Catalina 380 - winterize

[jen-and-fred]

We just bought this 2002 Catalina 380 and are looking for advise on how to winterize it.

For the water system, I have bypassed the hot water heater, drained tanks into bilge, added 1 gallon of pink antifreeze into each of 3 tanks, and got pink in hot and cold lines of all taps. Thought it was done, then remembered cockpit shower. When I opened the taps there, fresh water ran and ran and ran and ran. Where is it coming from, I thought all tanks were empty and had pink in them.

For motor (Yanmar 3JH3), I was told to pour antifreeze into glass filter container which is under the aft bed (with the through-hull closed). And then, follow Yanmar instructions to drain antifreeze at 2-3 spots. Thoughts?

 

[duality]

hi jen (or fred)

my catalina 400 has drains in the water system at the lowest point. after emptying the water tanks, i open all faucets and open the drains. also drain the water heater. when complete i run a quart to half gallon of rv antifreeze thru the water pump.

not sure id be confident with your engine plan. i may be unorthodox but i run 2 gallons of straight (not 50/50) engine antifreeze thru the engine. remember that the muffler will hold water and may freeze. worst case you should run a couple gallons of rv antifreeze and then drain. check maine sails site, hes the expert.

dont forget the ac, i just use a compressor and blow out the system from the bottom then drain the strainer. also the heads.

mike

 

[jen-and-fred]

Thanks for the quick reply Mike. I understand that I need to run proper motor antifreeze through the engine. My question is "How do you get the antifreeze in?" It's currently in the jug. Pouring it into the sea water filter that is under the aft bed seemed like a good idea as opposed to undoing clamps and hoses.

Fred

 

[duality]

disconnect the hose at the thru hole and place in bucket of antifreeze, run engine and it will suck the antifreeze thru the system. a friend of mine actually uses a gallon of less expensive rv antifreeze first, then the green stuff. if boats still in water make sure valve is closed (sorry had to add it, im sure you knew that)

mike

 

[Patrice]

Hi
Do you have an heat exchanger ?
Then as mentioned, easy to put the hose from the thru hull into the container with AF.
Carefull with the green prestone, not best for the environnement.
If your engine is cooled directly with raw water, remove thermostat to be sure the AF will run thru the engine block.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Winterizing an Engine on the Hard (Thanks to Maine Sail) - NEVER connect a hose to your raw water pump inlet - NEVER!!!

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=873073&highlight=winterizing

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Winterizing an Engine on the Hard (Thanks to Maine Sail) - NEVER connect a hose to your raw water pump inlet - NEVER!!!

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=873073&highlight=winterizing

While it's not good to run pressure water into the system, it's worth noting to not run the engine on the hard unless you feel really lucky or take precautions to ensure the vibration can't affect the poppets or cradle into moving.

 

[duality]

Winterizing an Engine on the Hard (Thanks to Maine Sail) - NEVER connect a hose to your raw water pump inlet - NEVER!!!

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=873073&highlight=winterizing

i didnt mean the garden hose, but the coolant hose that is already attached to the pump.

 

[Nahart51]

I have a tee inline between the thruhull and the pump. I take the hose off of that tee and put it in a 5 gallon bucket full of whatever fluid I'm running through my engine. That hose has a cutoff valve of course.

 

[Stu Jackson]

i didnt mean the garden hose, but the coolant hose that is already attached to the pump.

Depends on how it's connected. The last post and the link are correct. Simply: don't connect a hose to the pump. What could be simpler?