have just purchased a boat in NW and have moored at Vancouver Island Marina I am wondering about the need to winterize fresh water systems with Glycol antifreeze on a sailboat?
Winterizing fresh water system on NW coastal area
- Thread starter Marlow Currie
- Start date
The trick is to eliminate any water which can do damage. Empty tanks and run lines and water heater dry and there is nothing to freeze. No need for antifreeze as any residual water anywhere will have room to expand.
It's like "someone didn't get the memo" week. 
There was an almost identical question earlier this week. Here is another link for you, just as I answered that one:
There was an almost identical question earlier this week. Here is another link for you, just as I answered that one:
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,269
Congrats to you Marlow.
Are you thinking to take the boat out of the water or be in the water all winter?
I keep my boat in the water all winter. I have not used antifreeze in the water lines. I have instead emptied the fresh water from the tank and blown out the lines with an air compressor. Not sure I have got all the water out, but hoping that there is enough out not to freeze solid.
I leave a small heater on in the boat at low temp to ward off freezing when the forecast is for a series of days well below freezing. This is rare but it has occurred. I note that the boat will stay about the temperature of the sea water which is usualy above 0 C in the Salish Sea. If the Juan DFuca freezes over I think I will have more challenges than the boat in the water.
Are you thinking to take the boat out of the water or be in the water all winter?
I keep my boat in the water all winter. I have not used antifreeze in the water lines. I have instead emptied the fresh water from the tank and blown out the lines with an air compressor. Not sure I have got all the water out, but hoping that there is enough out not to freeze solid.
I leave a small heater on in the boat at low temp to ward off freezing when the forecast is for a series of days well below freezing. This is rare but it has occurred. I note that the boat will stay about the temperature of the sea water which is usualy above 0 C in the Salish Sea. If the Juan DFuca freezes over I think I will have more challenges than the boat in the water.
This won't work for most people but here's what I'm planning to do with my trailerable boat, which I keep at home. I'm making an adapter for the galley sink so that I can run a hose from the faucet to the deck fitting for the fresh water tank. When there's a risk of temperatures below zero I'll run the water heater and then pump hot water back into the tank until the whole system is warm to hot. I will of course also run the cold water in the galley and head, afterward, to prime those lines with the heated water, too.
If I'm happy with how this works, then I might plumb it in permanently.
This will have the bonus of helping to keep the interior warmer, too.
If I'm happy with how this works, then I might plumb it in permanently.
This will have the bonus of helping to keep the interior warmer, too.
lol Stu My boat is also at the same marina. I read the other post thanks. PS when i searched nothing showed up.It's like "someone didn't get the memo" week.
When I lived in Alabama, I figured I didn't need to worry about winterizing. One night it got below freezing (just a little) and it was enough to damage the foot pump for my galley sink.
Marlow Currie, I assume when you say Vancouver Island Marina you mean Van Isle Marina in Sidney. Do you reside close enough to the boat that you would be able to visit it if needed?
My boat is at Maple Bay Marina i have people inspecting and monitoring the boat frequently. Sounds like we are in the same marina
Yes just empty the water , no antifreeze. I'm moored in Campbell River and water temp is 9°, and may be warmer where your new boat is moored. Helps keep the temp inside above freezing. A bit of additional heat in the boat helps too. I run a dehumidifier and a Caframo heater ... the dehumidifier needs to be run at 4° or higher.
thanks the boat owners on Vi general confirm that antifreeze in water system is not required. I appreciate all your commnets on this. i am running the popular heater and dehumidifier in the boat aswell.
Yes, it seems that we maybe in the same marina. Many but certainly not all the boats that are moored in this area do little to winterize other than address the high humidity that we experience.My boat is at Maple Bay Marina i have people inspecting and monitoring the boat frequently. Sounds like we are in the same marina
However, there is a prolific contributor to SBO and a dock mate of ours that often will say:
"Your boat, your choice."