My husband and I purchased a Morgan Sloop in August and this is the first time we have owned a boat. We are having the inboard motor winterized by the marina but we need to know what else we have to do to ensure no damage occurs over the winter.
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Winterizing
Harriet: Just a few thoughts, but certainly not an all-inclusive list: 1- drain most of your fresh-water tank(s) and put the required concentration of RV Antifreeze ( a friend of ours pours all of his unused alcoholic beverages in there, but I wouldn't recommend it!) 2- put a gallon of the same antifreeze in the bilge after flushing it with fresh water. 3- Check your head & holding tank. If you have a porta-potty, it's easy...just dump it out, wash it down, dry it out, and it'll be ready to go next spring. BTW, which model do you have? If you'd like to get together for some sailing (or talk of sailing) drop us a line at: jamaroldo@comcast.net. We're always interested in meeting other Morgan lovers! Jim & Barb Maroldo Morgan 28OI Ocean Gate, NJ
Harriet: Just a few thoughts, but certainly not an all-inclusive list: 1- drain most of your fresh-water tank(s) and put the required concentration of RV Antifreeze ( a friend of ours pours all of his unused alcoholic beverages in there, but I wouldn't recommend it!) 2- put a gallon of the same antifreeze in the bilge after flushing it with fresh water. 3- Check your head & holding tank. If you have a porta-potty, it's easy...just dump it out, wash it down, dry it out, and it'll be ready to go next spring. BTW, which model do you have? If you'd like to get together for some sailing (or talk of sailing) drop us a line at: jamaroldo@comcast.net. We're always interested in meeting other Morgan lovers! Jim & Barb Maroldo Morgan 28OI Ocean Gate, NJ
Winterizing
Boat/US-West Marine's "Seaworthy" publish a pamphlet called "Winterizing Your Boat." Available at either location and it gives most of the basics.
Boat/US-West Marine's "Seaworthy" publish a pamphlet called "Winterizing Your Boat." Available at either location and it gives most of the basics.
Winterizing fresh water and sanitation plumbing
Fresh water system 1. Drain the water tanks completely (just turn on all the faucets). 2. Drain water heater. Most have a drain petcock; follow manufacturer’s instructions to find it and use it. Remove both the inlet and outlet hoses, and if necessary use a shop vac to be sure of gettting all the water out of it. 3.Connect water heater inlet and outlet hoses together. Bypass kits for this purpose are available from boat stores and RV supply stores. 4. Add non-toxic antifreeze ("the pink stuff") and pump that through the system until all outlets--hot and cold in the galley, head, shower, and any deck wash--run only antifreeze. Leave all the faucets open to make sure there is no pressure in the system. Sanitation system 1. Pump holding tank out, then rinse thoroughly by completely filling with fresh water and 1 gallon of white vinegar twice. Be sure to flush out any overboard disharge lines and pump too. 2. Close toilet intake through-hull, disconnect inlet hose and stick it in a gallon of non-toxic ("the pink stuff") antifreeze. Pump the whole gallon through the system into the holding tank. Do not reconnect head intake hose to the through-hull. (Just pouring antifreeze down the toilet only sends it through the discharge plumbing...it will not protect the pump, flush water inlet plumbing or the bowl.) 3. Pump the head 50 times to get as much fluid out of the system as possible. 4. After the boat comes out of the water, open all the sea cocks to drain any trapped water. Do not use antifreeze in a Lectra/San or PuraSan. Follow manufacturers instructions to winterize all Type I and II MSDs.
Fresh water system 1. Drain the water tanks completely (just turn on all the faucets). 2. Drain water heater. Most have a drain petcock; follow manufacturer’s instructions to find it and use it. Remove both the inlet and outlet hoses, and if necessary use a shop vac to be sure of gettting all the water out of it. 3.Connect water heater inlet and outlet hoses together. Bypass kits for this purpose are available from boat stores and RV supply stores. 4. Add non-toxic antifreeze ("the pink stuff") and pump that through the system until all outlets--hot and cold in the galley, head, shower, and any deck wash--run only antifreeze. Leave all the faucets open to make sure there is no pressure in the system. Sanitation system 1. Pump holding tank out, then rinse thoroughly by completely filling with fresh water and 1 gallon of white vinegar twice. Be sure to flush out any overboard disharge lines and pump too. 2. Close toilet intake through-hull, disconnect inlet hose and stick it in a gallon of non-toxic ("the pink stuff") antifreeze. Pump the whole gallon through the system into the holding tank. Do not reconnect head intake hose to the through-hull. (Just pouring antifreeze down the toilet only sends it through the discharge plumbing...it will not protect the pump, flush water inlet plumbing or the bowl.) 3. Pump the head 50 times to get as much fluid out of the system as possible. 4. After the boat comes out of the water, open all the sea cocks to drain any trapped water. Do not use antifreeze in a Lectra/San or PuraSan. Follow manufacturers instructions to winterize all Type I and II MSDs.
winterizing in the North East
I use a small shopVac and blow all my water lines out after draining water tanks... Just put the Vac hose into the blower side and plug into'fill pipe' and turn on the vac and blow any remaining... I first remove the water filters and then open all outlets... 'the ice cometh' S/v Lady of Portland OI 415
I use a small shopVac and blow all my water lines out after draining water tanks... Just put the Vac hose into the blower side and plug into'fill pipe' and turn on the vac and blow any remaining... I first remove the water filters and then open all outlets... 'the ice cometh' S/v Lady of Portland OI 415
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