In the colder climates, its time to start thinking about hauling out and winterizing your boat. While a haul out gives you opportunity for some repair, maintenance and upgrade work, its important to follow some winterizing procedures to avoid problems in the spring. Todays tip focuses on your fresh water systems and should be performed after your haul out.
Fresh water systems:
Drain water tanks
Add a few gallons of non-toxic antifreeze to the empty tanks and pump the fluid through each faucet until the color is pink. Dont forget the deck wash down pump, cockpit shower, shower sump, and electric head. Salt water deck washes will have a dedicated pump which some electric heads share. On stand alone pumps like these, remove the intake hose and suck non-toxic antifreeze through system. ALWAYS properly reconnect hoses when finished.
Toilets: Fill the bowl with a gallon of non-toxic antifreeze and pump dry. If the system has a direct discharge valve, pump a half gallon overboard, then a half gallon into the holding tank.
Holding tanks: Pour a gallon of non-toxic antifreeze into the tank from deck. Operate the overboard discharge pump until non-toxic antifreeze is present.
Pour non-toxic antifreeze into the bilge and operate all pumps.
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