bypassing the hot water tank for winterization

[Capt Ron]

I need some help in this area. I winterize the boat myself and am tired of pouring 6 gallons of antifreeze into the hot water tank. Other boats I've seen have nice normal pipe connections at the heater. My 28 Albin has those plastic hoses and connections. Can anyone offer advise?

[Russell]

As a new owner I will be interested to see what others have to say but why can't you run your tanks dry and then put in a gallon or two of antifreeze and then run that through all the lines to the sinks and shower?
Russ

[Mariner]

Is it safe to run anti-freeze into your drinking water system? Come spring, can you truly rinse it all out? Anti-freeze, after all, is poisonous. Would it be possible to just drain the system thoroughly and not risk poisoning yourself?


This is a probem we don't have up here, as the saltwater acts as a mediating force, preventing the systems in the boat from ever nearing freezing.

[chiefrcd]

They make anti-freeze that is non-toxic for water systems. Yes you can get it out...but it takes me a few tanks of flushing to get it done. Yes, you can run your water tank dry but I believe that the hot water tank will still contain 6 gallons unless you drain the water out. If you do drain it...make dang sure that you have your hot water breaker off...and taped over so someone doesn't cut it on when the tank is empty.

I think the by pass kits to by pass the tank allows you to run the entire system less hot water tank so you can winterize the remaining lines.

Since I don't drain mine either...I have to run enough antifreeze through to fill the hot water tank the shower inside, both sinks and the swim platform shower.

For me...I carry my drinking water and coffee water on in gallon containers....use the onboard to washing dishes, showers etc.

[DougSea]

Chief has it right, the bypass kits are short hoses with pipe fittings that allow you disconnect the feed and outlet from the tank and run anti-freeze (non-toxic!) through the downstream hotwater lines without having to fill your hotwater tank. Obviously you should drain the tank and put at least a small amount of anti-freeze in it to prevent any left over water from freezing hard.

[Double Lucky]

We don't have this concern here in the Sunshine State, but I was just wondering if quality spirits, Jack Daniels for instance, would "winterize" your boat system? Solves the problem of poisoning the water. Also, this is environmentally friendly as there is no toxic chemical to dispose of. Where as with anti-freeze, you buy it just to throw the anti-freeze away. Quality spirits would be recycled naturally when the winter is over. If this would work, "spring cleaning" would take on a new and fun perspective.

[jcollins]

I winterized my fresh water tank this weekend. I just run the spigots till the tank is emply. Then pour in 6 gallsons of pink stuff. Open the hot water spigot to empty the water from the water heater. Just let it run till it turns pink. Then put a piece of masking tape over the breaker for the water heater. I've done it this way for all my boats. I used to take the time to drain the water heater first but this is easy and it works. OR I have just been lucky over the years. Never had a failure.
In the spring I run 2 or 3 tanks of fresh through the system to clean it out.

[chiefrcd]

Thats me John....same thing. I use to winterize my sailboat with cheap Vodka.....works great and the spring shakedown was a hoot....but it was a simple straight forward cold water system......didn't take a lot of Vodka to do the job.......

[jcollins]

If I had to choose my winterizing alcohol, I'd choose rum. But I'm really a beer guy. St. Pauli Girl doesn't freeze does it? I know someone around here drinks Red Stripe.

[Capt Ron]

Thanks for the help one and all. I know a couple of old timers who use cheap vodka as their antifreeze...they seem to spend an awful amount of time on the boat in the spring, while still on blocks!
By the way, the plastic connections I referred to merely come apart by pushing the plastic retractor into the fitting. It then just pulls out of the connector. Then simply push the cold inlet into the hot outlet tube connector and drain the heater. No need for a special bypass hose.

[Denis]

The "Red Stripe" would be me, and unfortunately it does freeze!

[Big Dave]

Ron,

Russell has it right. No need to fill up the hot water heater. Just drain it and run some antifreeze through the system (hot and cold) until antifreeze comes out everywhere.
My 28 water system uses about 4 gallons of antifreeze

Dave

[AlMar]

I'm with Chiefrd. We use cheap vodka. Iguess in the spring, I could pour a couple of gallons of orange juice in it and run it till it empties
AlMar

[dougstinchcum]

Last fall after draining the water, I disconnected the cold water input and hot water output tubes from the heater box and connected them together. I also put tape over the DC panel switch to prevent turning on the heater unit.

The year before I connected the cold and hot tubes with a piece of tubing and hose clamps.

[tomcat rio]

..as indicated by engine colant in the hot water(1993 28 TE) ....
...
it looks like a lot of hardware has to come out to get a new one in there.
a few pumps and the muffler.
has anyone here changed one?
any inputs appreciated.
thx.
....

Gordon died. So Susan went to the local paper to put a notice in the obituaries. The gentleman at the counter, after offering his condolences, asked Susan what she would like to say about Gordon.

Susan replied, "You just put, 'Gordon died.'"

The gentleman, somewhat perplexed, said, "That's it? Just 'Gordon died?'

Surely, there must be something more you'd like to say about Gordon. If it's money you're concerned about, the first five words are free. We really should say something more."

So Susan pondered for a few minutes and finally said, "O.K., then. You put 'Gordon died. Boat for sale.'"