winterization

[declan]

I am a new owner of a 84 Hnter 22.
I would like to know how to empty the water tank for the sink.
I would like to know where I can buy a boom crutch that fits into the rudder pintles.
I would like to know how to empty the bilge.

thanks---Joe

 

[Bill Roosa]

basics

Don't know where a broom crutch could be purchased so can't help on that one.
Draining the water tank is easy open the faucet and run her dry. Take off the outlet hose on the water pump and turn on the pump again till all you get is air. (the awkward part) with the faucet closest to the pump open blow out the cold water line. Close that faucet and open the next in the circuit. Blow out the line again. Repeat till you get to the hot water tank. Pull the tank drain plug. Repeat the blowing out the line procedure again but this time with the hot water valves open. Your done. The little bit of water in the tank and hot water tank can freeze and it will not hurt anything as it not thick enough to burst the tank. I have made up a tube that I attach to the pump outlet that gets my head out of the locker so I'm not upside down in a phonebooting the line.
I personnel don't use the antifreeze stuff as when you re-commission the boat in the spring it takes forever to get the stuff out.

Draining the bilge is one of those really nice operations. If you are leaving her in the water make sure the prop shaft gland is tightened or your work is for naught. Then it is hand pump, cup, and rag time. I find the sham-wow works great as it gets into the corners and holds a lot of water each trip to the sink.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Hand pump, CUP and rag????

Draining the bilge is one of those really nice operations....hand pump, cup, and rag time. I find the sham-wow works great as it gets into the corners and holds a lot of water each trip to the sink.

You do like to do things the hard way, doncha?

Buy a bucket! And a big sponge! :dance: Dump the bucket over the side instead of pouring it down the sink. Use the sponge to get the last few cupfuls the pump can't get...use the sham-wow to wipe everything dry.

 

[Mulf]

Bucket and Sponge?

A wet vac will do most of the steps listed and not burn as many calories!

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Since your boat doesn't have pressurized water system, you can't follow Bills advice for emptying the water tank.

My solution depends on how much water is left in the tank at the end of the season. If the tank is near empty I'll just pump the faucet to finish the job. If there is a significant amount I disconnect the hose to the faucet and hook up an electric water pump and pump it over the side.

My first winter I treated the water with R/V water anti-freeze. It took several tank fulls of fresh water to get rid of the bad taste, which was more work that draining the tank before a freeze.

 

[BenDi]

Ahoy declan,
I too have a Hunter 22. Dave's advice fits our model best for emptying/winterizing the fresh water tank and his advice on RV anti-freeze is right on. Be sure the sink drain line is empty and the sea cock left open.
As for the boom crutch, the previous owner of my boat had one fabricated at a metal shop from 1" square steel stock that fits on the pintles and it works great.
Emptying the bilge on our boat is a tricky situation since the opening into the bilge is only 2 3/16" inch tall, about the height of a credit card. I use a 5 gallon shop vac with the hose modified with garden hose, plastic tubing and electrical tape as show in the attached photo. After vacuuming, I use towels tied to the end of a stiff wire to "mop" it out.