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Winterizing

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lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/29/2003 : 07:21:50

I know this seems like boating 101, but my C25 is the first boat I have have ever had to be deserving of a proper winterization. Other boats I have owned I have sold before winter or did not require winterization. I will be storing my C25 at a local storage yard in Buffalo NY. (Very, very cold) My largest areas of concern are the freshwater system and the head. Where do I start, and what products do you guys reccomend? THe storage yard wants $250 for a complete pumpout and winterizing of the systems, it seems like I can do it myself alot cheaper. Am I wrong? Thanks in advance for your help.

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n/a
deleted

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 08:31:58

Do you have a marine head and holding tank or a Porta Potti? If the latter just dump and rinse out the hoding tank and empty the water tank. Be sure to work the pump bulb to get the water out of it. I pump the water tank dry from both the galley faucet and head sink until I can't get any more water out. There's not enough left in the system for expansion to break anything when it feezes. I know it's cold in Buffalo, but we get the odd cold snap in CT. I've seen Mystic harbor frozen from one side to the other, and the ice pulling pilings from the bottom as it rises and falls with the tide.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 08:44:08

Lance... In addition to what has been said consider pumping the water tank dry and dumping a gallon of pink anti-freeze into the water tank and pumping each faucet until pink stuff comes out. Then open tru-hulls to get all water/anti-freeze out of the water lines. Next the motor. I always fog the engine after running the gas out of the carburetor. And finish up draining and refilling the lower unit. That should do it. Have fun.

Val on Calista # 3936

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

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lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 11:18:36

Thanks guys...I should have stated before, but it is a permanant head, but...I am very seriously considering replacing the head for next season, as the original, even after a rebuild tends to be...umm...maloderous. So is it a good time to pull the old one out, pump out the tank(obvious I know)and put some antifreeze in the tank?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 12:56:40

Lance,

Here is a snapshot of how I winterize my head/freshwater system.

First, before haulout I have the holding tank pumped out.

Once on land I empty the water from the freshwater tank by siphoning it out. After it is empty I pour RV pink antifreeze in the tank and pump it through the faucet to the sink, which also drains the antifreeze down through the sink drain and out through the open drain thru-hull. I then pour antifreeze into the icebox drain which also drains to the sink thru-hull. Then <i>close</i> the thru-hull for the winter.

Now on to the head. I open the head intake thru-hull and flush any remaining water from the line. I leave the thru-hull open for awhile to let it drip dry then I close it for the winter. Next I take about a half gallon of antifreeze and mix in some powdered head deorderant. This mixture is then flushed(pumped dry) through the toilet bowl. I find adding the deoderant to the antifreeze helps reduce unwanted odors. Additionally, I sometimes flush some mineral oil down the head (I've heard it keeps the inner workngs lubricated).

To further reduce odors, be sure your bilges are dry and ventilated. I take my cushions home for the winter and remove the access boards from all of the seats and berths(stand them up through their holes) and open all access doors/drawers to promote air circulation throughout as much of the boat as possible. Don't forget to wipe out the icebox and remove the lid too.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 09/29/2003 13:07:31

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 15:52:42

Drain it, park it in your driveway, work on it all winter.<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> I have had three boats now with freshwater holding tanks and have never put water in any of them. I don't under stand the whole antifreeze thing, if you have drained it why would you want to put something in it that needs to be flushed out? I would think blowing air would clear any place that could hold water after draining.
I think one of the most interesting asides of this forum is the insight into how differently we all use boats. I spent last Fri evening on a Hunter 30 eating a filet mignon dinner and then moved to a Catalina 30 for drinks and then ultimately to another Catalina 30 for another party. I then slept on my boat where I had some PowerAid and a peanutbutter sandwich in a cooler. In other words I use my boat for sailing and not much else. I think it is facinating to read about those who spend days at a time on their boats, it is a different world than mine.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/sigbow.jpg" border=0>Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

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triley
Captain

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USA
251 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 21:32:21

I'm with Val, but I pump the head myself. It is fairly easy with a
handpump and a sewer caddy. We have no pumpout at our docks, and this is safe and easy.

In the fall, I pumpout and apply some rv antifreeze to the head after getting the boat on dryland on the trailer. A few flushes and it is done.

Pour a half gallon of rv antifreeze into the emptied water tank and pump until it comes out the spout. A little in the drains with through hulls closed. Works great for 25 below!

A little mineral oil in head is just right, per Val.
Everything hunky dory after two Dakota winters!

Tom

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 12:15:37

Hey, as a side note:
Up in Northern MIchigan we also take out our batteries and keep them at home in a warm dry place and trickle charge them up.
This is my first winter with my new Honda 4 stroke... Could you detail what I do with regard to fogging the engine and messing with the lower unit??? (slightly motor illiterate....)
Thanks!
Karen :)

Karen Christensen
Moondance, #5465 1986 C-25, SR, FK, Honda 8
Traverse City, Michigan

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deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2003 : 22:34:35

I am with Frank Hopper on the antifreeze thing. I owned an RV for five years and never used antifreeze (except on the motor!) Open everything in sight, pump the fresh water tank dry (I do it through the sink in the head compartment and drain through the forward thru hull), and then close off all but the thru hull and send compressed air through the hoses. I do the same with the head--compressed air, then mineral oil to keep the leather valve from drying out. Make sure your lines are completely dry before closing the thru hulls or they'll freeze and crack the fittings.

For the motor (mine is a Honda), I have built a motor stand so it resides upright. When it comes off the boat, I remove the prop and stand the business end of the motor in a trash barrel filled with freshwater and run it for a half hour to flush the water jacket. Then I change the engine oil, clean the fuel filter and change the bottom end lubricant. Then I restart the motor, unplug the gas line and run it dry of gas. Then out with the plugs, spray a fogging spray into the cylinders and turn over the motor a few times with the starter, and replace the plugs.

I leave the cushions on the boat (which I cover with doubled heavy duty tarpaulins--the brown ones so they don't advertize "boat" all through the neighborhood) and install two five gallon buckets with plastic colanders astride the top of each bucket filled with calcium chloride crystals. Humidity has not been a problem for the past five years. The covers keep the rain and snow away from the boat, and the calcium chloride dries out the air. I have less of a problem with mold and mildew in the winter than I do when she's on the water.

Finally, if it is still warm enough and dry, I take the sails out onto the lawn and give them a good spray with the garden hose, and use a mild detergent to remove any grime or stains. I dry them and roll them up loosely for storage (on the boat).

Oh--critical--make sure your cockpit drains are free and open (and be sure to check them periodically). Once when I was shopping for a boat the owner took me aboard, where we discovered the cockpit drains were blocked, and from the cockpit the water had migrated to the cabin. Everything--and I mean everything--was afloat inside that cabin.

Dave on "Wood Duck" (#2616 - SR, FK)

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2003 : 23:09:53

DO NOT FOLLOW FRANK'S AND DAVE'S ADVICE IF YOU LEAVE YOUR BOAT IN THE WATER OVER WINTER. <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> Open everything up and leave it that way, indeed...blurb, blurb, blurb. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

J.B. Manley
Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees
36°29'58" -94°59'59"

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