This year i will be winterizing for the first time. The question is how do I get anti freeze in the water intake line. The boat will be out of the water for the winter. Do i just leave the water intake valve open and let it drain?
winterizing head
- Thread starter garyc
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Here is what I do-
I winterize when the boat is still in the water just because it works for my schedule. Either way, after getting the holding tank pumped and flushed a couple times with fresh water, I make sure the head intake thru-hull is closed and pump the head until all the water is pushed to the holding tank. Then I loosen the 4 pump base mounting screws to allow the pump body to drain any water that is left. Then tighten the screws again. I pour about 1/2 gallon of the pink stuff into the toilet and pump until it is dry.
Then, after the boat is hauled, I open the thru-hull and let it drain. Then I close the thru-hull for the winter.
If you have a macerater connected to the holding tank, you will need to add more pink stuff to the holding tank and then run the mascerator until the pink antifreeze comes out. A second person holding a bucket under the output thru-hull works. Or you can do it in the water- just run for 5-10 seconds.
In any event, you want to open ALL thru-hulls after the boat is hauled so that all of them can drain. After draining I keep them all closed for the winter.
I winterize when the boat is still in the water just because it works for my schedule. Either way, after getting the holding tank pumped and flushed a couple times with fresh water, I make sure the head intake thru-hull is closed and pump the head until all the water is pushed to the holding tank. Then I loosen the 4 pump base mounting screws to allow the pump body to drain any water that is left. Then tighten the screws again. I pour about 1/2 gallon of the pink stuff into the toilet and pump until it is dry.
Then, after the boat is hauled, I open the thru-hull and let it drain. Then I close the thru-hull for the winter.
If you have a macerater connected to the holding tank, you will need to add more pink stuff to the holding tank and then run the mascerator until the pink antifreeze comes out. A second person holding a bucket under the output thru-hull works. Or you can do it in the water- just run for 5-10 seconds.
In any event, you want to open ALL thru-hulls after the boat is hauled so that all of them can drain. After draining I keep them all closed for the winter.
The right way to do it
[FONT="]Pump holding tank out, then rinse thoroughly to flush out any sludge. This does not require filling the tank and can even be done with sea water. Here’s how: [/FONT]
[FONT="]Put enough water into the tank via the deck pumpout fitting—because that sends the water into the tank at the bottom to stir up any sludge and hold it insuspension so it can be flushed out-- to cover the bottom to a depth of a couple of inches. Pump that out. Repeat…repeat…repeat…till you’re pumping out clean water. Then add water one more time and turn on the macerator to rinse it out along with the overboard discharge plumbing. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Alternatively, you can use a washdown pump to do the whole job. Stick it in the pumpout out fitting and turn on the water. When the depth reaches a couple of inches, turn on the macerator and let it run till the water runs clean.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Now you’re ready to winterize the system. Never use automotive antifreeze, use ONLY non-toxic potable antifreeze, aka "the pink stuff:" [/FONT]
[FONT="]If your toilet uses onboard pressurized flush water, you winterized it when you winterized your fresh water system. Flush the appropriate amount of non-toxic antifreeze ("the pink stuff") down the toilet into the tank and you’re done.[/FONT]
[FONT="]If your toilet—manual or electric—uses raw (sea, lake, river) water, close toilet intake through-hull, disconnect inlet hose and stick it in a gallon of “the pink stuff." Pump the whole gallon through the system into the holding tank. Do not reconnect head intake hose to the through-hull.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Pump the head or hold the button down long enough to get as much of the excess fluid out of the system as possible.[/FONT]
[FONT="]After the boat comes out of the water, open all the sea cocks to drain any trapped water.[/FONT]
And you’re done.
[FONT="]Pump holding tank out, then rinse thoroughly to flush out any sludge. This does not require filling the tank and can even be done with sea water. Here’s how: [/FONT]
[FONT="]Put enough water into the tank via the deck pumpout fitting—because that sends the water into the tank at the bottom to stir up any sludge and hold it insuspension so it can be flushed out-- to cover the bottom to a depth of a couple of inches. Pump that out. Repeat…repeat…repeat…till you’re pumping out clean water. Then add water one more time and turn on the macerator to rinse it out along with the overboard discharge plumbing. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Alternatively, you can use a washdown pump to do the whole job. Stick it in the pumpout out fitting and turn on the water. When the depth reaches a couple of inches, turn on the macerator and let it run till the water runs clean.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Now you’re ready to winterize the system. Never use automotive antifreeze, use ONLY non-toxic potable antifreeze, aka "the pink stuff:" [/FONT]
[FONT="]If your toilet uses onboard pressurized flush water, you winterized it when you winterized your fresh water system. Flush the appropriate amount of non-toxic antifreeze ("the pink stuff") down the toilet into the tank and you’re done.[/FONT]
[FONT="]If your toilet—manual or electric—uses raw (sea, lake, river) water, close toilet intake through-hull, disconnect inlet hose and stick it in a gallon of “the pink stuff." Pump the whole gallon through the system into the holding tank. Do not reconnect head intake hose to the through-hull.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Pump the head or hold the button down long enough to get as much of the excess fluid out of the system as possible.[/FONT]
[FONT="]After the boat comes out of the water, open all the sea cocks to drain any trapped water.[/FONT]
And you’re done.
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