Ok guys I have never had a boat with a water tank in it. I just bought a Balboa 26 and it has a water tank that is built in it. I got the water in and the faucets all work woo hoo but I can't figure out how when winter comes do you get the water out and what do you do to winterize a boat water tank and lines at the end of the season.
Water Tank.
- Thread starter Capt Strapfoots
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Presuming it is pressurized water and you have a pump, just run the tank dry, put some antifreeze (propylene Glycol) in the tank and again run the pump until you get pink stuff coming out the faucet and you're done
You have some options...
The standard practice would be to run the tank dry, then utilize some of the off-the-shelf (NOT automotive) anti-freeze through the system. I have also heard of folks running a couple of gallons of cheap vodka through the system instead of the anti-freeze - Tastes better come Spring commissioning.
I choose not to winterize my boat as I will go out in the middle of January if the sun is out, and want all of the systems on the boat in a ready-to-use state. I do this with a small space heater and a digital thermostat to keep the cabin 40-45 degrees. I haven't noted a significant increase in my power bill by doing this - certainly no more than the anti-freeze/booze would cost - and it's a lot less work. Last winter we got down towards 0* at the marina, and experienced no issues with the boat, though the walk on the dock to get to it is another story!
You didn't mention if you have a water heater or not - if so and you choose to winterize, don't forget about it!
Cheers!
The standard practice would be to run the tank dry, then utilize some of the off-the-shelf (NOT automotive) anti-freeze through the system. I have also heard of folks running a couple of gallons of cheap vodka through the system instead of the anti-freeze - Tastes better come Spring commissioning.
I choose not to winterize my boat as I will go out in the middle of January if the sun is out, and want all of the systems on the boat in a ready-to-use state. I do this with a small space heater and a digital thermostat to keep the cabin 40-45 degrees. I haven't noted a significant increase in my power bill by doing this - certainly no more than the anti-freeze/booze would cost - and it's a lot less work. Last winter we got down towards 0* at the marina, and experienced no issues with the boat, though the walk on the dock to get to it is another story!
You didn't mention if you have a water heater or not - if so and you choose to winterize, don't forget about it!
Cheers!
Re: You have some options...
Ok no it is not pressurized I have to use the pump faucet handles...and their is no water heater...So I guess I could pump it out but it is a 5 gallon tank and that is alot of pumping.
Ok no it is not pressurized I have to use the pump faucet handles...and their is no water heater...So I guess I could pump it out but it is a 5 gallon tank and that is alot of pumping.
Then when you are out for a couple days you will say "didn't take long to pump that 5 gallons out honey, sorry no more water"
,Sum
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Can't you just remove the hose from the faucet and let it drain into the bilge? Then you can pour in a appropriate amount of RV antifreeze (must be for potable water systems) to protect it for the winter.
PS: where is Baraga?
PS: where is Baraga?
If you can get to a fitting near the bottom of the tank, you might be able to drain without pumping. As for freeze proofing, I've moved away from antifreeze the last two winters, and my water tastes and smells better year round because of it. Instead of filling everything with antifreeze, I run the tank to empty and then open the taps and blow out the lines with an accordion-type air pump.
Capt
When you're done pumping it out this year, consider adding something like this inline. This way I just close the valve, take a short length of hose and connect it to the male connection and put the hose in the sink and open the valve. Saves running the pump.
When I'm done I close the valve, hook my antifreeze tank hose to the connection, run the faucets and voila, winterized plumbing.
If you have a water heater, you may want to isolate it so as not to get antifreeze in it. That's a different set of pics!
When you're done pumping it out this year, consider adding something like this inline. This way I just close the valve, take a short length of hose and connect it to the male connection and put the hose in the sink and open the valve. Saves running the pump.
When I'm done I close the valve, hook my antifreeze tank hose to the connection, run the faucets and voila, winterized plumbing.
If you have a water heater, you may want to isolate it so as not to get antifreeze in it. That's a different set of pics!
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