Wondering about winterizing the holding tank. I was wanting to really flush out the tank this year before I put the boat to bed. In the past I have pumped and filled with water several time then put some AF in to handle any water that I did not get out. I was wondering if putting a mix of water and white vinegar into the tank after it has been pumped out and letting that set for several days then pumping that out would help break up and waste normally left and improve the spring commissioning. Thoughts.
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Vinegar won't do much if anything here
You're right that the tank should be flushed out before the system is winterized, but vinegar won't accomplish anything. Pump out the tank, then thoroughly flush it out by putting a few gallons of water down the deck pumpout fitting...pump that out...repeat...repeat...till you're pumping clean water. If you feel some need to clean the tank out any further, fill the tank with clean water and put a jug of liquid detergent--Wisk, Tide--into it...just flush it down the toilet...take the boat out for a last sail of the season and tack a lot...THEN thoroughly flush it out as I just described. Now you're ready to winterize: To winterize the whole system, disconnect the head intake line from the thru-hull (it would be a good idea to close the seacock first) and stick it in a jug of non-toxic potable antifreeze ("the pink stuff")...pump the whole gallon through the system into the tank. Do NOT just pour it into the bowl...If you that, none gets into the intake, pump or channel in the rim of the bowl. After the boat comes out, open all seacocks.
You're right that the tank should be flushed out before the system is winterized, but vinegar won't accomplish anything. Pump out the tank, then thoroughly flush it out by putting a few gallons of water down the deck pumpout fitting...pump that out...repeat...repeat...till you're pumping clean water. If you feel some need to clean the tank out any further, fill the tank with clean water and put a jug of liquid detergent--Wisk, Tide--into it...just flush it down the toilet...take the boat out for a last sail of the season and tack a lot...THEN thoroughly flush it out as I just described. Now you're ready to winterize: To winterize the whole system, disconnect the head intake line from the thru-hull (it would be a good idea to close the seacock first) and stick it in a jug of non-toxic potable antifreeze ("the pink stuff")...pump the whole gallon through the system into the tank. Do NOT just pour it into the bowl...If you that, none gets into the intake, pump or channel in the rim of the bowl. After the boat comes out, open all seacocks.
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