[C320-list] dreaded winterization /// Some additional winterization notes and steps to recover antifreeze from the water system

Mon Aug 31 13:07:56 PDT 2009

Scott,

I agree with Jim, recovering the antifreeze beats having to replace the hot
water heater or repair a break in the lines in the spring if you do not get
all of the water out of the water system by blowing air through the lines.
The challenge is being sure that the hot water tank is clear of all water or
be sure that the hot water tank has sufficient antifreeze to avoid a leak in
the spring.

Recovering antifreeze from the water system is something I have done for 14
winterization seasons and experienced no problems with the winterization
process come spring time when I place water back in the system. Up here on
Lake Erie we experience -10 to -20 degree winters so it is imperative to
complete the winterization processes without errors. 

1. One must be sure to run both the forward and the rear water tanks dry
before adding antifreeze to avoid antifreeze dilution. 

2. If the boat is still in the water, I place a gallon of antifreeze in the
empty rear water tank first before draining that tank and then switching to
the forward water tank. I add about 8 gallons of antifreeze to the empty
forward tank. (I place two gallons in the empty rear tank if the boat is on
the hard due to the bow being raised to ensure that water drains aft out of
the cockpit.) 

3. It takes about 9 gallons of antifreeze to initially winterize the water
system and one may recover about 5-6 of the 9 gallons of antifreeze by not
running the water pump longer than it takes to see a strong stream of pink
before turning off each cold side faucet beginning with the longest runs
first, such as the stern shower and then the head sink for the cold side
before turning off the water pump. Drain the water from hot water tank as
Jim explained before addressing the hot water side by running a drain hose
form the bottom of the hot water tank to the bilge. 

4. After draining the hot water tank of water, turn on the water pump to
fill the hot water tank with remaining antifreeze from the forward tank and
when the water pump stops filling the hot water tank, run antifreeze through
the hot water side again with the longest runs first beginning with the
stern shower hot water side and then the head hot water side. 

5. Last steps: be sure to place a jug under the galley faucet hot side to
collect the remaining antifreeze from the forward tank before running the
forward tank dry. The last step is to run the drain hose from the hot water
tank drain to your empty anti-freeze bottles that I place in the bilge area.
I fill one after the next until draining the hot water tank of recovered
antifreeze which I save for the following season. 

The loss of about 3 gallons of antifreeze for the complete water system
winterization is due to the antifreeze that is lost when running the faucets
pink, the amount left in the longer water lines that run from the water pump
to the faucets and then there is about a gallon or so that will not
completely drain from the hot water tank.  In fact, that last gallon of
water from the hot water tank is the reason that some who have had problems
in the spring from a leaking hot water tank when not using antifreeze in
their hot water tanks.

Additional winterization notes:

1. Do not forget to suck some antifreeze into the head once the boat is on
the hard. I use a hose with one end tapered with duck tape jammed up the
head thru hull and the other end placed in a half gallon of pink antifreeze.
Pump the antifreeze into the head and then pump it to the holding tank. Be
sure to also place antifreeze in the shower sump and run the sump briefly.

2. It takes about 3 gallons of -100 degree antifreeze to winterize the
engine by placing the intake hose from the engine side of the strainer in
the bucket of antifreeze and running the engine for about 45 seconds to a
minute or until the bucket is empty. Do not forget to empty the engine
strainer of water.

3. If you have an AC/Heat unit, it takes about a half a gallon of -60 degree
antifreeze to winterize the Air/Heat unit by filling the water exit hose
with antifreeze and blowing air in that same AC water exit hose to force the
antifreeze back through AC system so that the antifreeze exits out of AC
water pump entry point at the AC thru hull. Don't forget to empty the AC
pump strainer.

4. Flushing the hot water tank in the spring by draining the hot water tank
2 or 3 times (reattach a drain hose from the hot water tank to the bilge)
clears out the taste of the antifreeze.

DIY winterization can save several hundreds dollars each season and you then
know the job was done correctly!

Rick
My-Ria 
Hull #277

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
jimc320 at aol.com
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 12:11 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] dreaded winterization

Scott,

If you go the antifreeze route and do not want to disconnect the piping to
bypass the heater, you can reclaim the antifreeze left in the water heater
for next year.

When I winterize I first get antifreeze from the tanks to the pump by
running the cold water. Then I turn off the pump, connect a hose to the Hot
water tank drain valve and drain all the water from the tank( you need to
open the pressure relief valve a little to help it get air to drain, then
close it). Once this is done you can turn the pump back on and fill the hot
water heater and run the antifreeze thru the hot water piping. After you are
all done turn off the pump and drain the hot water tank again, only this
time fill the antifreeze bottles back up with the antifreeze from the HW
heater and save for next year.

Jim, 

Elusive 2, 209

-----Original Message-----
From: wflowe3 at netscape.net
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Mon, Aug 31, 2009 11:31 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] dreaded winterization

 Since this will be my first experience at winterizing a 320, I'm not sure
yet 
where I'll start blowing lines. On my Beneteau, I disconnected both lines on
the 
fresh water pump and blew the water in the intake line back into the water
tank. 
This left a small amount of water in the tank but since the outlet in the
tank 
was a couple of inches above the tank bottom, the line stayed dry. As long
as 
the tank only had a little water, I never had any problems even if it did
freeze 
( it probably never froze because the aerator under the boat kept ice from 
forming around the hull and the bottom of the tank was below the water
line).? I 
then used the compressor to blow out the water pump discharge lines going to
the 
faucets.? The compressor I use is a small Sears compressor used to keep air
in 
my car tires.

The shop vac idea sounds good too. That way you could either blow or suck
the 
lines dry.

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob and Karen Eichelberger <bobnkaren1 at verizon.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Sun, Aug 30, 2009 2:33 pm
Subject: Re: [C320-list] dreaded winterization

I have a small air compressor that generates about 80-100 pounds of 
pressure.  Is that enough and where do you connect the compressor?  I assume

all valves and faucets need to be open????

Thanks,?

Bob Eichelberger?

Second Wind  #67?

Muskegon, MI?
?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <wflowe3 at netscape.net>?

To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>?

Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:08 PM?

Subject: Re: [C320-list] dreaded winterization?
?

>?

> It means disconnecting the cold water "in" and hot water "out" hoses from 
> the water heater and connecting them together thereby bypassing the water 
> heater. This way you don't wast 6 gallons of antifreeze in the water 
> heater when winteizing the system. In my case I hope to blow out the lines

> with air and if the water heater is connected in the system, I can't build

> up enough air pressure to get all the water lines blown out.?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>
 -----Original Message-----?

> From: Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>?

> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com?

> Sent: Sun, Aug 30, 2009 11:35 am?

> Subject: Re: [C320-list] dreaded winterization?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

> Could someone please explain to me what the "bypass" is and how it would?

> be used???

> ??

>?

> Scott Thompson??

>?

> Surprise, 653??

> ??

>?

> BAdams3491 at aol.com wrote:??

>?

>> You can get to the water heater by removing the three drawers under  the?

>> sink and the frame work that holds them by removing the six
screws...easy?

>> job.  You can make a bypass, or put one in, I put one in this spring. 
>> Then I?

>> pump both tanks dry.  I then use the pink stuff by removing the hose 
>> that?

>> comes off the forward tank, attach an extra piece of hose on it, then 
>> put?

>> the end in a gallon of the pink stuff.  Turn on the pump, then each 
>> faucet?

>> (don't forget the transom shower), one at a time, until it flows  pink. 
>> Done?

>> deal.??

>?

>>?

>> Bert??

>?

>> At Ease??

>?

>> #442??

>?

>>?

>>?

>> In a message dated 8/27/2009 3:33:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time,?

>> wflowe3 at netscape.net writes:??

>?

>>?

>> Although  I hate the thought of it, fall is coming and with it will be
my?

>> first 320  winterization. On my last boat, a Beneteau 281, I was able to?

>> disconnect and  bypass the water heater and use a small compressor at the

>> fresh?

>> water pump to  blow out the fresh water lines to the galley and head.? I?

>> never used the pink  stuff in my fresh water system. On my? 2008 320 
>> (hull?

>> 1146) the water heater  is under the counter by the galley sink and I can

>> only?

>> get to the hot water  "out" hose so I'm not sure I can bypass the water?

>> heater. If I cannot, all the  air from my compressor will be lost in the 
>> water?

>> heater and I won't get the  lines empty. Does anyone else winterize 
>> without?

>> the pink stuff and if so,  how???

>?

>>?

>> Any winterization tips for all systems will be  app
reciated.??

>?

>>?

>> ??

>?

> -- 
> Scott Thompson??

>?

> Surprise, #653??

>?

>?

>?

>?

> ?