[C320-list] Antifreeze in water lines

[Allan S Field]

The 9/2014 edition of Practical Sailor  had a review of winterizing glycols.
Following is what they had to say about Skol Vodka:

"A bottom-shelf spirit, cheap vodka is often touted as an alternative to
conventional winterizing agents.  The primary positive that some tout -
which we determined to be untrue during testing for a future article - is
that it leaves less aftertaste in the plumbing than glycols.  Weak,
fermented vodka made the most disgusting mix.  Where vodka falls down is in
the price category.  In the U.S., it is more than four times more expensive
than the least expensive propylene-glycol alternative.  We also worry about
making sure we get the right dilution when mixing with water in the system.
Bottom line: Not Recommended."

Personally, I use a shop vac and air compressor to get all the water out of
the system.  I also use it for the A/C unit.  Special care must be given to
getting all the water out of the hot water heater (thus the shop vac's main
use) and the deck shower.  The air compressor was amortized after year one
and I have never had a problem with any kind of freezing.  Sea Shadow stays
in the water year round so the pink stuff goes into the: electric bilge
pump; manual bilge pump; macerator; salt water anchor wash down pump;
commode and holding tank; sink drains (after using the wet vac to get out as
much water as possible); and fridge drain and pump.  I use less than 6
gallons of pink stuff per year including 2 for the engine.

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

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Elizabeth Schwartz
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 8:57 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Cc: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Antifreeze in water lines

Ahoy......For many years I have winterized my potable water system with
vodka. after removing as much h2o as possible, using compressed air, we put
in several large bottles of the least expensive vodka we can find. 
We still dont drink the water, but it smells good. This solves the problem
of flushing the system in the spring of that pink stuff........Joe n
Beth....#245


On Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 07:41 PM, katchu at chartermi.net wrote:

> Lou - there are many articles in the association site about 
> winterizing.  My process goes something like this:  1)Drain both tanks 
> in the water.  2)Once in the cradle, drain the forward tank further.
> 3)Remove the front of the cabinets for access to the water tank - 
> Drain it and blow it out with compressed air as a lot of water remains 
> after draining. 4) Bypass the tank, connecting cold to hot. 4) Add two 
> gallons of water to the front tank and pressurize the system -then 
> blow out all faucets in the head, sink, rear shower and the high 
> pressure water inlet 5) Pump antifreeze through the head, shower 
> drain, and refrigerator drain. 6) put antifreeze in the sump and pump 
> out with the electric bilge pump and also the manual whale pump. 7) I 
> use a west marine Engine Winterizing kit to pump antifreeze through 
> the engine. I mount it in the cockpit and run the line to the water 
> strainer, then start the engine and watch for the exhaust water to run 
> pink.
> Total antifreeze use is 5-6 gallons.  I think that Jeff Hare has a 
> completely antifreeze free method using compressed air, but I have not 
> tried that.
>
> Chuck Mueller
>
> Northwind #676
>
> Holland, MI
>
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>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 16:53:04 -0400
> From: Colleen Reszoly To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" Cc: "" Subject: 
> [C320-list] Anti freeze in water lines.
> Message-ID: <7571469F-9B12-4D4C-8A13-B9AAB6A3B6DA at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Hello
> How many gallons of anti freeze should go in the holding tanks for 
> winter. Is it best to drain hot water tank or let it fill with 
> antifreeze. Lou r 429