That should keep it from freezing without a fire hazard.
>>
>> Ron
>>
>> Leland wrote:
>>     
>>> Decided to take a chance and leave my boat in the water this winter. 
>>> Most of
>>> the local watermen do it along with plenty of other boaters.  With four
>>> foot
>>> seasonal tides, mushy salt water ice, and global warming; I figured it
>>> was a
>>> low-risk plan.
>>>
>>> Discovered that the water in the cockpit drain will freeze before the
>>> Chesapeake does.  Visited the boat last week and found a little ice
>>> skating
>>> rink in the cockpit.  It quickly melted with the unseasonally warm
>>> temperatures we've had the last few days, but now I'll have to visit my
>>> boat
>>> more often to ensure her safety.  At least that's what I told my wife.
>>>
>>> Lee
>>> 1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
>>> Crab Alley (Kent Island, MD)
>>>   
>>>       
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>>     
>
>