winterizing

[terraplane]

Suppose i want to leave my ranger 25 in the water...it freezes here on the bay, but often we get great cold weather opportunities.
So...could one winterize all but the motor and keep the boat in the water? For instance, winterize the air conditioning, hot water heater, wash down, fresh water...but not the engine..maybe an engine block heater...

As you know, i'm not mechanical, but would something like this work?

terraplane

 

[K7MXE]

Well for me the answer is yes but I have the 21 foot Tug. Heres what I do for winter work
I pump my fresh water tank dry or real close. I put in a gallon of RV pink antifreeze and
pump it into the system till the overboard is pink. Ok that takes care of my water so what
is left is the motor. I close off the sea valve and take the "T" on the intake and put on a
hose to that that I put in automotive antifreeze and start the motor for as long as it takes
to pump a gallon into the raw water intake and shut it off. Put the plug back on the T and
you now have the raw water full of antifreeze. Me being cheap I get used antifreeze from
the wrecking yard because I may do this several times over the winter. Now the closed
intercooler part of the cooling system should already have antifreeze in it you should be
good. When you want to run the motor open the intake from the sea water and away you
go. Lastly I use compessed air to reverse flow the water in the bilge pump but if your in
salt water and only water in bilge is salty you should be ok but some more of the pink rv
stuff should help the bilge pump from freezing. A heat source like a trouble light may be
in order under the motor cover but I have not done it myself. My boat sits in the shed on
a trailer but I live in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains so it does freeze here. I also
leave the bottom plug removed when its on the trailer so anything that might build up in
the bilge would go away quickly. For me thats all that comes to mind. So pack your water
with you for boating in the winter and take it off the boat when you leave it.
How much extra stuff on the 25 to do is a question for others. Winter is good because
you dont have to share.. Bob Heselberg Eatonville Wa

 

[terraplane]

ThanksBob,
I'm considering this...we get some pretty hard freezes here...sometimes the whole bay freezes solid. I am in a slip with bubblers, but still.

Good advice on the various issues.

PS. I've been in the Cascades. I worked with the Nez Perce at Inchilium on the Columbia and travelled around the state a lot...great areas to see.

terraplane

 

[ron cowan]

I use the same approach on my 21'. but use the pink RV antifreeze in the raw water system so I will not dump regular auto antifreeze in the river when I go out for a cruise. In fact I dump a little RV antifreeze into the bilge and pump it through untin pink shoots out. Having just moved here from Florida this is my first year to winterize the 21 but used this approach for years here with other inboards. Ron

 

[Andrew Custis]

You can winterize everything in the water. On our current tugs we use a multi port strainer that feeds the Head, Washdown and engine. Do the following: Turn the seacock off , I would suggest emptying the strainer before removing the lid by spraying your washdown overboard or pumping the head. Remove the lid to the strainer and fill the bowl with pink "RV Antifreeze." Empty your waste tank the best you can. Pump the head until you run some pink through the bowl and ensure it gets to the waste tank. Usually takes about 1 gallon to do the head. Then I would pour a couple gallons through your pump out fitting to set in the waste tank. Now use about 1/2 a gallon and spray your washdown overboard until you see pink running through it. Do the exact same thing for the engine if you wish to do so. Get a couple gallons ready and fill the strainer bowl. Strart the engine and keep feeding the pink antifreeze through until you see it come out of the exhaust. Would suggest having someone help start the engine when your ready and then turn it off. Would also take a gallon and pour it into the bilge until it turns on and pumps overboard.

Air conditioning and generator is the same way by turning the seacocks "OFF" and removing the hoses. Use a funnel and feed the pink antifreeze through each system while its running.

Fresh Water System. Pump out water by turning the pump on and opening all faucets to drain overboard. Then we usually fill the water tank with about 6 gallons of pink and do the same thing. Open all faucets and run "Hot" and "Cold" to circulate it through the system.

If I was to keep it on the water and had power at my boat I would go purchase a couple of heaters for the cabin, head and engine compartment. But at least this will give everyone a good idea on how to winterize if preferred.

 

[ron cowan]

Andrew, Thanks for the posting. It is great to see the factory involved with the site like this. I have watched you answer questions on the c-brats site which was great but this was like an unsolicited responce and greatly appreciated. Thanks for the site and keep up the good work at Ranger.
Ron

 

[K7MXE]

You are very correct Ron. Kudos to Andrew. In reading his answer made me think of something
I had forgotten and that was the head. I have the porta potty and simple to just take it inside where
its warm. Dont forget to empty it. Now for the good story.

When I bought the boat I never gave the porta potty a lot of thought. Yes it got used and when it was
time to take it and dump it I simply popped the latch and headed for the door, easy except unknown to
me the cap had never been installed and well you can guess the rest. Not a pretty site. I was ready to
buy a new cap when I found the cap still sealed in its plastic with the boat stuff that came with the boat.
Its very winterized in my kitchen under the cabinets right now toasty warm..

Bob Heselberg in Eatonville Wa where its clear and 35 deg today..

 

[Gregg]

Hi everyone,

This thread hasn’t been touched in a while but here we go. I'm getting ready to put the boat away and have my winter checklist ready. I guess I wanted to see if I'm missing anything or should be doing differently. It's pretty cold here and things really freeze so I want to make sure I get it right.

1. Fresh water tank: Drain then add non-toxic antifreeze and turn on pump system until it runs through.
2. Engine: Change oil and filter. Feed antifreeze through raw water connection while engine running until pink comes out through exhaust.
3. Bilge: Antifreeze in until bilge pump starts and winterized.
4. Remove batteries and store cold
5. Fill fuel tank full and add stabilizer
6. Drain bowl on Racor and reinstall.
7. Drain plug out. Seacock open. tap open.

Is there anything else that I might be forgetting? I have a porta potty so no winter issue there.
Thank You,

Gregg

 

[doke01]

I would add removing the faucet head from the sink and shower and disassembling the faucet valve for the shower. Even though I pump antifreeze through the system I still had the copper tubing in the shower faucet burst. It is better to disassemble it and keep the parts in in zip-lock. That way you are sure there is no water hiding in there to cause you pain..