Is it okay to leave cheap Vodka in water tank?

[MIRELOS]

I'll have a double...btw, it won't turn to sugar until you drink it

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Still not sold on the blow out technique w/your low spot technique. Seems like a lot of hassle to bring in a compressor to blow out the line, then still add antifreeze. No matter how you do it, you need a good flow of full color antifreeze coming out of the outlets before you shut it down.

It's always been easier than it sounds. Compressor running for an hour or so, but mostly while I do other stuff. Periodically change which taps are open. Eventually graduate towards all taps open. Voila! Never needed to pump pink through the rest of the plumbing after that.

The pink stuff through the pump itself is also easy, with QEST quick disconnects on each side of the strainer/pump/accumulator trio. Takes about two minutes to disconnect the normal hoses on either end, snap in an antifreeze supply hose, bump the pump, done.

Not that running pink through the plumbing after the pump would be a bad idea at all, and that is certainly better than introducing antifreeze or whatever into the actual tanks... not all that difficult... just we never needed to do it.

-Chris

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Vodka is made by FERMENTING and then DISTILLING to get from source to bottle.

The fermentation process eats up all the sugar. So unless it's some sort of flavored vodka where they added sugar after distillation, there is no sugar.

Irrelevant.

Try this experiment. Water down some vodka, say 3-5 to one, as people use it as AF. Inoculate either with yeast or some of the scum in a water system. Within a few days it will ferment an smell like Boones Farm left open.

ONLY spirits above about 25% alcohol can be left open without refrigeration and not quickly spoil. This is about the alcohol content, not residual sugars. Alcohol is only antiseptic above 70%.

This is also true of PG and ethanol antifreeze. Dilute them with water any appreciable amount (they are only 28-35% as you buy them) and they can spoil over the winter. This is the cause of the funky tastes people report, NOT the AF itself. But people are cheap and try to use less.

BTW, the same can happen with engine coolant if water down and the vehicle is not driven enough to cook it. I have seen industrial cooling systems that went sour and smelled like vinegar/wine mixed.

[MicHughV]

you could off course, just move the boat to Florida, and avoid all the water tank hassle

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by RobertoD

What we use in Canada for all the boat's plumbing - and the water intake etc for the exhaust heat exchanger - Pink Plumbers Antifreeze. Easy to flush-out in the spring due to the color, and won't hurt you if you still have some in your water system. And cheaper than Vodka, unless you male your own in the bath tub.

Are you SURE that stuff isn't poison?

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

Are you SURE that stuff isn't poison?

Did you Google it?


Polypropylene glycol is allowed as a food additive and has less toxicity that drinking alcohol.


And obviously you flush it out.


You do NOT put AF in the tank. You drain the tank.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Irrelevant.

Try this experiment. Water down some vodka, say 3-5 to one, as people use it as AF. Inoculate either with yeast or some of the scum in a water system. Within a few days it will ferment an smell like Boones Farm left open.

ONLY spirits above about 25% alcohol can be left open without refrigeration and not quickly spoil. This is about the alcohol content, not residual sugars. Alcohol is only antiseptic above 70%.

If you start diluting the antifreeze, it's not nearly as effective anyway. You should always eliminate as much water as possible before adding antifreeze.

Vodka typically is 80proof...or about 40% alcohol...so yeah, if you dump a fifth into a half full 50gal tank, it's not going to protect against freezing or against growth.

The whole discussion is a little silly unless you are trying to smuggle vodka across the border. They make antifreeze specifically to address fresh water systems and it's far cheaper than vodka.

[sailingharry]

Read Practical Sailor. Their recommended antifreeze materials are:
* Ethylene Glycol (green stuff, for cars) is the absolute best. Minimal damage to seals, rubber, plastics, etc. From an environmental standpoint, it is marginally BETTER than Propylene Glycol. Of course, it is poisonous in high concentrations, but well diluted (as in pumped overboard), no problem. EPA reportable spill quantity is around 50 gallons! Use it everywhere you don't drink -- head, engine, bilge pumps, etc.
* Propylene Glycol. Pretty bad stuff -- it will damage filters, bowls and other plastics in a single season. Use of this stuff is why engine impellers need to be replaced every season, and head joker valves seem to die fast. Use it sparingly, and only where required (ie, drinking water).
* Cheap pink (RV) antifreeze. It is ethanol based (alcohol). Awful stuff, much worse than PG, damages plastics and rubbers rapidly. NEVER use it. Read the labels on any RV antifreeze carefully.
* I don't know if PS specifically reviewed vodka, but it is ethanol, so same as cheap RV antifreeze, with same results.

[JimStarkey]

Don't do it! Vodka will rot the gaskets in your potable water pump. Don't ask how I know.

[r schupak]

Tried this one winter & BIG mistake !! The alcohol started to break down some of the rubber seals in the hot water heater & ultimately had to replace the heater. Mechanic told me that the new alcohol additives in marine gas can also break down rubber hoses, gaskets & seals in the fuel systems. Better to drink the vodka & be happy !

[Nicholson58]

Spring party? Add tonic and lime. There is no sugar in vodka.


You can get the pink, non-toxic antifreeze at any place that sells RV supplies. It is propylene glycol. You don’t need to fill. Empty the tank, shop vac, add the pink stuff then pump till it comes out of your faucets, etc.

In the spring just empty and flush.

[Carl-T705]

I think you're kidding yourself if you think vodka is keeping the water from freezing. Alcohol evaporates long before the Winter weeks are passed. Vodka.... and water is an elixir not an antifreeze.....ask any ice cube.

[sailingharry]

Originally Posted by JimStarkey

Don't do it! Vodka will rot the gaskets in your potable water pump. Don't ask how I know.

Hello Jim! Welcome to CF (even if I'm not an official welcomer). Post #4 and we agree (at least in part) -- first time ever, I think. LOL.

[sailingharry]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

You can get the pink, non-toxic antifreeze at any place that sells RV supplies. It is propylene glycol.

Just be careful on the "pink... any place that sells RV" line. Not all pink antifreeze is PG. Much of it, especially the less expensive/highly advertised stuff, is just pink colored vodka (well, maybe not vodka, but still alcohol). Read the label VERY carefully, and if you can't tell, try another product. Actually, just see the price -- the PG is twice the price. If the price is too good to be true, well, it's too good to be true.

[GTom]

If you don't drink from the tank - we don't - just use antifreeze or glycerol. The best is to blow the system with a compressor anyway.