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Winterizing the fresh water system

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rich
Deckhand

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24 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/28/2006 : 16:46:45

This will seem like a dumb question but this is the first year I filled the fresh water tank and I need to empty it for winter. Looking at the plumbing diagram for fresh water I don't see an easy way to get the water out other than take the hose loose at the galley sink and drain it from there) I may not have power at the dock when I pull out next week I had thought about using a small pump but may not be able to (I have a 1984 sk model). Any good sugestions?

Rich

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2006 : 19:41:23

If you can disconect the drain pipe for the sink then run a long hose from the tank out the boat, ensuring that the end of the hose is below the tank, it would syphen (SP) fairly quick....assuming the boat is out of the water. Cheers.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2006 : 20:47:59

After years of enptying and cleaning the water tank, I came up with the ideal solution. I removed the tank, hinged the cover, and now use the compartment as a storage locker.

With the number of marinas and harbors of refuge on Lake Superior, I've never needed more than a five gallon can of water on any cruise I've ever taken.The storage locker has had far more utility than the water tank ever had.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2006 : 22:15:03

Hi Al, all summer I kept a case of bottled water on board. It would only last a week during the hot months, but like you said, there is always someplace to pull in. Cheers.

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 05:03:45

Rich,
I fill a garden hose at the house and thread the ends together to ensure it is nearly full of water. When my boat is pulled and on its cradle, I just open the inspection port on the water tank, unthread the ends of the hose, place one end in the water tank, and throw the other end over the side....takes only a few minutes to siphon out and I've never spilled more than a couple of teaspoons of water on the sole. Add your antifreeze to the water tank, pump through your sink fixtures and you're good to go.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 06:13:45

I definitely don't miss this. Next year we plan on just turning on the faucet for about 5 minutes and pulling the tank. No antifreeze required. After 7 years of that stupid hand pump I cannot wait until this little project is completed.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 09:07:36

Rich, why don't you just take up racing. Then you'll be so concerned with reducing your boat's weight that you'll never be tempted to carry any water; and you will only, grudgingly, carry just enough "lite" beer to keep the crew from mutiny.

L. Caricchio
ZINGARA
C-25 Fleet Captain - Fleet#3

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 09:58:07

I am thinking of creating a gravity fed system somehow, I would never need more than a couple of gallons so I have been looking at the solar shower bags as a water tank. Then winterizing would be a gravity event.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 10:19:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Duane Wolff
 ...Next year we plan on just turning on the faucet for about 5 minutes and pulling the tank. No antifreeze required. After 7 years of that stupid hand pump I cannot wait until this little project is completed.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
My new boat will also have an electric pump feeding the sink and the head. Looking forward...

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 17:34:39

Like Gerry, I siphon out the freshwater tank using a garden hose. To get the siphon going, remove the cap on the tank and place the garden hose in it so it is resting on the bottom. If you have access to a water spigot that is lower than the freshwater tank, connect the other end of the hose to it. Next, turn on the water for a few seconds, enough to fill the hose, then turn off the water and remove it from the spigot. The siphon should kick in at this point.

My water tank is used for ballast only and the sink is the place where I put my keys, cell phone, wallet, thermos, and other whatnots while sailing. To wash my hands or clean up, I simply use baby wipes. The one time I washed the dishes, I did so from a bucket in the cockpit.

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 13:51:41

We have an electric pump on the galley sink and we winterized our 25 yesterday. If your drain is like ours, you will find yourself turning it on and off as the sink fills up. The drain didn't keep up with the pump. In fact, I found myself in the head area using the hand pump to help drain the water tank while the Admiral sat in the settee turning the switch off and on.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 17:07:05

You asked for it, this will seem like a dumb response: I pulled out all my tank related plumbing.
I rely on my old friend gravity. I use a solar bag for most of my domestic needs. I suspend it above the sink and use it to wash and rinse dishes. I use it for showers. Most of the time I have warm water and pretty decent water pressure.
I lash the solar bag to the deck just aft of the mast when I sail.
I use plastic milk jugs for the rest of my needs.
Simple wins here. I can use more jugs if I'm going out longer. I can freeze them. I can use them to balance the boat. I can throw them into the tender when I want to lighten the load for racing.
At the end of the year they go into the recycling bin.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 18:22:19

Rich,

There's no such thing as a dumb question but there are dumb answers.

Here's mine.

Since 1983, I've been emptying my water tank at the end of the season by using the whale flipper galley pump, which is the most boring, time consuming, miserable chore. And I do it every single season, which is why my right arm looks just like Popeye's right arm.

After I've emptied it out, I winterize the tank with two quarts of cheap gin.

Edited by - on

danandlu
Navigator

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USA
174 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 18:42:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">After I've emptied it out, I winterize the tank with two quarts of cheap gin.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I prefer vodka!

Edited by - danandlu on 10/30/2006 18:45:42

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 20:04:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 You asked for it, this will seem like a dumb response: I pulled out all my tank related plumbing.
I rely on my old friend gravity. I use a solar bag for most of my domestic needs. I suspend it above the sink and use it to wash and rinse dishes. I use it for showers. Most of the time I have warm water and pretty decent water pressure.
I lash the solar bag to the deck just aft of the mast when I sail.
I use plastic milk jugs for the rest of my needs.
Simple wins here. I can use more jugs if I'm going out longer. I can freeze them. I can use them to balance the boat. I can throw them into the tender when I want to lighten the load for racing.
At the end of the year they go into the recycling bin.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Great minds think alike.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 22:21:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldsalt
 ...After I've emptied it out, I winterize the tank with two quarts of cheap gin.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Cute, but not a great solution. 86-proof booze is more than half water, and the alcohol evaporates out before the water does, so after a while, it'll freeze in the low spots and worst of all, inside the pump. The pink boat/RV antifreeze never evaporates.

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2006 : 05:50:04

Dave,

When I dump in the gin, the pump is bone dry and I've havent had a problem since 1983 in spite of some really cold winters here in New York.

The real wear an tear on the flipper pump comes when I pump out the tank at the end of the season.

Edited by - on

rich
Deckhand

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24 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2006 : 16:37:52

Thanks for all the input. Since I put the water in mostly for balast (the boat seems to set on its lines better with the tank filled) maybe I will turn it into a locker which will hold balast if necessary. I'm not sure I would waste gin on a winterizing a water tank--better for winterizing the captain I think

Rich

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 08:45:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rich
 ...I'm not sure I would waste gin on a winterizing a water tank--better for winterizing the captain I think

Rich
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hear! Hear!

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 10:00:29

Rich, I pulled my tank out and put piano hinges on the compartment tops, I now keep my table in there and have added storage the bulkhead the table used to store on.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 11/01/2006 10:01:05

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