I will be putting my 260 to bed for the winter in November. Since this is the first time for this boat, I am looking for advice on winterizing the water system and marine head. Are there secrets? Is there something I should make sure that I do? Are there any easy ways to run antifreeze into the plumbing? Also, I am hoping to store the boat inside this winter, though I have not yet secured a spot. If I get stuck outside, does anyone have a source for a winter cover for a 260? Thanks! Bill Sieber S/V Endeavour
- Status
Hi Bill,
I just empty out the fresh water tank with the bow jacked up and add a gallon of RV antifreeze. then pump the 2 sink fawcets into a glass until you see color. Pump out the holding tank on the head and flush with plenty of water through the toilet. I do this 3 or 4 times to get as much ca - ca out of it as possible. When you fill the tank with water rock the boat alot to agitate the tank. When you pump it out put alot of starboard list to the boat, the tank discharge is on the starboard side. Then I add 1 gallon of antifreeze to the holding tank through the toilet and whatever you use for deodorizer.
I just empty out the fresh water tank with the bow jacked up and add a gallon of RV antifreeze. then pump the 2 sink fawcets into a glass until you see color. Pump out the holding tank on the head and flush with plenty of water through the toilet. I do this 3 or 4 times to get as much ca - ca out of it as possible. When you fill the tank with water rock the boat alot to agitate the tank. When you pump it out put alot of starboard list to the boat, the tank discharge is on the starboard side. Then I add 1 gallon of antifreeze to the holding tank through the toilet and whatever you use for deodorizer.
Tuu-Tuff tarp
Heavy poly ply out of Philly is much more durable than the regular blue tarp and very reasonable. Get a small tarp for the bow and a bigger one for aft of the mast. email me for details at bodonovan@vagazette.com. I use the cover all year-round and it lasts 18 months in Virginia sun and rain.
Heavy poly ply out of Philly is much more durable than the regular blue tarp and very reasonable. Get a small tarp for the bow and a bigger one for aft of the mast. email me for details at bodonovan@vagazette.com. I use the cover all year-round and it lasts 18 months in Virginia sun and rain.
storing
I have been doing this for several years and here are some thoughts. Water system- the first couple of years I would pump out as much as I could the put in some tank antifreeze(not auto) and pump it through. I never could get rid of the taste after that. Now I pull the pumps and I am sure that would be fine but I also put access into the water tank that I can open and shop vac all the water out. Now in the spring I have clean tanks and pumps. Head- I pump out the holding tank and pull the head pump and clean and service at home and have it ready to go in the spring. cover-most of my buddies leave theirs uncovered. I have created several bows over the mast onto uprights of pcv pipe and cover it with a tarp. I use a 20 by 30 tarp. I bungie it to the trailer so it will not rub on the boat. I cover all the gromets with duct tape. It still gets dusty but I think it is cleaner than other wise. We have lots of wind and blizzards so some stuff gets on the boat anyway. There are my thoughts. I am sure there are lots of opinions. ct
I have been doing this for several years and here are some thoughts. Water system- the first couple of years I would pump out as much as I could the put in some tank antifreeze(not auto) and pump it through. I never could get rid of the taste after that. Now I pull the pumps and I am sure that would be fine but I also put access into the water tank that I can open and shop vac all the water out. Now in the spring I have clean tanks and pumps. Head- I pump out the holding tank and pull the head pump and clean and service at home and have it ready to go in the spring. cover-most of my buddies leave theirs uncovered. I have created several bows over the mast onto uprights of pcv pipe and cover it with a tarp. I use a 20 by 30 tarp. I bungie it to the trailer so it will not rub on the boat. I cover all the gromets with duct tape. It still gets dusty but I think it is cleaner than other wise. We have lots of wind and blizzards so some stuff gets on the boat anyway. There are my thoughts. I am sure there are lots of opinions. ct
Thanks! And a Couple more questions...
Thanks Everyone. In terms of the marine head, I was planning to use a hose in the thru-hull to suck antifreeze into the valves of the head; Am I working too hard? The fresh water system is an issue. On my 240, I put the RV Antifreeze in the fresh water tank and spent the entire next season trying to remove it. Pink water is not something I savor even just to wash my hands! Has anyone put a three way valve in, in line just past the water tank and tried to get antifreeze just in the lines. If so, is there a good place to do this? This is what I have done with my camper and it has worked great.
Thanks Everyone. In terms of the marine head, I was planning to use a hose in the thru-hull to suck antifreeze into the valves of the head; Am I working too hard? The fresh water system is an issue. On my 240, I put the RV Antifreeze in the fresh water tank and spent the entire next season trying to remove it. Pink water is not something I savor even just to wash my hands! Has anyone put a three way valve in, in line just past the water tank and tried to get antifreeze just in the lines. If so, is there a good place to do this? This is what I have done with my camper and it has worked great.
Yes! I empty the tank
I would think that you would have to empty the tank. If you did not, you would surely split your water lines when they froze and destroy whatever you were using to pump the water. Do you empty yours and keep it in your home state over the winter?
I would think that you would have to empty the tank. If you did not, you would surely split your water lines when they froze and destroy whatever you were using to pump the water. Do you empty yours and keep it in your home state over the winter?
empty tank
I cut a 3" hole in the top of the tank near the edge in the middle and glued in a pcv plug . The plug maintains the suction from the pumps but I can unscrew it and really suck out all the water with a shop vac. I have found that the antifreeze for these tanks affects water taste the next year. I unhold the pumps from the pipes and pump them dry and the hoses drain out the little water in them. ct
I cut a 3" hole in the top of the tank near the edge in the middle and glued in a pcv plug . The plug maintains the suction from the pumps but I can unscrew it and really suck out all the water with a shop vac. I have found that the antifreeze for these tanks affects water taste the next year. I unhold the pumps from the pipes and pump them dry and the hoses drain out the little water in them. ct
Water Tank
I missed the word "how" in your question. I have been rushing too much this morning. I use a little pump that fits on my drill and a piece of tubing to remove the water from my tank. At least this is how I did it on my 240. I plan to do the same thing on my 260.
I missed the word "how" in your question. I have been rushing too much this morning. I use a little pump that fits on my drill and a piece of tubing to remove the water from my tank. At least this is how I did it on my 240. I plan to do the same thing on my 260.
- Status