De-Icers (Ice Eaters)

DE-ICERS

During winter and in some parts of the country, ice can cause a lot of problems for dock owners. Ice can slowly rip the dock to shreds and repairing this damage is usually very expensive. The force of ice and the gradual movements of the ice sheet can split a dock into pieces. Collars of ice can form on pilings and dock footings causing devastating structural failure. Icebound boats can experience extreme mechanical damage if they become locked in ice.

The best way to avoid dock damage is to remove the dock from the water during the winter months, but that isn’t always possible. One option is to install de-icers. De-icers create a flow of water, pulling warmer water from below the surface and directing it at the target area of the surface.
Dock or marine de-icers have a submersible motor ranging between 1/4 HP and 1 HP that drives a propeller. These units are suspended below the dock or from a float anchored just outside of the dock. Dock de-icers can be hung vertically to open a rough circle of water, or they can be angled to form an elliptical pattern. De-icers can be installed even after ice forms, by cutting a hole and suspending the unit. Under normal circumstances, the ice will be cleared from the target area in a matter of hours.
There are many brands of de-icers and they vary in unit power, voltage and cord length. It is important to consider the following factors before buying boat or dock de-icers:

o The size of the de-icing area: This information is important to determine the size of the dock de-icers needed to do the job.
o Horsepower: This is a very important factor in how large an area the dock de-icers will clear.
o Voltage: Are you going to be connected to a 110V or 220V power source?
o Cord Length: How far is the nearest safe power outlet from where the de-icers are going to be mounted?

The dock de-icers need to be placed where they will be at least a foot above the bottom so that they don’t pick up debris. The de-icer should be at least 1 foot below the surface, with 3-5 feet as an optimal depth in most
circumstances. Always consider variable water levels if the dock is hit by tides or if the water level can change.

If you are in an extremely cold area, you would probably need a large size de-icer. If you are in an area where the typical winter day is a little below freezing, for example in the 20’s or slightly below that, the smaller unit could work for you. Take into consideration that sometimes a combination of de-icers may be needed to provide the most effective ice removal.

The horsepower is the most important factor in determining ice clearing capabilities. The larger the unit, the larger an area it will clear. The trade off is that the larger the de-icers, the more electricity they will consume. A de-icer working 24/7 for many weeks can increase the electric bill. Therefore many professionals recommend setting a special thermostat or timer that controls the operation of the de-icers. Voltage will be determined by the power source available at the dock. 110v is the most common, but some docks may be equipped with 220v.
The cord needs to be long enough to allow you to position the de-icer in the water. Obviously the connection needs to be located where it is not in danger of being submerged.
De-icers can protect against ice forming around a dock. De-icers can also be used to form an open water break to keep the shifting ice from crushing a dock. However they don’t protect against floating ice. Especially on rivers, large chunks of ice propelled by the current or wind can act as a battering ram, striking docks. In this case, many boaters recommend placing protective pylons or floating booms to divert moving ice away from the dock and shore side structures.

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