Rob, as I guess you're thinking, winterizing the water system is problematic in this boat with the optional washer/dryer because it blocks the water heater. On mine it pretty much blocks the manifold as well. Getting to the water heater either requires an ectomorph with very long arms who can fit himself over the top of the washer (after removing the cross-brace) or completely removing the washer; that is a full day or so job and not easy. I have tried to think about how to leverage the manifold but have never come up with anything. For the first few years I simply put in enough pink in the water tank to run it through the system. This will take 15 or so gallons because you have to fill the hot water tank for the pink to get to that side of the system. De-winterizing takes a while as well and my system developed a persistent smell I was convinced was from having to use so much pink. Without being able to reach the drain valve, flushing and cleaning the tank was not possible without the ectomorph or removing the washer.Guys, this is my first upcoming winter with the 390 MY. I have always winterized the fresh water systems and heads myself, but never had a boat with the manifold system. Any tips on winterizing the freshwater, or is it treated the same as any other system, basically ignoring the manifold and pumping the pink stuff though the entire system? Has anyone devised a good system for accessing the hot water tank easier? (i.e. an access port from up above under the settee in the salon?) Any thoughts appreciated!
Rob
Last year, I installed a new water heater with a stainless tank; no smells since. Here is the tank I used:
No more smell and the placement of the tank allows me to reach the drain valve by facing forward and putting my back against the after bulkhead . My first step in winterizing after running down the tank as much as possible has been to use compressed air at the shore water fitting to blow out the system. Now that I could reach the water heater drain, that is all I did last season. But, I did develop a leak on a water heater supply fitting; not sure if that was freeze expansion or they just came loose. So, just this past week I pulled the washer again and installed a standard winterizing bypass:
The bypass valve is placed such that I can reach it the same way as I do the water heater drain. I am hopeful that this year winterizing will only take a couple of gallons of pink. I will still blow out the system after draining the water heater, then flip the bypass valve and will run pink through from the shore water fitting.