Winterizing our Hunter 386

[Gary Ryan]

Got asked to schedule our pull out in the next 4 weeks. Looking at some pointers to winterize. I would think, 1. Engine, 2. Head, 3. Holding Tank, 4. Waste Tank, 5. Air Conditioner. Anyone got a good checklist with pointers on how to do this? The marina wants about $350 for everything. Not bad, but I'd like to do it myself to learn more. Thanks,

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Can't help you with engine or air conditioning, but I just uploaded updated WINTERIZING PLUMBING instructions for the fresh water system, head and holding tank to the Plumbing and Sanitation forum.

I just reread your post and saw that you mention "holding tank" AND "waste tank." Just a redundancy, or do you have TWO waste/holding tanks... a gray water tank in addition to a sewage/black water tank?

--Peggie

 

[Gary Ryan]

Hey Peggie, thanks for the quick response. We just have 1 fresh water tank and 1 waste tank. I'll look up your thread on plumbing. Thanks!
- Gary

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Also don’t forget a wash down system if you have one - and the stern outside shower should flow until antifreeze Comes out both hot and cold lines.

For my Hunter 356 I buy 15 gallons of antifreeze and usually have a couple of gallons left over.

I installed nylon T’s in all my thru hull intake hoses just after the thru hull. I took a 5 gallon bucket, added a valve to the side near the bottom, put swivels on the hose so it won’t twist and a male threaded fitting goes into the vertical T in the hose. Takes me about 2 to 2-1/2 hours start to finish to do the entire boat once I get everything out. Takes my wife to help me with turning things on and off. She starts and stops the engine, generator and the HVAC unit at the controls. I know how much antifreeze it takes since I have done it for so long, so I just make sure I pump enough antifreeze through

Here is my checklist and some photos of my self made tools:

Winterizing Checklist

Pre-Winterizing

1. Get 15 gallons of Pink RV 50 antifreeze
a. Rural King – best price 2012
2. Get diesel stabilizer for diesel fuel – 1 oz per 10 gallons remaining in tank\
a. Garage

Winterizing

Fuel System:
1. Put 1 0z Diesel Stabil per 10 gallons of fuel in tank

Waste System:
1. Pump out tank
2. Open macerator valve

Generator – 2 gallons

1. Start generator and run for 10 minutes or longer until hot and thermostat has opened.
2. Close Generator Thru-hull – Center thru-hull location
3. Unscrew nylon cap
4. Screw engine antifreeze hose into fitting
5. Pour 2 gallons -50 PINK anti-freeze into 5 gallon bucket
6. Start generator and run until pink antifreeze is coming out water exhaust port side

Yanmar 3GMF – 2 Gallons

1. Start Yanmar and run for a minimum of 10 minutes or until hot so thermostat opened.
2. Close Yanmar Thru-hull – Center thru-hull location
3. Remove floor cover aft of kitchen
4. Unscrew strainer, empty water, fill with anti-freeze and replace; hand tighten
5. Unscrew nylon cap to hose leading aft
6. Screw engine antifreeze hose into fitting
7. Pour 2 gallons -50 anti-freeze into 5 gallon bucket
8. Start Yanmar 3GF and run until PINK antifreeze is coming out water exhaust aft

Fresh Water System and Drains – 5 gallons plus

1. Drain system (28 minutes with all on)

2. Drain HWH and suck out with Wetvac

3. Pour in 5 gallons of -50 RV pink anti-freeze at tank inlet

3. Run out all outlets including cockpit shower

Verify pink at:

Kitchen sink
Toilet sink
Shower – toilet
Stern shower

5. Close DRAIN thru-hull

6. Pour Pink anti freeze in
a. Shower Drain (check shower sump and confirm pink anti-freeze is present)
b. Toilet sink
c. Kitchen sink – both sides
d. Refrigerator drain
e. Condenser pan

7. Pour anti-freeze into bilge until bilge pump sucks out


Head and Deck Wash Pump – 4 gallons for both

Deck Wash System

1. Close head thru-hull
2. Open floor panel next to garbage door
3. Unscrew nylon cap and screw PINK anti-freeze hose into fitting
4. Pour 4 gallons - -50 PINK anti-freeze into 5 gallons bucket
5. Turn on Deck Wash circuit breaker at DC Electrical panel
6. Go to anchor well and run hose until pink anti-freeze comes out.
7. Go to cockpit and run hose until pink anti-freeze comes out and disconnect hose
8. Turn off Deck Wash circuit breaker at DC Electrical panel.


Head System:

1. Empty holding tank – pump out or macerator
2. Recharge 5 gallon bucket with pink anti-freeze
3. Run head flush button until pink anti-freeze is in bowl
4. Run head a minimum of 20 seconds after pink anti-freeze is present in bowl to assure hose to tank is protected
5. Remove pump out fitting and Pour 1 gallon pink antifreeze down holding tank access at starboard stern (black fitting)
6. Operate macerator pump for a minimum of 5 seconds
7. Operate toilet switch for a minimum of 5 seconds











HVAC System

1. Turn off HVAC breaker at AC electrical panel
2. Close HVAC thru-hull
3. Remove strainer and drain water off; fill with antifreeze and replace
4. Remove nylon cap and screw PINK anti-freeze hose into fitting
5. Pour 2 gallons PINK anti-freeze into bucket – insure pick-up tube is submerged in bucket
6. Turn on HVAC breaker at AC electrical panel
7. Monitor HVAC thru-hull outlet on starboard side until pink
8. Turn off HVAC breaker at AC electrical panel
9. Unscrew strainer to allow anti-freeze to fill strainer; hand tighten
10. Remove anti-freeze hose from fitting
11. Screw cap back onto nylon hose fitting
12. Pour unused anti freeze back into original container
13. Pour anti-freeze down condensate drain and fill hose to shower sump


ALL SYSTEMS WINTERIZED

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

You forgot to include "rinse out the holding tank, macerator and macerator plumbing" after pumping it out.

If you disconnect the toilet intake line from the thru-hull and stick it into a bucket full of antifreeze, flushing the whole bucketful will winterize the toilet and the holding tank without any need to add any antifreeze via the deck pumpout fitting.

-Peggie

 

[Gary Ryan]

Great check list Jerry! We're on the Great Lakes, so I think all we can do is a pump out with the holding tank. Can't discharge into the lake.