We are launching next week. Previously we sailed only in California and have not winterized before. The boat was professionally winterized including the addition of anti freeze to the fresh water tank. We do not drink the water in the tank. What needs to be done to the tank to make it safe for use washing dishes, hands etc?
- Status
Gail...
I, too, plan to launch next week (and probably from the same location as you). Here's what I'm going to do this week re the fresh water tank (which I also don't trust enough to drink from, but use it for washing, etc.). In order to avoid having to fill the tank and drain it using the onboard water pump -- as the system holds 27 gals and would take forever using the water pump and faucets -- try this while the boat is still on the hard (and high up off the ground): fill the tank with a hose. When full, disconnect the hose from the water supply leaving the other end deep in the tank. Simply put the hose on the ground and it will automatically become a syphon and will drain the tank quickly. I do this twice. Then I fill the tank. When the boat goes back into the water, I then run the pressure water pump with a the faucets open (after the system pressurizes) and drain out whatever water/anti-freeze was in the pump and lines. Only takes about 5 min or so. See you on the water, soon!
I, too, plan to launch next week (and probably from the same location as you). Here's what I'm going to do this week re the fresh water tank (which I also don't trust enough to drink from, but use it for washing, etc.). In order to avoid having to fill the tank and drain it using the onboard water pump -- as the system holds 27 gals and would take forever using the water pump and faucets -- try this while the boat is still on the hard (and high up off the ground): fill the tank with a hose. When full, disconnect the hose from the water supply leaving the other end deep in the tank. Simply put the hose on the ground and it will automatically become a syphon and will drain the tank quickly. I do this twice. Then I fill the tank. When the boat goes back into the water, I then run the pressure water pump with a the faucets open (after the system pressurizes) and drain out whatever water/anti-freeze was in the pump and lines. Only takes about 5 min or so. See you on the water, soon!
draining the tank
Were we sail we have to winterize each year so I will tell you what we do. Add a half cup of bleach to your water tank and fill up the watertank half way. Pump it out then repeat without using the bleach and pump out again. You can do other chores in the boat while the tank is being emptied. You then should be able to fill it up and use the water. If you want you can buy some water purfier tablets at Wal Mart and add to the water tank so you can drink the water.
Were we sail we have to winterize each year so I will tell you what we do. Add a half cup of bleach to your water tank and fill up the watertank half way. Pump it out then repeat without using the bleach and pump out again. You can do other chores in the boat while the tank is being emptied. You then should be able to fill it up and use the water. If you want you can buy some water purfier tablets at Wal Mart and add to the water tank so you can drink the water.
Gail
Joe and Warren have covered the bases. The yard probably put what we northerners call the "pink stuff," non-toxic anti freeze that you should just pump out and repeat until the water runs clear. What gives with everybody "not trusting" the water in their tanks? If there's never been anything but water (and pink stuff) put in the tank, you should only have to flush it with clean water once and a while to be able to drink from it. Water is remarkably resistant to spoilage, particularly if it's not exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. Have fun with the launch. Don't be too surprised if Old Man Winter wacks us one more time though!
Joe and Warren have covered the bases. The yard probably put what we northerners call the "pink stuff," non-toxic anti freeze that you should just pump out and repeat until the water runs clear. What gives with everybody "not trusting" the water in their tanks? If there's never been anything but water (and pink stuff) put in the tank, you should only have to flush it with clean water once and a while to be able to drink from it. Water is remarkably resistant to spoilage, particularly if it's not exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. Have fun with the launch. Don't be too surprised if Old Man Winter wacks us one more time though!
I don't understand why...
boat yards don't winterize correctly. I have never and will never put pink stuff in my tanks. Here's the correct way. Water Tank- First drain the water tank. Then disconnect the supply hose at the bottom of the tank. Next use a "splice barb" and a three foot pice of the same size hose to make the hose long enough to fit into a five gallon bucket. Add one gallon of "pink stuff" to the bucket and suck the pink stuff through the cold water faucets until it runs pink. Water Heater- Drain the water heater via the hot water faucet. Open the pet cock to drain the rest. Then use an air compressor or a Zodiac foot pump to blast any remaining water out through the "cold in". Usually most all of it is gone anyway. Disconnect the "cold in" and "hot out" hoses (but not the ones containing the engine coolant just the ones for potable water)and insert a "barb splice" between the cold line and the hot line making a loop but removing the water heater from it. Now turn on the hot faucets and suck the ramaining pink stuff through the hoses. In the spring fill a five gallon bucket with clean water and suck it through the system, re-connect the hoses and fill the water tanks adding a cap full of bleach. That's it! Easy and no purging your watter tank for hours trying to remove all the pink!! I used to know the formula for purging three gallons of pink in a 60 gallon tank and it was somewhere around 900 gallons before it was pink free. Most boat yards are lazy and take the cheap way out leaving your tanks with a nasty tase. Take my advice do it right and do it yourself...
boat yards don't winterize correctly. I have never and will never put pink stuff in my tanks. Here's the correct way. Water Tank- First drain the water tank. Then disconnect the supply hose at the bottom of the tank. Next use a "splice barb" and a three foot pice of the same size hose to make the hose long enough to fit into a five gallon bucket. Add one gallon of "pink stuff" to the bucket and suck the pink stuff through the cold water faucets until it runs pink. Water Heater- Drain the water heater via the hot water faucet. Open the pet cock to drain the rest. Then use an air compressor or a Zodiac foot pump to blast any remaining water out through the "cold in". Usually most all of it is gone anyway. Disconnect the "cold in" and "hot out" hoses (but not the ones containing the engine coolant just the ones for potable water)and insert a "barb splice" between the cold line and the hot line making a loop but removing the water heater from it. Now turn on the hot faucets and suck the ramaining pink stuff through the hoses. In the spring fill a five gallon bucket with clean water and suck it through the system, re-connect the hoses and fill the water tanks adding a cap full of bleach. That's it! Easy and no purging your watter tank for hours trying to remove all the pink!! I used to know the formula for purging three gallons of pink in a 60 gallon tank and it was somewhere around 900 gallons before it was pink free. Most boat yards are lazy and take the cheap way out leaving your tanks with a nasty tase. Take my advice do it right and do it yourself...
2 thoughts...
Acoustic is right about pink stuff in water tanks-- it's a cheaters way. The after taste is disgusting. Assuming you don't want to do all the disconnecting and stuff, use cheap vodka instead next time (I know, it's cheating too, but at least it doesn't make the water taste nasty for the next 2 years). It will cost more than the anti-freeze, but you won't have taste issues. For now- Shock the system with bleach (plain chlorox- no lemon or anything weird)and water as per another reply below. Then add tabs if you feel you need them before each cruise.
Acoustic is right about pink stuff in water tanks-- it's a cheaters way. The after taste is disgusting. Assuming you don't want to do all the disconnecting and stuff, use cheap vodka instead next time (I know, it's cheating too, but at least it doesn't make the water taste nasty for the next 2 years). It will cost more than the anti-freeze, but you won't have taste issues. For now- Shock the system with bleach (plain chlorox- no lemon or anything weird)and water as per another reply below. Then add tabs if you feel you need them before each cruise.
Bill
Your post doesn't say where you live - many, including Peggie Hall, have warned us away from Vodka - it will freeze if mixed with water. For my own part I've never had any trouble, or aftertaste, from draining the water tank and adding just enough pink to pump through the system. Flush in the spring and I'm done, no issues.
Your post doesn't say where you live - many, including Peggie Hall, have warned us away from Vodka - it will freeze if mixed with water. For my own part I've never had any trouble, or aftertaste, from draining the water tank and adding just enough pink to pump through the system. Flush in the spring and I'm done, no issues.
Drew , vodka is alreay mixed with water
80 proof is only 40 per cent alcohol. I pump my system dry and then add 100 proof vodka to the supply ends of all the pipes and pump until I get full strength vodka out of the faucet. In the spring with a box of orange juice and some friends help to recommision the boat
80 proof is only 40 per cent alcohol. I pump my system dry and then add 100 proof vodka to the supply ends of all the pipes and pump until I get full strength vodka out of the faucet. In the spring with a box of orange juice and some friends help to recommision the boat
So then...
...you pump the OJ through the system to clear the Vodka? Let me know if you need help with this year's launch
...you pump the OJ through the system to clear the Vodka? Let me know if you need help with this year's launch
Ross, next trip.....
to Tidewater I'm going to bring a long straw and stop by to see if your tank needs more emptying!
to Tidewater I'm going to bring a long straw and stop by to see if your tank needs more emptying!
what's the big deal about antifreeze?
Hello, I don't understand the big deal about antifreeze. I have used it for the past three years in boats, and for about 5 years before that in RV's. I just poured a few gallons in the fresh water tank, disconnected and drained the hot water tank, and pumped it through the system. In the spring I fill the water tank with fresh water, add a quart of bleach, let it sit for a day, then pump it out. Add another tank, pump it out, and you are good for the season. I don't drink the water in the tank, just use it for washing. I'm sure the boat yard workers do whatever takes the shortest amount of time. Barry
Hello, I don't understand the big deal about antifreeze. I have used it for the past three years in boats, and for about 5 years before that in RV's. I just poured a few gallons in the fresh water tank, disconnected and drained the hot water tank, and pumped it through the system. In the spring I fill the water tank with fresh water, add a quart of bleach, let it sit for a day, then pump it out. Add another tank, pump it out, and you are good for the season. I don't drink the water in the tank, just use it for washing. I'm sure the boat yard workers do whatever takes the shortest amount of time. Barry
And for the rest of us,,,
Why not leave a heater on in your boat during the winter? Do you have to let your boat freeze solid all winter???? You would never let that happen to your home unless your utilities were damaged. Right? What's up with letting your yacht freeze?
Why not leave a heater on in your boat during the winter? Do you have to let your boat freeze solid all winter???? You would never let that happen to your home unless your utilities were damaged. Right? What's up with letting your yacht freeze?
I drain my tanks
and pump the pink stuff in thru the line and out the water heater and sinks .In the spring i clean with bleach from the tank port and pump dry then wash with a hose from top port. I drink the water from my tanks.I filter the water going in the tank and have a filter with a cold water tap in the galley.we pump the water from the lake with a deck wash down pump and back feed the tanks with a tee between the sink and the sink pump.There is no city water and even the homes pump water from the lake.I havent had anty mold in the tanks since i started useing the pre filter.The sea gull filters last me three years if i dry them out and soak them in vodka or gin John
and pump the pink stuff in thru the line and out the water heater and sinks .In the spring i clean with bleach from the tank port and pump dry then wash with a hose from top port. I drink the water from my tanks.I filter the water going in the tank and have a filter with a cold water tap in the galley.we pump the water from the lake with a deck wash down pump and back feed the tanks with a tee between the sink and the sink pump.There is no city water and even the homes pump water from the lake.I havent had anty mold in the tanks since i started useing the pre filter.The sea gull filters last me three years if i dry them out and soak them in vodka or gin John
- Status