Winterizing waste tank

[All U Get]

Hi Peggy,
I just was wondering how to go about winterizing a macerator that is on a wye with the deck pump-out line. We did all pump-outs from the deck so how do you get that short line and macerator protected? Can it be done before hauling or do you stand under the seacock with a bucket while your wife opens the valves while on the hard?
All U Get

 

[Rich Stidger]

Peggy will have the definitive answer, but the way I accomplish this is as follows-

While in the water at the pump-out dock I pump out and then flush the tank 2-3 times with fresh water and rinse through the vent. I then add about three gallons of the pink stuff to each of my two toilets. This puts the six gallons into the holding tank and protects the lines from the toilets to the tank. Then I operate the maserator at the dock and pump 2-3 gallons of the pink stuff out. I shut the maserator seacock while it is still running to seal the antifreeze in the lines.

Done. After hauling I open all the seacocks to let them drain and then close them for the winter.

 

[All U Get]

Thanks Rich, we have two tanks so I was going to get one done before we got to RI for the winter. I have Peggy's de-commissioning basics and thought I could manage the task. Could you turn on the good weather switch during the second week in October.
All U Get

 

[Rich Stidger]

Thanks Rich, we have two tanks so I was going to get one done before we got to RI for the winter. Could you turn on the good weather switch during the second week in October.
All U Get

Where are you wintering in RI?

Good weather? It's relative- it's been much better since Irene left....

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Good advice so far...

A few more details:

Pump and THOROUGHLY flush the tank(s). That's done by putting water into the tank via the deck pumpout fitting, not the vent or the toilet, because it sends the water into the tank at the bottom to stir up any sludge to hold it in suspension so it can be pumped out. You only need enough water to cover the bottom of the tank to a depth of a few inches. Repeat...repeat...till you're pumping clean water. Then put a few more gallons into the tank...open the y-valve and seacock and turn on the macerator to rinse it out.

To add antifreeze, disconnect the toilet intake line from the thru-hull (if the boat's still in the water, it would prob'ly be a good idea to close the seacock first)...stick it into the jug of antifreeze and flush the toilet to pump the whole gallon into the tank. Repeat with one or more gallons if needed.

If your toilet uses pressurized flush water, winterizing the fresh water system winterizes the toilet...so you can pour the antifreeze into the bowl to add it to the tank.

Once the boat is out of the water, leave all seacocks open so that any water left in the lines can drain.

 

[All U Get]

Re: Good advice so far...

Thanks Peggy, I only have to reach the seacock to disconnect the hose. Boat builders should have to service their boats for owners (slight rant), then the seacocks would be within reach.
Rich I'll send a PM.
All U Get

 

[ice breaker]

Through hull valves should be left open on the hard.

I have had a valve body fracture over the winter, after I forgot to open it after haul out.

My model is to pickle everything with the valves closed and then once on the hard all through hull valves get left open. That way any moisture/ antifreeze that my be in the system can drain rather than slush or freeze on top of the ball. We get brutal cold in Jan and Feb. I have seen pink antifreeze get very near solid.

 

[thinwater]

I have had a valve body fracture over the winter, after I forgot to open it after haul out.

My model is to pickle everything with the valves closed and then once on the hard all through hull valves get left open. That way any moisture/ antifreeze that my be in the system can drain rather than slush or freeze on top of the ball. We get brutal cold in Jan and Feb. I have seen pink antifreeze get very near solid.

Perhaps some of this information would be interesting to you and your neighbors:
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/11/marine-winterizing-antifreeze-and.html

Labeling of "pink" antifreeze is very inconsistent and it is not easy to know what you're buying. You have to do some research and perhaps some testing.

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I keep my boat in the water, though it can go feel below freezing and I've seen 4-6 inches of ice on the harbor. Because of this I also antifreeze the through-hulls by disconnecting the hose from the head end and flushing with AF through the valve, then closing it. We also flush with a weak AF solution in the cold months. This is when a tee to the sink drain can be a blessing, for several purposes. We do freeze water bottles in the cabin.

Otherwise, we pretty much follow Peggy's post. Common sense.