ice in the bilge

[jlroberts280]

The short version is......due to many distractions when I put the boat away this fall about 1-2" of water was left in the bottom of the bilge (deep full keel). Now it has frozen. I know this is bad. The question is... is it worth doing anything about it now, or is the damage already done and just wait for spring?

[Duncan]

... is it worth doing anything about it now, or is the damage already done and just wait for spring?

Just wait for spring. And don't worry about it, especially only a few inches..
The expansion of the water, as it freezes, is along the path of least resistance, i.e. upward. It won't put any pressure on anything.

I bought a similar (deep full keel) boat a few years ago, which had water in the bilge, almost right up to the cabin sole. This had frozen solid, and the boat had been in this state for several years, freezing and thawing. There was no damage.

[jollyboat]

Not to worry, but if you decide not to wait for spring there are options. You could thaw the ice and remove the water. You could also thaw the ice and add anti-freeze.

[Quetzalsailor]

You're in ME. Salt water. You could consider salting your bilge which would melt the ice if the world gets up above about 25 deg for long enough, and give you something to pump. Then leave it dry; you'll feel better. Certainly leaving the potable-type antifeeze in the bilge cannot hurt. (Our marina owner goes ape**** (rule #3) if someone uses ethylene glycol in their bilge; they lost a favored dog to it when discarded overboard in the yard.)

I doubt freeze damage to the boat with just a couple inches, there's room for expansion and the boats are pretty robust down there. I've gotten away with it, so far. I think you could readily ruin your bilge pump if it's in the frozen depth, rigid shapes and fittings might not tolerate it. We lost the impeller in our (failed) hot tub when the pump froze. I think I could loose my monel fuel tank (in the keel) if the surrounding bilge water froze.