Winterizing

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ScottD

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Oct 6, 2008
29
S2 9.2 Mark Twain Lake
First year winterizing my S2 9.2
Is there one resource I can access that will walk me through winterizing?
I know I will need to flush the water system and add anti freeze, I know the engine needs it. I have an AC unit so that will need to be drained. I have a hot water heater (I think) that I have not located yet, and I assume that needs attention.
Is there a one stop source, should I just hit the net, or post my questions here as I have them?
Thanks as always
ScottD
 
Jun 19, 2004
512
Catalina 387 Hull # 24 Port Charlotte, Florida
Over the last several weeks

Scott, there have been lots of posts about it. Several have been some links to various sites on the net with pretty good generalized check lists for going through a winterization or de-commissioning. You may browse back through the posts over the recent weeks, or try the search engine in the archives.

I would check to see if you can google up a website with an S.2 club also for any specific requirements unique to the S.2.
 
Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
Most s-2 9.1's had Yanmars in them. Don't know if your boat is in the water or out, but usually a part of the winterizing process is an oil change. If your boat is in the water, start the engine and let it warm up. It is easier to extract the oil. With a pump (hand or electric, or other fancy pumps available for getting oil out of your engine) pull the oil out through the dip stick hole. Remove the old filter and replace with a new one (after filling it up half way with the designated oil - look in your owner's manual - probably 30 wt).
You can still change the oil after the boat is out of the water, but it might be harder to extract. When done, then fill up the oil to the proper level on the dipstick. Each boat can be different even with same engine depending on the angle it is installed.
To winterize the cooling system, you probably have a raw water system and a closed water cooling system. You can test the antifreeze in the reservoir to make sure it is topped off and it is the proper mixture (50:50) to protect it when it freezes outside. Regarding the raw water system, where the cooling water is pulled out of the lake or sea, you can run a proper mixture of antifreeze through the system. If your boat is in the water, close the intake seacock that supplies sea or lake water to your engine. If your boat is out of the water, you don't have to worry about the seacock being closed as you won't sink on the hard.
Pull the hose off of the seacock (usually 3/4") and stick it in a bucket of mixed (or premixed antifreeze for engines - non toxic kind is preferred). Or, if it is easier to, with the help of another person, pour the antifreeze into a funnel stuck in the hose, that is ok too. Make sure that the antifreeze is always present because the next step is to start the engine and let the antifreeze flow through the raw water system until it comes out of the exhaust.
If you have a hot water heater with a heat exchanger, this will be a part of the closed cooling system.
After you see a good flow of green coming out of the exhaust, you can shut the engine down and reattach the hose.
You probably have an aqualift muffler (can look like a can or if Vetus type, a brown plastic container). This keeps sea water from backing into your engine. Usually there is a plug where you can drain the water from it.
You can also remove the rubber water pump impeller and store it out of the water pump coated in a water proof grease. Put it back in the spring. This will also drain any liquid out of the pump housing.
Before you pull the boat it is recommended that you fill your fuel tank and put the proper amount of StaBil fuel conditioner (for diesel) for the amount of gallons in your tank. This will keep the fuel stabilized over the winter and the full tank will eliminate any condensation from forming.
That is about the basics for winterizing the engine. If you do at least what I have mentioned above, then you should be safe for the winter.
There are other things you can do, but to protect the engine from freezing, this is the least you can do.
Of course, if you have a fresh water system and a marine toilet, you need to winterize those as well. But use a non toxic (red) antifreeze and not antifreeze for engines.
 
Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
While Barnacle Bill has summarized the typical winterization process pretty well, here are a few tips I've learned along the way that may, or may not, help. Most owners with fresh water tanks and water heaters drain them around here rather than putting anti-freeze in the systems (which then requires getting rid of it in spring). After a few seasons of draining my fresh water tank (20 gals, I think) by pressuring up the system and then opening the faucets in the head and sink and just letting them run forever to drain the tank, I came up with an alternative system. This system will work if (1) your boat is on the hard, and (2) your can run a hose from the water tank in the boat to a l position below the boat. I connect a hose to a nearby water stand, put the other end of the hose in the water tank, and start filling the tank. All I want to do is fill the hose with water. Once that happens, turn the water off and disconnect the hose from the water stand. Leave the other end in the tank. Bingo. The water just siphons out of your tank. No fuss, to muss, no running the water pump forever. Works for me. Give it a try if you can.

PS: you may still have to drain your water heater, or put anti-freeze in it and its lines. I prefer the former to the latter.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Scott..

This may help. I have not finished the one for winterizing the engine but the fresh water system is done. Remember all boats are not alike, so your layouts will be different than mine, but the process will be similar.

Winterizing A Fresh Water System (LINK)
 
Jun 19, 2004
512
Catalina 387 Hull # 24 Port Charlotte, Florida
Thanks for the good guide for the fresh system

Maine Sail. Are the shark bite connectors special marine shark bites, or are the ones at Lowes or the Depot ok to use?

I know the ball valves at the Depot are strictly forbidden for through hulls, but for having a sanitary manifold system like yours, they are handy and I know they don't cost more than 3 or 4 bucks at the Depot and Lowes. Just curious, mine are screw off connectors, but I like the shark bites.

I've even used them for replacement domestic water heaters in lieu of sweating the joints :D
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Maine Sail. Are the shark bite connectors special marine shark bites, or are the ones at Lowes or the Depot ok to use?

I know the ball valves at the Depot are strictly forbidden for through hulls, but for having a sanitary manifold system like yours, they are handy and I know they don't cost more than 3 or 4 bucks at the Depot and Lowes. Just curious, mine are screw off connectors, but I like the shark bites.

I've even used them for replacement domestic water heaters in lieu of sweating the joints :D
For on board domestic water system I use regular WOG rated brass valves, CPVC and PEX. The Shark Bites are the ones they sell at Home Depot. If your water tanks leak it won't sink your boat and these domestic plumbing fittings see substantially higher street pressures than you'll ever see on a boat with a 12V water pump.

I don't like my copper manifold but it's all I had handy at the time so I just soldered it up quickly to get back in business. It would probably last a hundred years but it tends to turn ugley green when in a bilge 24/7/365. I plan on making a new non-copper manifold this winter with a dedicated winterizing valve and tank drains.
 
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