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Old 16-10-2014, 19:08   #1
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Winterizing....tough topic....I know

Hello All,
Our boat is currently in a slip near Oriental, NC. This is our first potential winter that far north. My question has two parts....maybe three......would you just bite the bullet and move back to Florida, which is an option, with relatively cheap dockage for us, but still has the fuel and sundry costs of the move, but not free like Oriental.....(we are currently back home assisting a relative through hospice for terminal cancer)......or just winterize totally (or just to some degree?pun intended). We have a watermaker, washer, 400 gallons of fresh water to dump and winterize, two heads, two showers, galley sink, diesel raw water system, etc etc......sub question: how far do you have to go with the winterizing at that latitude or does the time/effort to do so make an alternate run south worth not needing to do it ?

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Old 17-10-2014, 06:15   #2
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

a. You barely need to winterize in Oriental. Blowing out with compressed air should do. But check with locals.

b. You don't winterize water tanks, EVER. You empty them.
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Old 18-10-2014, 15:04   #3
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

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a. You barely need to winterize in Oriental. Blowing out with compressed air should do. But check with locals.

b. You don't winterize water tanks, EVER. You empty them.

Regarding "B" I have read a few articles that say in addition to emptying (I was planning on that at a minimum) them you also need to add propylene glycol to the tank and pump it through the water pump and supply lines until it comes out of the fixtures......then allow it into the drains before closing the seacocks......


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Old 19-10-2014, 19:03   #4
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

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Originally Posted by motaman9 View Post
Regarding "B" I have read a few articles that say in addition to emptying (I was planning on that at a minimum) them you also need to add propylene glycol to the tank and pump it through the water pump and supply lines until it comes out of the fixtures......then allow it into the drains before closing the seacocks......


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I do this, in New England, but in NC would probably just empty the tank and blow some compressed air in the lines. The pink stuff is a pain to get rid of in the spring...takes forever for it to be truly gone. Up here we always seem to have at least one solid week of 10 degree weather in the winter. Every year I say I will plumb in a water heater bypass, and every year...I don't.
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Old 19-10-2014, 21:08   #5
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

Here in SE Alaska, If the boat is in the water--I drain all fresh water, and blowing the lines dry or the red antifreeze in the freshwater systems. My engine is raw water cooled as well, and I don't bother draining it down.

Other than that, I don't do much. Items below waterline are kept warm enough not to freeze by the seawater (at least until the temps get down around 10 degrees F). I also put a small electric heater set to around 40-45 degrees pointing at the engine. Open all lockers and bins for the air to flow and add a canister of damp-rid. Don't forget the blackwater systems! Then I'm good to go.

If it is on the hard though, that is a different story. All water other than that laced with antifreeze should be drained, including from the water lift muffler.
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Old 20-10-2014, 09:30   #6
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

If you have shore power I would more inclined to put in a safe heater and put it on those few times it will go below freezing, the heater will also keep it dryer.

If no power then I would winterize, many resources on the process, many different opinions as well.
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Old 20-10-2014, 18:01   #7
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

I'd ask a couple of local people on their opinion, they'll know how hard or soft the winters are better than anyone else.
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Old 23-10-2014, 19:39   #8
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Winterizing....tough topic....I know

I've reached out to a few locals who say they don't do much, but get slightly varying opinions on what "not much" is.....but the threat of the forecast colder winter has me concerned.

As for a heater....the downside to that is that when you need the heater most, like when the weather is the worst, you are the most likely to lose power so I hate to overly rely on a heater or heaters.

We do plan to leave her in the slip so we will have the water as a measure of protection....probably should have mentioned that initially.....




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Old 12-11-2014, 15:59   #9
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

Not knowing how to pose a specific question, I am jumping into this topic by asking the question : what should I do to keep my raw water from freezing? I have a boat that is in the water for the winter in Oregon. I have two yanmar 3ym20 engines with sail drives. Is there anything that I should do other than draining the raw water from the system? and, how is this done.
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Old 12-11-2014, 16:08   #10
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

Kept our boat in Whittaker Creek a couple of winters. Didn't bother winterizing anything but if you really want to be secure empty the FW system and run a bit of plumbing antifreeze through.
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Old 16-11-2014, 09:27   #11
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Re: Winterizing....tough topic....I know

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Originally Posted by vientoman View Post
Not knowing how to pose a specific question, I am jumping into this topic by asking the question : what should I do to keep my raw water from freezing? I have a boat that is in the water for the winter in Oregon. I have two yanmar 3ym20 engines with sail drives. Is there anything that I should do other than draining the raw water from the system? and, how is this done.

When I was researching Winterizing I remember running across an article that said to add propylene glycol to the reservoir where the raw water strainer was located in the line. If I recall correctly, you shut the seacock and add the antifreeze to that chamber and let it circulate into the raw water cooling system as the engine runs. You could probably double check that process on the Practical Sailor website to be sure I'm not mistaken. Hope that helps...


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