not so much a cruising question but does anyone have any experience
with those fans that mix up the water called De-icers. Last summer all
the pilings around my dock got stuck in the ice and came up with tide.
This year the river is already freezing and I just bought a De-icer
from West Marine with the idea that I could return it if I decide it is
not for me. One of the problems that I have is that I do not live in
the same state as the dock and can not keep an eye on it. I rent out
this property.
I have already suspended the dock itself out of the water but do not
want the pilings to come out again this year. Any suggestion/comments?
thanks

On 24 Jan 2005 16:34:21 -0800, "richard"
wrote:
not so much a cruising question but does anyone have any experience
with those fans that mix up the water called De-icers. Last summer all
the pilings around my dock got stuck in the ice and came up with tide.
This year the river is already freezing and I just bought a De-icer
from West Marine with the idea that I could return it if I decide it is
not for me. One of the problems that I have is that I do not live in
the same state as the dock and can not keep an eye on it. I rent out
this property.
I have already suspended the dock itself out of the water but do not
want the pilings to come out again this year. Any suggestion/comments?
thanks

================================================== ===

The de-icer you describe works by bringing warmer water up from the
bottom. It will work OK as long as the water is deep enough to have a
decent temperature gradient; you have enough units to cover the area
in question; and you have a reliable source of power.

Wayne. B wrote:

The de-icer you describe works by bringing warmer water up from the
bottom. It will work OK as long as the water is deep enough to have
a
decent temperature gradient; you have enough units to cover the area
in question; and you have a reliable source of power.

Thanks Wayne
the water will only be about 2 feet to 3 feet at low tide depending on
which end of the dock that you are at, at high tide it may be another 6
feet. I was under the impression that it stirred up the water and
moving water would not freeze. I did not relize that it was going to
depend on the water's depth. Thanks for the info.
Anyone have any ideas?

On 24 Jan 2005 20:06:41 -0800, "richard"
wrote:

I was under the impression that it stirred up the water and
moving water would not freeze.

=================================

That's part of it but the big thing is bringing warmer water to the
surface. You have shallow water but a big tide range so it's hard to
predict just how it will work out. If the weather is cold enough,
frozen pilings are a real problem. I've heard stories of using chain
saws at low tide to free the ice.

richard wrote:
not so much a cruising question but does anyone have any experience
with those fans that mix up the water called De-icers. Last summer all
the pilings around my dock got stuck in the ice and came up with tide.
This year the river is already freezing and I just bought a De-icer
from West Marine with the idea that I could return it if I decide it is
not for me. One of the problems that I have is that I do not live in
the same state as the dock and can not keep an eye on it. I rent out
this property.
I have already suspended the dock itself out of the water but do not
want the pilings to come out again this year. Any suggestion/comments?
thanks


Yes, they work. In Annapolis where we lived aboard for a few years it
was SOP to turn them on when the temperature dropped. One would keep
about a 60' diameter circle quite ice free. I'm not sure where you
are located and if you'd have to buy more than one for your dock.

They are designed to run unattended for weeks/months at a time. They
draw a fair bit of power (1/2 HP?) so ~500 Watts.

Evan Gatehouse

update- I get the 1/2 HP deicer at WM and go to RI where the dock is.
the river is frozen at the pilings already. (and the dock is suspended
in the air for the winter.) as planned we arrive at high tide so we are
as close to the ice as possible. we chop the ice with all sorts of
things not designed for this job. the pilings have actually already
been moved sideways a few inches by the ice. we chop a hole big enough
for the deicer at the deepest end of the dock and hang it with the two
lines that are supplied. Turn it on and wow it works, but I am
concerned about the water at low tide. so after visiting the sisters
and brother we come back at low tide to find that it is very shallow
indeed. At the deep end, with the deicer about 6 inches from the
bottom, the top of the deicer is almost touching the surface of the
water and it turns out that this is not a particulary low tide.
Not sure what to do at this point, afraid that there is just not enough
water and since it is very cold, I think that it might be too late in
the season for something clever like building a mount that puts the
deicer in deeper water.
Oh well, any ideas?

Richard, I have 14 of the Kasco and Ice eater brand deicers going
currently. The do need water depth to be effective and do not work well in
shallow water, but there are some things you can do. They work best when
driving the warmer bottom water up a slope to shallower water. If you can
get the deicer in deeper water off the dock facing towards it you will do
much better. You can do this with a couple of polyballs and some cinder
blocks. The deicers have additional holes in the sides to make it hang at
an angle to direct the water flow. The Kasco models use the cage for offset
hanging. Place the unit off the dock in deeper water facing towards shore.
The units can be placed very close to the bottom, almost touching. The
units have to be checked often for debris caught in the blades, they will
suck up any rope or plastic anywhere around. The trick in future years is
to have everything setup before the ice hits, but it certainly adds to the
fun to try it on ice covered decks and pilings. FWIW, I would return the
1/2 hp model and get the 3/4 HP. Much better coverage with just a few more
amps.

"richard" wrote in message
oups.com...
update- I get the 1/2 HP deicer at WM and go to RI where the dock is.
the river is frozen at the pilings already. (and the dock is suspended
in the air for the winter.) as planned we arrive at high tide so we are
as close to the ice as possible. we chop the ice with all sorts of
things not designed for this job. the pilings have actually already
been moved sideways a few inches by the ice. we chop a hole big enough
for the deicer at the deepest end of the dock and hang it with the two
lines that are supplied. Turn it on and wow it works, but I am
concerned about the water at low tide. so after visiting the sisters
and brother we come back at low tide to find that it is very shallow
indeed. At the deep end, with the deicer about 6 inches from the
bottom, the top of the deicer is almost touching the surface of the
water and it turns out that this is not a particulary low tide.
Not sure what to do at this point, afraid that there is just not enough
water and since it is very cold, I think that it might be too late in
the season for something clever like building a mount that puts the
deicer in deeper water.
Oh well, any ideas?

new update
ran the deicer for a few days after cuting a whole in the ice just big
enough for the deicer. Shut the deicer off as it did such a good job I
did not see the point on keeping it going. will turn it back on when
the weather dictates

Mark thanks for the help
I think that you and I are on the same page. I did want to put the
Kasco a little deeper and face it in
could you explain what you mean by polyballs and what do you do with
them and the cinder blocks Thanks
I think that it might be too late to swap it for the 3/4 hp one at this
point (the dock and pilings are only about 20' by 6')and next year I
will re-invent the rigging before the ice comes.

Mark (remove this) wrote:
Richard, I have 14 of the Kasco and Ice eater brand deicers going
currently. The do need water depth to be effective and do not work
well in
shallow water, but there are some things you can do. They work best
when
driving the warmer bottom water up a slope to shallower water. If
you can
get the deicer in deeper water off the dock facing towards it you
will do
much better. You can do this with a couple of polyballs and some
cinder
blocks. The deicers have additional holes in the sides to make it
hang at
an angle to direct the water flow. The Kasco models use the cage for
offset
hanging. Place the unit off the dock in deeper water facing towards
shore.
The units can be placed very close to the bottom, almost touching.
The
units have to be checked often for debris caught in the blades, they
will
suck up any rope or plastic anywhere around. The trick in future
years is
to have everything setup before the ice hits, but it certainly adds
to the
fun to try it on ice covered decks and pilings. FWIW, I would return
the
1/2 hp model and get the 3/4 HP. Much better coverage with just a
few more
amps.