Frozen bilge pump

[Joe Brown]

I have a Lovett 900 automatic bilge pump installed in a CD28 I bought last Fall. Although the boat is hauled for the winter, I found today that rainwater has somehow seeped into the bilge (despite a tarp) completely covering this pump, and then frozen into solid ice, despite the fact I dumped 2 gallons of RV anti-freeze in the bilge at haulout time. Anyone with the kind of experience to know if the freezing will damage/destroy the pump, and I'll be paying for a replacement next spring (if it ever comes here in Maine)? My CD friends in California, where I lived most of my life, can laugh at my predicament. Thanks. -Joe Brown, CD28 "Caprice," Rockport, Maine



joebrown@mint.net

[Lee H. Hodsdon]

I have a Lovett 900 automatic bilge pump installed in a CD28 I bought last Fall. Although the boat is hauled for the winter, I found today that rainwater has somehow seeped into the bilge (despite a tarp) completely covering this pump, and then frozen into solid ice, despite the fact I dumped 2 gallons of RV anti-freeze in the bilge at haulout time. Anyone with the kind of experience to know if the freezing will damage/destroy the pump, and I'll be paying for a replacement next spring (if it ever comes here in Maine)? My CD friends in California, where I lived most of my life, can laugh at my predicament. Thanks. -Joe Brown, CD28 "Caprice," Rockport, Maine

Joe,

When the RV anti-freeze, "freezes" it turns to mush. If the ice in your bilge is in fact hard oops! I'd put salt on the ice to thaw, then remove the pump, test it and see if it operates. Or wait till late March and think positive thoughts now. Remember Maine Boat Builders Show in Portland, March 19,20 and 21.

Sincerely,

Lee



lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com