Water System Anti-freeze

[Ed]

I have the O'Day 25 in the water for the season. The weather has been great. I would like to go cruising using the sinks in the boat. There is a pink liquid in the water storage tank and the hoses that I assume is antifreeze for the lines. How do I flush it out with just manual pump fixtures? Is it as toxic as the car antifreeze?I am sailing out of Groton,CT. Is anyone from that area that could tell me how long it would take for an average sail to Block Island?Thanks for the info. This site is the best for the average sailor to ask questions.Ed

 

[Don Evans]

Probably Propylene Glycol....

If the tanks can be removed, take them home and rinse them out with a garden hose. If you can't remove them, pump out the contents to a waste container (save them for reuse in the fall), using an electric pump, even a drill adapter pump. Fill the tanks and pump out at least 3 times. Pink antifreeze (PG) is tasteless and odourless and relatively harmless (would have to ingest about 100 ml to begin to feel sick). Ethylene glycol is very toxic and is usually green or yellow, and will have a sweet smell. It is toxic even at 7 ml per litre of water. Be careful and don't assume anything.Don