Winterizing Bravo 3 with gravity feed system

tony1b2000

Active Member
Oct 10, 2007
243
Salem MA
Boat Info
Carver C37
Engines
Mercury Diesel 4.2 TDI, inboards
Just finished winterizing my boat. My bravos work fine with muffs and regular water pressure. But for some reason, when I slowly turn on the Camco gravity system and shut off the water, one of my Bravo's water pump does not like it, and seems to not pull the antifreeze in.

The pumps have been fine all season long. As i said, works fine with garden hose pressure.
Anyone else having problem with the Camco gravity winterizing system?

Just curious to see what others have been doing as there has got to be a better way!

Camco link:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-65...FVXN8WGRhCHsuYJfLtytNzF0b9ub_5yRoCANsQAvD_BwE
 
I have the same system. Works fine for me. I set it on the swim platform so there is enough gravity
 
You need to put that system high up so it develops head pressure, sometimes a few feet higher than the swim platform. I have found the better alternative is the 1/2hp sump pump with a hose to the muffs sitting in the bottom of a 10 gallon trough or 5 gallon bucket. Been using this system for a decade now. Use it in a small plastic kiddie pool placed under the drive and 10 gallons of antifreeze, it collects the discharge from the outdrive and pumps it back through. Can run as long as you want on this system.
 
It should work if, as mentioned, it's high enough. But if you don't first COMPLETELY drain the system (and physically check to see that everything has drained by removing fittings), you run a VERY real risk of freeze damage as you'd only have some type of "mix" of water and AF in there. Plus, you should really remove the t-stat for best results when using that jug thing. In Paul's case, he's circulating the AF long enough that the t-stat opens up.

Or... drain and check, then simply pour AF into the hoses at the t-stat housing. Done.
 
It should work if, as mentioned, it's high enough. But if you don't first COMPLETELY drain the system (and physically check to see that everything has drained by removing fittings), you run a VERY real risk of freeze damage as you'd only have some type of "mix" of water and AF in there. Plus, you should really remove the t-stat for best results when using that jug thing. In Paul's case, he's circulating the AF long enough that the t-stat opens up.

Or... drain and check, then simply pour AF into the hoses at the t-stat housing. Done.
Yep - ALWAYS drain first, no exceptions.
 
Yep, forgot to add that. I pull my blue plugs first to drain and clear any junk in there then replace them and start on water until up to temp then flip the switch to the pink stuff. BUT I keep our boat in an underground cave that stays at 55* all winter. I do it for the anti corrosive protection and just in case we get a cold spell after I bring it home at the end of March. We did have about 4" of snow on it this spring after we brought it home. But I let it run on the muffs about 20 minutes and made sure the hoses off the t-stat housing were all warm.

I may start doing the 'pour it in the hoses' trick though. The concensus seems to be that that is the safer way to do it? I do like the pool idea though too.

Come to think of it I have an old Shop-Vac that I was gonna throw out. Wonder if I could just keep the base part and dump A/F in it and dip the outdrive in there? Not sure if it would fit? Or maybe that bottom of a 55 gallon drum? I have one of those plastic ones here. Could probably get away with less A/F in it then?
 
Some good ideas!
I have a closed cooling system. So the engine system has antifreeze.
Its the raw water pump, oil cooler, power steering cooler I am worried about. I like the pool or pushing the pink with a bucket and sump pump for pressure idea!
 
Some good ideas!
I have a closed cooling system. So the engine system has antifreeze.
Its the raw water pump, oil cooler, power steering cooler I am worried about. I like the pool or pushing the pink with a bucket and sump pump for pressure idea!
The pump in a bucket is ideal for closed systems. 5 gallon AF and 60 seconds of running and you are finished. Did that on my 8.1 for 5 years while I had it. 1/4 hp is plenty for the pump, and can be had for $40ish.
 
t1.jpg
Thoughts on this pump with a garden hose attachment?
 
Last edited:

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