Water frozen in bilge

[capt jgw]

I'd worry that salt would corrode keel bolts, etc. Back in the day all the metal down there was bronze which doesn't corrode in salt water. So in an old wood boat salt is a good thing, kills the rot fungus and won't hurt the bronze. In newer boats with stainless steel hardware, not so much.

[Mike OReilly]

They used to use horse manure to fill in the leaks on vessels of old. But I don't see many people suggesting anyone shovel a pile of horse shyte into their bilge .

[searoom]

Years ago we owned a Catalina 38 and the first season on the hard she leaked water into the bilge. We discovered it was coming from cockpit locker drains. The boat was blocked a little too high at the bow end causing the problem. Once it was corrected the problem was resolved.

[Lucid]

Originally Posted by Mad Multi

Canadian boat on the hard.

there are 4 or 5 inches of water in the bilge, looks like it leaked in through the rear hatch and froze in the bilge where the keel bolts are.

is this an issue?

could it crack the hull?

should I melt it and get it out?

the picture here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gMv...ew?usp=sharing

I wouldn’t be that concerned. I put windshield washer fluid in my bilge. It prevents the water from freezing in the bilge pump etc and it’s nice and clean in the spring. I learned this from a yard where I used to store my boat. BTY on my first boat I had the same thing happen and I was very worried. Boating is a learning experience.