does it all apply to me?

**Richie89** · 10-24-2012, 07:52 AM

hi guys, thanks for the help. for more information, i have A/C, a vacu-flush, holding tank, water heater, about everything. i keep the boat on a trailer inside a garage, but it's not heated and there's open doors so it's about the same temp inside as it is outside. i'm also near lake allatoona in marietta, so it does freeze, but when it does it's just for a matter of hours overnight usually, and just a handful of time per year usually.

**chuck1** · 10-24-2012, 11:39 AM

IMHO - You answered your question. "so it does freeze" heck of a lot cheaper to winterize all the systems then having to scramble to do it when it is going to be a hard freeze and have something bust. Have you thought about a bilge heater, if you plan to use the boat during the winter? Still would want to winterize the other systems (IMHO)

Originally Posted by Richie89

hi guys, thanks for the help. for more information, i have A/C, a vacu-flush, holding tank, water heater, about everything. i keep the boat on a trailer inside a garage, but it's not heated and there's open doors so it's about the same temp inside as it is outside. i'm also near lake allatoona in marietta, so it does freeze, but when it does it's just for a matter of hours overnight usually, and just a handful of time per year usually.

**ZZ13** · 10-24-2012, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Richie89

hi guys, thanks for the help. for more information, i have A/C, a vacu-flush, holding tank, water heater, about everything. i keep the boat on a trailer inside a garage, but it's not heated and there's open doors so it's about the same temp inside as it is outside. i'm also near lake allatoona in marietta, so it does freeze, but when it does it's just for a matter of hours overnight usually, and just a handful of time per year usually.

In your situation here is what I would do if it were my boat:

1. Drain the a/c line to clear it out until you use it again in the spring
2. pump out the holding tank to clear it out until you use it again in the spring
3. Blow out the water and drain lines and/or run antifreeze through them to winterize them until you use it again in the spring
4. Empty the hot water heater to clear it out until you use it in the spring
5. Pour a bunch of pink into the head and flush it - repeat a few times to winterize the vacu-flush water path (note: you could continue to use the head for #1, just keep a bottle of pink handy and use it to fill the toilet for flushing)
6. Drain the engine/exhaust system after every use (as I'd be using the boat on the nice days during the winter)

Since its a 240, no genny - right?

**Richie89** · 10-24-2012, 11:51 AM

thanks, gonna get started this afternoon. i might have some specific questions once i'm in there. i'm going to change the oil and filter, impeller, and outdrive oil while i'm at it. i at least know where to start with everything except the A/C. i don't even know how to get to it and even where the strainer is. any help on that?

**Richie89** · 10-24-2012, 11:54 AM

thanks bill. can u share with me any thoughts on draining the A/C lines. and i don't have an onboard genny, just a honda for the docks.

**ZZ13** · 10-24-2012, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Richie89

thanks bill. can u share with me any thoughts on draining the A/C lines. and i don't have an onboard genny, just a honda for the docks.

Not sure about the 240. But on my boat its in the bilge. There is a seacock with a black hose line running to a strainer. From the strainer another black hose goes to a cylindrical looking pump which has a white hose coming out the other end. The white hose is the line running to the a/c system, and has all the water in it. I just close the seacock, disconnect the hose between the pump and the strainer, at the strainer. Then I put my 1.5 gallon shop vac against the open end of the hose and blow out the water (or you could suck it out if you don't have a way to blow it out). I also use the shop vac to suck out water left in the strainer, in the line between the strainer and the seacock, and the seacock itself.

**ZZ13** · 10-24-2012, 12:13 PM

One other thing - if you are not going to use the boat at all in the winter then I'd go ahead and pull the t-stat hoses and fill the engine/exhaust passages with antifreeze for corrosion protection. Its not necessarily needed to prevent freezing (although it would dilute out an pockets of water that may not have drained), but it is recommended in the manual to keep internal corrosion down. Some of the climates have their boats winterized for up to 6 months or even more, so the anti-corrosion approach is very useful. For the warmer climates where you may go out now and then or only be out of the water for a few months, maybe not as critical.

**Richie89** · 10-24-2012, 03:46 PM

thanks so much. figured out the A/C, and drained the hot water heater and all those lines. it's actually going pretty easy. will finish up tomorrow. thanks again, all your info has been very helpful.

**Passtime207** · 10-24-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Richie89

thanks, gonna get started this afternoon. i might have some specific questions once i'm in there. i'm going to change the oil and filter, impeller, and outdrive oil while i'm at it. i at least know where to start with everything except the A/C. i don't even know how to get to it and even where the strainer is. any help on that?

Hay Richie89, Glad to hear you decided to winterize. That is how I got my boat. It lived on Lanier and the engine froze, when I say froze I mean everything water passes through split not cracked, split. I bought the boat, replaced the engine and I winterize it every year. Congadulations on you purchase.