[C320-list] a/c winterizing

[Allan S. Field]

Jamie - For engine winterizing, I cut the intake hose midway between the
strainer and the heat exchanger.  I installed a 3 way valve in-line.
Obviously, when the valve is in the "open" position, the flow is from the
seacock to the heat exchanger.  When in the "closed" position, the flow is
from a 3-foot hose installed on the third barb of the 3-way to the heat
exchanger.  The 3-foot hose ends in a bucket filled with 2 gallons of pink
stuff.  I turn on the engine and when pink is flowing out the exhaust (or
the bucket is empty), the engine is winterized.  The entire process takes
maybe 3 minutes and, if I get a particularly warm day in the winter, I can
go sailing, return, and re-winterize in minutes without assist.

The A/C is more of a challenge, at least for me.  I installed a 3-way bronze
T-piece at the top of the thru hull.  One end of the T goes to the thru hull
and the other to the hose that goes to the pump (no strainer is recommended
on the Chesapeake Bay).  The 3rd end of the T has a bronze threaded cap
installed with liberal amounts of plumbers tape around the threads.  I take
a 2-foot section of CLEAR plastic hose and install a threaded male
connection that will screw into the top of the 3rd end of the T with the
bronze cap removed.  Using a funnel, I pour pink stuff into the CLEAR
plastic hose (needs to be clear so you don't overfill) until the pick stuff
is about 2 inches from the top of the hose.  Taking a deep breath, I blow
the pink stuff through the system.  I do this 5-6 times or so until my able
bodied assistant tells me that pink stuff is coming out of the A/C exhaust
(haven't figured out how to do this without help unless I just keep blowing
pink stuff through the system 10 or so times; fortunately, with 6 grandsons,
I can always find one who will go with me for this part!).  I know this
"system" is awkward but it beats the heck out of trying to get that short
piece of hose on and off each winter.  And it does work.

Hope this helps.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jamie Pett
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 10:19 PM
To: C320-list at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] a/c winterizing

Dreading the prospect of winter, I am nevertheless facing the task of
getting Bella Luna ready for the hard after our first amazing season with
her. 
 
I have a copy of Carl's very nice article on winterizing the c-320.  It has
been very helpful and I am working my way through winterizing - got the
water system done last weekend.  The tips on draining the hw heater by
releasing the pressure valve were very useful (amazed at how much water was
still in there), but his paper does not say anything about winterizing a
reverse cycle a/c heat unit.  
 
I thought I would simply close the thru-hull intake, open the strainer, and
add pink stuff with the unit running until it comes out the outlet - can
anyone add suggestions ? 
 
I also read somewhere that if you put the unit on fan only the compressor
won't run, but don't know why that matters ?  Do I need to do anything else
with the A/c compressor ? (or the Alder Barbour fridge?)
 
Also, on the engine - what is the best method for getting the pink stuff
into the system  - my strainer for the engine is inverted, so I guess I can
pull the intake hose and use it to pulll the antifreeze, but it seems awful
short to try to suck pink stuff out of a gallon jug , and switching jugs
mid-job seems difficult as well ? Any suggestions ? 
 
Jamie Pett
'Bella Luna' #614