[C320-list] Water Tank Gunk

[Warren Updike]

Wow! Mold problem in Wisconsin.  Who'd a thought it.  I stopped using pink
antifreeze several years ago and am happy.  I vac out the tanks in the fall
leaving the inspection cap off until the tanks dry.  I blow out the lines
with a reverse vac.  We also use a winter heater to keep the humidity down.
In the Spring I follow the Catalina recipe for purifying the tanks.  Every
time I fill the tanks I add 1/4 cup of bleach.  I've installed a water
filter between the tanks and the pump designed to remove chlorine and other
stuff.  I've replace some water hose; but, most is the original: 18 years
old.  The water is clear, clean, and drinkable.  

Mildew and mold is a bitch.  Once it get hold, it is extremely difficult to
completely remove.  Short of a professional treatment, there is a product
(like an insect balm,) that can be released in a closed boat that is
supposed to kill mold and mildew.  I don't remember the name but maybe you
can Google it.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Magnuson [mailto:gary.magnuson at frontier.com] 
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 10:16 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Water Tank Gunk

When I flushed the RV antifreeze from my water tanks last week, it took
several cycles of adding some water, pumping down, then strainer cleaning to
remove black sludge from both the bow and stern tanks.  The anti freeze in
the bilge, also looked like a science project, with small white cultures
floating around.  Both tanks now have a pint of Clorox and full to the brim,
while she sits in her slip for a week or so.  When 
we get back, I will flush and rinse to get the chlorine smell out.   
Anyone had similar experience or different solutions?  Some one 
suggested flushing with Hydrogen Peroxide, instead of Clorox.   I have 
considered using a solution of algicide from my pool chemicals, but not sure
if it would be safe to brush teeth with later, or hazardous to the marine
life since it has the warning on the label. The pool calls for 
two oz:10,000 gal of water.   In the storage areas under the seats in 
the main saloon, we managed to spray them with Superclean and it removed all
the mildew very easily. The area around the batteries and holding 
tank is another story.  I feel like a pressure washer would be easier.   
Any suggestions for closing the boat in the fall, and spraying the storage
surfaces with something like Lysol to stop the growth all together??

Thanks,

Gary Magnuson
Bayfield, WI.
Time A Weigh
1995 320 # 205
--
Gary Magnuson _/) PO Box 55 Hudson, IL 61748