ICE question - the cold kind not the other kind

[CastawayRK]

So by Monday my end of Lake Lanier will have a thin layer of ice. Like 1/16”. How thick is thick enough to scratch and/ or damage hull? This is will be thin enough that a small stone will go right thru. Probably you could poke thru with your finger.
Before you think I’m too goofy it will be 50 degrees Tuesday (and good fishing conditions ) but in the morning we will have that thin layer of ice. Further down lake where I will fish there’s open water, I just need to get there without damaging boat
Cheers.

 

[drewkaree]

So by Monday my end of Lake Lanier will have a thin layer of ice. Like 1/16”. How thick is thick enough to scratch and/ or damage hull? This is will be thin enough that a small stone will go right thru. Probably you could poke thru with your finger.
Before you think I’m too goofy it will be 50 degrees Tuesday (and good fishing conditions ) but in the morning we will have that thin layer of ice. Further down lake where I will fish there’s open water, I just need to get there without damaging boat
Cheers.

I dunno if that'll do any damage, but if you can get a submersible pump, like a small one with a garden hose attachment like you'd use to remove water from a swimming pool cover, you can drop that in under the boat and run it. The moving water should stop the ice from forming around the boat, although if the flow isn't covering the boat, you may get ice on one side or the other. Possibly have the hose end out of the water and pointed at the bow, so water would flow around the boat.

Another idea might be to leave the garden hose off, and tie 2-3 to your cleat, with the pumps below the hull line. Those pumps should be cheap, although I dunno what "cheap" is anymore. Used to be, you could get a cheap swimming pool cover pump for $20 Looks like the new "cheap" is $40-50 for the 1/2hp we've always used

 

[2kwik4u]

I dunno if that'll do any damage, but if you can get a submersible pump, like a small one with a garden hose attachment like you'd use to remove water from a swimming pool cover, you can drop that in under the boat and run it. The moving water should stop the ice from forming around the boat, although if the flow isn't covering the boat, you may get ice on one side or the other. Possibly have the hose end out of the water and pointed at the bow, so water would flow around the boat.

Another idea might be to leave the garden hose off, and tie 2-3 to your cleat, with the pumps below the hull line. Those pumps should be cheap, although I dunno what "cheap" is anymore. Used to be, you could get a cheap swimming pool cover pump for $20 Looks like the new "cheap" is $40-50 for the 1/2hp we've always used

I was thinking of a "pond bubbler" that the farmers use to keep ice of ponds.

Quick google found me this.

Power House Ice Eater – Submersible Dock & Pond De-Icer for Winter Ice Protection

Prevent ice formation along shorelines and docks while increasing vital circulation year-round with the Ice Eater pond de-icer and water circulator.

www.thepondguy.com

Looks promising.

 

[Neutron]

So by Monday my end of Lake Lanier will have a thin layer of ice. Like 1/16”. How thick is thick enough to scratch and/ or damage hull? This is will be thin enough that a small stone will go right thru. Probably you could poke thru with your finger.
Before you think I’m too goofy it will be 50 degrees Tuesday (and good fishing conditions ) but in the morning we will have that thin layer of ice. Further down lake where I will fish there’s open water, I just need to get there without damaging boat
Cheers.

I wouldn't trust the estimate of 1/16, always expect it to be thicker and prepare for that. I dont know how they can come up with a number like that anyway.

 

[zipper]

Sold alot of these last winter. Dock De-Icers - Boat Winterization Essentials | West Marine
You can see them in action here at Burlington Harbor Marina.

Marina Webcam | Burlington Harbor Marina | Vermont

View live feeds of Burlington Harbor Marina's waterfront & boating activities. Check weather & boat traffic in real-time!

www.burlingtonharbormarina.com

 

[CastawayRK]

Sorry I wasn’t clear. Boat lives on lift. My question was about traveling thru it.
Thanks everyone for feedback!
I’m getting the notion that any ice at all is no-go

 

[mtudb24]

We punch / break through the November / December ice with a pontoon boat all the time up here in Michigan hunting ducks / geese. Sometimes its skim ice that breaks as you motor up to it, sometimes is a littler thicker and takes a couple of back and forth passes to break through. Would i want to do that with a $50K boat? Nope. We have re-enforced pontoons for this reason.

 

[drewkaree]

Sorry I wasn’t clear. Boat lives on lift. My question was about traveling thru it.
Thanks everyone for feedback!
I’m getting the notion that any ice at all is no-go

On a lift? Problem solved, don't use it until the ice is gone!

"Doc, it hurts my elbow when I go like this"

"Well, don't go like that then"

 

[drewkaree]

I was thinking of a "pond bubbler" that the farmers use to keep ice of ponds.

Quick google found me this.

Power House Ice Eater – Submersible Dock & Pond De-Icer for Winter Ice Protection

Prevent ice formation along shorelines and docks while increasing vital circulation year-round with the Ice Eater pond de-icer and water circulator.

www.thepondguy.com

Looks promising.

Sold alot of these last winter. Dock De-Icers - Boat Winterization Essentials | West Marine
You can see them in action here at Burlington Harbor Marina.

Marina Webcam | Burlington Harbor Marina | Vermont

View live feeds of Burlington Harbor Marina's waterfront & boating activities. Check weather & boat traffic in real-time!

www.burlingtonharbormarina.com

That's the exact idea, although those look pricey for temporary conditions. Good thing he's got a lift!

@zipper do those have any type of cage around them? That looks very similar to the weed abatement "blowers" they sell around us, but the versions I've seen to keep the weeds cleared START at $900-ish for the most basic. If those had some sort of cage to keep the blades clear, I'd be tempted to give 'em a shot, since I could do two for the price of one, vs hoping my spendy jug of Diquat didn't "spill" in the area. The weed removal companies use a whole host of additional chems, and those can't be applied more than twice in a season, so we've been contemplating one of those systems.

@WiskyDan and @FSH 210 Sport can attest that the weeds in our creek are like an underwater jungle, and another neighbor further down, where they're thicker, has a single blower, and it works to keep some of the duckweed at bay, but everyone needs to add a system on the creek to make it a smooth passage for him. Luckily I'm at the head of the creek, and as long as I can keep my area clean, I've got decent passage.

Very interested to investigate, thanks for linking that up

 

[zipper]

That's the exact idea, although those look pricey for temporary conditions. Good thing he's got a lift!

@zipper do those have any type of cage around them? That looks very similar to the weed abatement "blowers" they sell around us, but the versions I've seen to keep the weeds cleared START at $900-ish for the most basic. If those had some sort of cage to keep the blades clear, I'd be tempted to give 'em a shot, since I could do two for the price of one, vs hoping my spendy jug of Diquat didn't "spill" in the area. The weed removal companies use a whole host of additional chems, and those can't be applied more than twice in a season, so we've been contemplating one of those systems.

@WiskyDan and @FSH 210 Sport can attest that the weeds in our creek are like an underwater jungle, and another neighbor further down, where they're thicker, has a single blower, and it works to keep some of the duckweed at bay, but everyone needs to add a system on the creek to make it a smooth passage for him. Luckily I'm at the head of the creek, and as long as I can keep my area clean, I've got decent passage.

Very interested to investigate, thanks for linking that up

The cage extends only around the side, not facing the prop. But I am sure you could put a ss screen mesh over it.

 

[WiskyDan]

@WiskyDan and @FSH 210 Sport can attest that the weeds in our creek are like an underwater jungle, and another neighbor further down, where they're thicker, has a single blower, and it works to keep some of the duckweed at bay, but everyone needs to add a system on the creek to make it a smooth passage for him. Luckily I'm at the head of the creek, and as long as I can keep my area clean, I've got decent passage.

I can attest to that - I'm buying a couple of canoe paddles this year so me and the admiral can make it the final 50 yards to the @drewkaree dock so my intakes don't look like a couple of hippie sea monster heads are stuck in them....

 

[2kwik4u]

........ hippie sea monster heads ........

That is.....hands down.....the best description I've seen for "weeds in a jet syndrome".

 

[zipper]

I can attest to that - I'm buying a couple of canoe paddles this year so me and the admiral can make it the final 50 yards to the @drewkaree dock so my intakes don't look like a couple of hippie sea monster heads are stuck in them....

Funny, this guy looks tired. Either paddled or towed in.

An idea ...have Mr. @drewkaree install a poma lift type setup extending 200' out so you can just grab and hang on for the ride. Lol. Keeping it high enough and lit at night to not be a safety hazard might be an issue. Could bouy off the area as a swimming area. Or, get a jon boat mounted scythe and cut a path.

 

[gthorson]

Sorry I wasn’t clear. Boat lives on lift. My question was about traveling thru it.
Thanks everyone for feedback!
I’m getting the notion that any ice at all is no-go

I launched on a lake in open water that had ice in other areas. It was a couple inches thick. During the day the ice shifted and I had to break through to return to the dock. I went slow and had people at the bow breaking it up as we went. Slowly made it through about 100yards of ice without damage. Slow is key. If you have the time, and it isn't too far, I'd attempt it. I'd also call it off if it got questionable.

 

[WiskyDan]

Funny, this guy looks tired. Either paddled or towed in.

An idea ...have Mr. @drewkaree install a poma lift type setup extending 200' out so you can just grab and hang on for the ride. Lol. Keeping it high enough and lit at night to not be a safety hazard might be an issue. Could bouy off the area as a swimming area.

Maybe that's some proprietary wake shaper that Malibu developed - looks legit........