Failed Winterization of Our Marine Head

sailingseadragon

sailingseadragon

.
Aug 21, 2006
203
Pearson 367 Alexandria, VA
You would think after a dozen plus years of winterizing our boat I would be able to follow my own directions - not so.

It has been several weeks since I launched and realized my winterizing mistake followed by a painful but relatively inexpensive repair. The problem was our Raritan PHEII marine head would pump water out of the bowl but I would not draw water into the bowl.

All is well now but the most painful part of this story is the 3+ hours spent diagnosing the problem only to find out that the problem and solution were at my finger tips and in hindsight so simple and obvious.

I thought I would share my story with others in hopes that I can save someone a little time should they make the same mistake.

http://www.sailingseadragon.com/WinterizeFail.htm

Garner
 
thinwater

thinwater

.
Mar 26, 2011
3,718
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
sailingseadragon said:
You would think after a dozen plus years of winterizing our boat I would be able to follow my own directions - not so.

It has been several weeks since I launched and realized my winterizing mistake followed by a painful but relatively inexpensive repair. The problem was our Raritan PHEII marine head would pump water out of the bowl but I would not draw water into the bowl.

All is well now but the most painful part of this story is the 3+ hours spent diagnosing the problem only to find out that the problem and solution were at my finger tips and in hindsight so simple and obvious.

I thought I would share my story with others in hopes that I can save someone a little time should they make the same mistake.

http://www.sailingseadragon.com/WinterizeFail.htm

Garner
Click to expand
I installed an intake strainer and a few valves so that I con winterized the whole system in minutes. The glycol comes in the clear tube (removed for summer), and is them pumped through the head AND diverted down through the intake, both (I stay in the water, so it is important that I get glycol through the seacock before it is closed). Takes about 2/3 gallon.



http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/10/easier-winterizing.html
 
All U Get

All U Get

.
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
sailingseadragon,

A lot of times I wish I was a bit smarter instead of so good looking. Good idea with the C-clamp.

All U Get
 
sailingseadragon

sailingseadragon

.
Aug 21, 2006
203
Pearson 367 Alexandria, VA
What a great idea putting a "T" and valve in the intake line at the strainer. I see a similar modification in my future - that is before we back on the hard winter....

Thanks
Garner
 
thinwater

thinwater

.
Mar 26, 2011
3,718
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Seadragon: if you look at the blog post, you'll notice I did something similar for the freshwater. Winterizing is very fast and easy.

The silly thing is my boat was built in Canada with no winterizing provisions:eek:.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,049
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Garner, clever solution. There was a thread here or maybe over on cruisersforum last week or so about some skipper who couldn't get that ball out, too.

Well done, nice to have in the back of my mind.
 
P

Pat

.
Jun 7, 2004
1,250
Oday 272LE Ninnescah Yacht Club, Wichita, Ks.
Great information....I've had the same issue with my non-electric Raritan PHII....still is not working..can always use fresh water as an alternative to the intake....I hesitated to take the part off below the dry-flush knob and that was my mistake....

My only question is the strainer below the sink....Is that to pump in pressure water from the water tank, thereby using fresh water, vs. lake water or salt water? ..

Thanks for the information. Patrick
 
sailingseadragon

sailingseadragon

.
Aug 21, 2006
203
Pearson 367 Alexandria, VA
Patrick,

The strainer is for the raw water (sea water) intake. I selected the location under counter next to the sink because it is above the waterline.

Garner
 
thinwater

thinwater

.
Mar 26, 2011
3,718
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Pat:

DON'T EVEN CONSIDER using tap water directly from the pressure system into the head; the bugs can crawl up-stream into the main tank. This is prohibitied by the plumbing code and is just bad. There must be an air gap, like a water closet, or like the conection some people use between the sink drain an head intake.

But for lake water I would not even consider it. Salt water cause some troubles, but not lake water.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,049
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Ron20324

Ron20324

.
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
I did the tap into the sink drain, and it's a great system. Just one thing, try to make sure your tee into the drain is underwater. Otherwise when you pump the head, you'll suck some water, but also air out of the sink unless you put the drain plug in the sink.
 
P

Pat

.
Jun 7, 2004
1,250
Oday 272LE Ninnescah Yacht Club, Wichita, Ks.
Sea Dragon, thankfully I downloaded and read your tale of "Failed Winterization". I did the same thing when winterizing in October before it got so terribly cold....after reading you suggestion and solution, I did the same thing and wahla,...the black ball popped out....put it back in as suggested and the pump now pumps water in around the rim...my set up looked exactly like yours...so thank you for taking the time to write that as it probably saved me several hundred dollars. Between this repair and Peggy's suggestion on cleaning the vent, it works much better....easier to flush! I also enjoyed the rest of your site....Safe Sailing! Patrick in Wichita
 
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