Winterizing in PNW

[bmcminn]

Hello, I have a question about winter time cruising on the Salish and Puget Sound.

I am new to boats over 20' and recently got a new C-248. It is kept it in dry storage, but there's no power. I plan on using it every 3-5 weeks this winter.

I have read recommendations to:
1) drain fresh water, especially hot water tank
2) put 2 gal RV antifreeze in fresh water tank then run through galley sink, head sink, and shower
3) empty black water and run RV antifreeze from toilet into holding tank

Is this necessary? Is there a preferred antifreeze? Do you have any other recommendations?

Not having fresh water onboard and not being able to use the head kind of limit cruising, fresh water especially. The sinks are really nice to use

Thanks!

 

[JeffreyAC77]

We keep our R31 on Lake Union.
Other than running the engine every other week for about 15-20 minutes we do the following for the 12/1-3/15 period of time:
Pump out the black water tank
Fill the fuel tank to minimize condensation in the fuel
Have a temp sensitive heater (runs only when below 38 deg.F) in the cabin
Water pressure is turned off but all faucets are left open
Have never had an issue in the past 5 years doing this for the winter months.

 

[Mike and Sarah]

Dry storage is different than in the water storage.
Lots of threads on this one.
I’d drain all water and blow out the fresh water lines instead of using rv antifreeze. It’s a lot easier to just fill the water and go when recommissioning. If you use rv antifreeze in the fresh water system up have to do lots of flushing to get rid of the taste and odor.
See Channel surfing YouTube for winterizing video. Also As the prop turns video on YouTube has a winterizing video too.

 

[abastos]

We keep our R31 on Lake Union.
Other than running the engine every other week for about 15-20 minutes we do the following for the 12/1-3/15 period of time:
Pump out the black water tank
Fill the fuel tank to minimize condensation in the fuel
Have a temp sensitive heater (runs only when below 38 deg.F) in the cabin
Water pressure is turned off but all faucets are left open
Have never had an issue in the past 5 years doing this for the winter months.

Thanks for sharing Jeffrey. It is going to be my first winter with the Cutwater, and I am keeping in the freshwater side as well. I have one question, when you turn off the freshwater pump, you drain the freshwater tank (including hot water tank) or you just turn the pump off, open the faucets, but tanks still have water?

I also have a question regarding hot water tank. Should I keep it turned on all the time, including winter time? What is the best practice? Turn it on only when using or keep it on all the time?

 

[Cutwater28GG]

i did the antifreeze one year. it was a pain to clean up next season. if the boat is in the water don't bother. just drain the freshwater tanks. run 2 heaters. one in boat 100W, and one in engine bilge - freeze prevention. lookup camframo

make sure the shore power cord plug is clear of corrosion to ensure a good electrical connection.

otherwise what Jeffrey said

also take the batteries out of the autopilot remote. otherwise they will leak.

 

[bmcminn]

Dry storage is different than in the water storage.
Lots of threads on this one.
I’d drain all water and blow out the fresh water lines instead of using rv antifreeze. It’s a lot easier to just fill the water and go when recommissioning. If you use rv antifreeze in the fresh water system up have to do lots of flushing to get rid of the taste and odor.
See Channel surfing YouTube for winterizing video. Also As the prop turns video on YouTube has a winterizing video too.

I watched their video, it answered a ton of questions. And I made a list. Not 100% sure about getting anti-freeze into the raw water pump for the head and the other one for the AC. Any suggestions for that would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Mike and Sarah]

I watched their video, it answered a ton of questions. And I made a list. Not 100% sure about getting anti-freeze into the raw water pump for the head and the other one for the AC. Any suggestions for that would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

On our solara 310 I close the seacock and remove the lid for the sea strainer. I them pour in pink antifreeze as a helper flushes the toilet, runs the wash down pump and runs the heat pump. Not sure but may take 6 gallons of antifreeze to do all that.
Your strainer maybe different. If you have to remove the bottom cup on your strainer then fit a small pail like an ice cream pail in place of the strainer cup and pour antifreeze into it while running the above items. I have also seen guys use a gallon baggie to hold under the strainer and pour into that. . Hope this makes sense sense.

 

[JeffreyAC77]

Thanks for sharing Jeffrey. It is going to be my first winter with the Cutwater, and I am keeping in the freshwater side as well. I have one question, when you turn off the freshwater pump, you drain the freshwater tank (including hot water tank) or you just turn the pump off, open the faucets, but tanks still have water?

I also have a question regarding hot water tank. Should I keep it turned on all the time, including winter time? What is the best practice? Turn it on only when using or keep it on all the time?

I do not drain the fresh water tank for winter. I keep a heater in the engine compartment as well as the cabin. I do leave the faucets open. I do not leave the hot water tank on - only turn it on when preparing for use of the boat and anticipating needing hot water. This procedure has worked for the past 5 years on Lake Union. Believe it or not, no matter how cold the temps (even for a week or more) the lake has not frozen over.