Winterization/Strainer for raw water head on C28

[it4llc]

I've got almost all of the winterization done on Gremlin, but am not seeing the strainer for the water lines to the raw water head. Any tips on where to find it/how to winterize the line from the seacock to the head? I thought someone had recently posted a similar question but I can't find the thread.

 

[Martin610]

If your C-28 is like mine, you have the Marine Hardware multi port strainer. One of the connections is for the marine head. No separate strainer.

I put some pink stuff into the strainer, then I pour more pink stuff into the toilet. Seacock is closed. I run the toilet until I see the pink stuff coming from under the rim and into the bowl.

-martin

 

[Crazy Heart]

For the Head on my C28 I installed a “T” fitting in the line about a foot inboard of the seacock. For normal operation I have a cap on the “T”. When it is time to winterize I close the seacock and attach a tube to the “T” and drop the open end of the tube into a 1 gallon bottle of RV antifreeze. Then I run the head until pink antifreeze runs into the head. I continue to run the head until I am assured it has run antifreeze into the holding tank. This operation is done after the holding tank has been completely drained. If you would like a picture of my setup or have any questions send me a message.
Jerron Walker, C28 Crazy Heart

 

[it4llc]

If your C-28 is like mine, you have the Marine Hardware multi port strainer. One of the connections is for the marine head. No separate strainer.
-martin

I've got 1 multiport strainer that goes to my raw water washdown and to the AC. The head has it's own dedicated line, but I don't see a strainer in any of the places I've poked my head...

 

[NwRecon]

For the Head on my C28 I installed a “T” fitting in the line about a foot inboard of the seacock. For normal operation I have a cap on the “T”. When it is time to winterize I close the seacock and attach a tube to the “T” and drop the open end of the tube into a 1 gallon bottle of RV antifreeze. Then I run the head until pink antifreeze runs into the head. I continue to run the head until I am assured it has run antifreeze into the holding tank. This operation is done after the holding tank has been completely drained. If you would like a picture of my setup or have any questions send me a message.
Jerron Walker, C28 Crazy Heart

I think I saw other posts about pumping waste tank first but my crazy mind pictured the volume of water in the long feed hose to the head being pumped into the empty waste tank until anti freeze gets to the bowl and onto the tank. The anti freeze I used warns not to dilute with water or the freeze protection temp will change.

I bought a 12v pump kit from HD and it comes with long wire leads, An inline switch and nice sized clip on ends to connect to a battery. The in/out fittings are garden hose threads and it comes with a nice clear reinforced 6' (i think) hose for inlet. It even comes with a triangle shaped attachment to fasten to the hose for vacuuming water up from the floor to 1/8" level. They also offer a short 6' garden hose with female fittings on both ends (made for hose reel to hose bib in residential). I can connect to the water heater, the T fittings and even to the SS shut-off valve I installed near the T for the head feed and wash-down pump just in case the plastic shut-off valves fail (factory wash-down and the one i installed at head). Also hooks right up to the 5 gal antifreeze gravity feed system I bought.

I removed all the water in lines to strainers and then pumped antifreeze through to exit ports. had to turn on wash-down pump and pump toilet to get anti freeze through and into tank. Also started the Gen and while feeding through strainer just to make sure pump was protected. Then I pumped and rinsed the waste tank and added a gallon of antifreeze through the toilet. I hope by removing the water from the lines first I have reduced the possibility of diluting the antifreeze at any point. Probably a little over kill but was very handy and easy with little spill or waste.

 

[S@LTD]

Sounds like yours is similar to mine e.g. one multi port strainer for head, A/C and raw water wash down and one for the engine. As long as you haven’t lost prime keep putting in pink until you see in in the head.

 

[it4llc]

With temps getting below freezing tonight, I didn't have time to figure out a better solution yet like Crazy Heart. I ended up taking the backflow valve apart, unscrewing the hose, and then trying to stick it straight into a jug of antifreeze. I couldn't get the hose down past the first few inches, which wasn't enough. Not having a helper, or a funnel, I had to improvise a solution. Fortunately I was close to done with my beer, so I finished the beer, used some pliers to open up the top and voila, an antifreeze container. It took about 3 more cans of antifreeze to get it flowing nice and pink in the head. All of which made me think that it would be a good photo contest of everyone's creative work arounds to accomplish whatever task is at hand...

 

[gallatintug]

I am a new owner of a 2021 C28. Mine also has a dedicated thru hull for the head. I was told that the high speed pick up from the multi-port was flooding the head (probably as a result of using different/newer components) and that's the reason for a stand alone pickup thru hull. If I were a betting man, I would say that the likelihood of water being trapped in the pickup line and freezing are slim to none as the water will naturally drain out from the input side of the head. Help me out here, am I mistaken?

 

[it4llc]

I agree that there is probably not too much risk, and if you flushed the toilet with the seacock closed just until the water stopped, you'd probably manage to get most of the water out of the line, but I also didn't know if there are any low bends or anything where the water would rest which could be an issue. Given the potential risk, unless someone can confirm otherwise, my view was better safe than sorry.