[C320-list] Antifreeze in water lines

[Rick Sulewski]

Lou,
There are about as many antifreeze/water removal winterization approaches as there may be owners. One thing is certain if your boat is stored in the northern region where temps may go below 0 and that is to consider the very low cost of running several gallons of pink antifreeze in the water system & hot water tank compared to having a spring launch "surprise" if the hot water tank begins to leak due to water not being fully removed for a severe winter temperature drop.

 It is very difficult to remove all of the water from the lowest region of the hot water tank and filling that hot water tank with antifreeze is not all that big of a deal considering that about 4 1/2 gallons of that antifreeze can be drained, recovered and reused the following season or mixed with new antifreeze. The recovered antifreeze is used to initially clear the water tanks of water followed by the new antifreeze. The hot water tank is drained before filling the water tanks with new antifreeze and that results in new antifreeze filling the hot water tank. Using a shop vac. to remove the remaining antifreeze in the hot water tank in the fall is then followed by two rapid flushes in the spring and that flushing process removes all of the pink residual odor & taste (simply drain the hot water tank flush into the bilge). 

We go through a total of 8 gallons of new pink antifreeze annually for the water system, head, AC & shower pump/drain. It takes only two gallons of -100 green to pickle the engine ($3 x 8 gallons of -50 degree pink plus 2 gallons of -100 degree antifreeze for the engine at around $12 per gallon. That is a very low cost winterization protection considering the temps in my region may fall well below 0 each winter). After 20 seasons,  no hot water tank problems and everything is ready for the next season.
Rick
My-Ria 95320 #277

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Hare
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 8:01 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Antifreeze in water lines

We've never used antifreeze or vodka in our water system.  We only use a small shop vac to suck out the water.  With the process we use, our boat water system is just fine to drink with no noticeable tank taste so we drink and cook with it.

This year I may make a short video or do an illustrated article on how we do it.  It took less than 30 min last year start to finish and in the spring, we fill the tanks and we're ready to go, no clean out process required.

-Jeff Hare
#809

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of katchu at chartermi.net
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 7:42 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Antifreeze in water lines

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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Subject: [C320-list] Anti freeze in water lines.
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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