False Spring Weather

Around here in South Carolina, winter never really takes hold. We winterize our boats because sometimes the temps do get down into the teens, but it's only for a short spell. Sometimes in the later part of  the winter season the thermometer will show us 60° a few days after we experience the teens. It's awful tempting to take the boat out on those 60° days, but the reality is that there's still the possibility of needing to re-winterize 'cause those 20's could again be just around the corner.

I'm a sucker for the warm weather and just have to get the boat wet, but I'm also a lazy sob and don't want to re-winterize her in case the weather lures me out again. So here's what I do:

I put an electric heater in the engine compartment.

The heater is just to the left of the engine with the red indicator light showing that it's active.

 I know, I know, it's dangerous because a small spark when the heater cycles could cause gasoline fumes to blow the boat up. But I'm thinking that because the drain plug is out, those heavier than air gasoline fumes will drain themselves out. And in the cold weather I wonder about how much the gasoline will fume or if there is any fumes at all? I'd appreciate thoughts on these assumptions...

To assist the heater in keeping the mill warm, I made some covers for the engine room vents - these just snap over the engine room ventilation louvers.

Covers for the engine room ventilation louvers.

Then there's the question of how effective my efforts really are. Is the heater keeping things warm enough to prevent my block and manifolds from freezing and cracking? I solve this mystery by putting the sender for a remote reading thermometer in the engine compartment. This way I can see the temperature in the engine compartment from the comfort of my house.

It's 58.4° in the engine compartment - the ambient temp is about 32.

No matter what, it's a gamble I'm willing to take - the freedom of being able to take her out on a moments notice without being a hostage of re-winterizing.