The vessels are all having problems with ice accretion on the rigging and top rails the main engine is seacooled and when its done the water is pumped overboard, this is hotwater, now if we bypass pumping the water overboard and use a pump to pump it through the toprail, this would stop any icing in this area and once its done its job, the water is pumped overboard, the men can also heat their bodies whilst on deck hope some skippers take heed of this Brian Gillies from Scotland
Originally posted by nna: The vessels are all having problems with ice accretion on the rigging and top rails the main engine is seacooled and when its done the water is pumped overboard, this is hotwater, now if we bypass pumping the water overboard and use a pump to pump it through the toprail, this would stop any icing in this area and once its done its job, the water is pumped overboard, the men can also heat their bodies whilst on deck hope some skippers take heed of this Brian Gillies from Scotland
Not all boats are seawater cooled. Many have closed systems with keel coolers.
I believe some boats that are seawater cooled have tried it but i think their is a problem with water in the toprails freezing when the boat isn't running. Not to mention that it would take quite a bit of plumbing to connect all the railing. The railing also is quite easy to de-ice. One whack with a sledgehammer clears several feet. It is more troublesome on the sides of the house and hull, in rigging, and the million little nooks and crannies.
Having thought some more on this issue, electrical de-icing should not be a problem on the larger flat areas such as the wheelhouse walls and roof. Large heating pads are used in the manufacture and repair of composite panels. It should be relatively easy to adapt these to fit the boats. Should be able to reduce the ice weight by 30 - 40%
Posts: 8 | Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Registered: 10-14-08
Perhaps on newly built boats they could install the heat pads before putting in the interior. It would be quite costly to install the pads into boats that are already finished.
But realistically nothing is as effective as a rubber coated sledghammer for removing ice.
Not all boats were made as fishing vessels some like the Wizard were made to be used in the military but were converted to a fishing boat. That might make differences as well.
Everything touching salt water RUSTS or corrodes so the boats are cleaned and repainted regularly. Water pipes (stainless steel) need to be replaced regularly, etc. There are more problems with running hot salt water through things than just how to do it.
Thermodynamics:Heat travels from warm spots to cold spots. The water as it comes off the engines would cool quickly and add more to the icing problem than it would to reduce it.Better to just keep piping it overboard and keep the engines within their design paramters. As an example,my Uncle told me about that during his time in Korea in 1952,he'd get a steaming hot bowl of oatmeal and by the time he'd walked 50 feet from the chow line to an open spot where he could eat,the stuff had frozen solid and he had to chip the spoon out for later use.
