Can't Winterize in California -bought 6 gallons of Vodka-never winterized before

[Maybe A Dancer]

We're loading the boat for transport tomorrow AM out of Marina Del Rey, CA bound for Punta Gorda, FL

1996 450DA with 3126 CATS

Today is December 27 and I just learned from the trucking company that they will be traveling through some cold weather - freezing temperatures.

I have been unable to find any pink water system antifreeze anywhere near Los Angeles - not West Marine, not even an RV store. It's like ice and eskimos.

So we scored six gallons of cheap vodka.

Will first dump the fresh water tank and make sure the waste tank is empty.

Will run the vodka/dye mixture through the system till it shows up in the faucets and run some down the P-traps into the sump.

Gonna pop the tops on the strainers, get some water out and pour a few shots in there

I've never EVER winterized before.

1. How much vodka do I need to run into both sides of the head system to insure no freezing of components or tank?

2. What about the raw water side of things? Saltwater coolers? Oil/trans coolers?

Likely will not experience a really hard freeze but who knows?

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS APPRECIATED AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AS WE LOAD IN THE AM

BEST !

RWS

 

[Golfman25]

As for the water systems, run them dry. Pour in the vodka and run them dry again. As long as their is room in the pipes for expansion, you should be ok.

Others will know more about the coolers. But again, I would drain, fill, and drain as much as I could out.

 

[techmitch]

Don't forget the lines and drains for the heads, ice makers, all of the sumps, bilge pumps and hoses, A/C pumps, hoses. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

 

[ttmott]

Hose bibs in anchor chain locker, transom, engine room. Swim Platform hand shower. Water pressure accumulator. Water heater thermal relief valve drain. Dock water pressure regulator. Is there a water filter on that boat?

 

[wyrman]

I bought my RV antifreeze this year from Home Depot.

 

[NorCalRobert]

Make sure the expensive parts are drained like after cooler, fuel oil cooler sea strainers air conditioner heat exchanger etc
My boat was also transported in the winter and had to do the same, I just drained & opened strainers, pulled a anode from after cooler & fuel/oil cooler to drain water then turned motor over to get water out of the seawater impeller pump

 

[JHornsby3]

Will Vodka work? I would be more inclined to use Everclear. And when you get it in the water, fill everything with cola or punch mix and have a party.

Personally I wouldn't haul that boat with Vodka in the system. My CDL A is worth more to me than that. It's a 0 (ZERO) tolerance on alcohol. And that will get a driver, at most a DUII. At least a 34 hour reset. And going through Texas, it would be a DUII and hand over the license. And areas around El Paso and north, they didn't like energy drinks in the cab.

 

[Strecker25]

the vodka plan is sound, especially if you run it dry again. You could also get a schraeder valve attachment for the dockside water and put a few psi in the system to purge it. disconnect the hot water heater and open the valve to drain

more importantly, how about the engines and generator? all 3 are very easy to winterize but take a fair amount to purge water from all the critical components. You're not sitting for 6 months in sub zero temps so you don't have to go crazy but I would suck up a few gallons of AF if at all possible. For reference, I use 7 gallons of -60 per main engine.

Or, since its coming from salt maybe the raw water side isn't at risk?

 

[Little Ducky]

Use an air compressor to blow the water out of your fresh water system.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

no access to air compressor

i believe i can handle the fresh water/drinking water side of things

concerned about the raw water side of CATS & Gen

RWS

 

[Brite Idea]

I second blow out or drain everything and you'll be fine. The raw water side of the engines and genny should have drains don't forget the muffler on the genny. Leave faucets and water heater drain open. The weather has been pretty mild so I don't think you'll have a problem. I have family in Texas and Georgia who constantly tell me how nice it is while I'm freezing.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

right now I'm thinking three 12v light bulbs on 3 trouble lights on alligator clips

thoughts?

RWS

 

[Spark600]

Shut all thru- hulls and cover all vents to keep the heat in the engine room.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

likely not a hard freeze on this trip

here's the current plan - in order"

red dye into the vodka

50%/50% vodka in bucket while we still have shore power- run through AC raw water side.

drain all fresh water

vodka in fresh water system

vodka in toilets

tape off engine room intake vents

three 12 volt trouble lights in engine room rigged into extension cords alligator clipped to the 2 separate battery banks (2 banks of two group 27)

run cords to cockpit floor

Driver will only plug in 12 volt lights as necessary

what have I missed?

RWS

 

[Strecker25]

likely not a hard freeze on this trip

here's the current plan - in order"

red dye into the vodka

50%/50% vodka in bucket while we still have shore power- run through AC raw water side.

drain all fresh water

vodka in fresh water system

vodka in toilets

tape off engine room intake vents

three 12 volt trouble lights in engine room rigged into extension cords alligator clipped to the 2 separate battery banks (2 banks of two group 27)

run cords to cockpit floor

Driver will only plug in 12 volt lights as necessary

what have I missed?

RWS

Most of the 3126 drains on its own with gravity. You could open the tops of the strainers to give any expansion a place to go. You could also pull the zinc on the bottom of the aftercooler and the zincs on the transmission cooler so water isn’t sealed in

That said, the above steps are probably overkill, your plan sounds reasonable and I’m sure the boat will quickly pass through the freezing temps.

 

[JamesT]

I can’t help with winterization, but I’ll meet you in Punta Gorda with a hundred olives and some martini glasses! Who’s in?

 

[Stee6043]

Will Vodka work? I would be more inclined to use Everclear. And when you get it in the water, fill everything with cola or punch mix and have a party.

Personally I wouldn't haul that boat with Vodka in the system. My CDL A is worth more to me than that. It's a 0 (ZERO) tolerance on alcohol. And that will get a driver, at most a DUII. At least a 34 hour reset. And going through Texas, it would be a DUII and hand over the license. And areas around El Paso and north, they didn't like energy drinks in the cab.

A DUI for simply hauling booze and/or open containers? You may want to double check that math...

 

[Stee6043]

I can’t help with winterization, but I’ll meet you in Punta Gorda with a hundred olives and some martini glasses! Who’s in?

I'll bring a shaker. And some folding chairs. IN!

 

[Sgrochow]

likely not a hard freeze on this trip

here's the current plan - in order"

red dye into the vodka

50%/50% vodka in bucket while we still have shore power- run through AC raw water side.

drain all fresh water

vodka in fresh water system

vodka in toilets

tape off engine room intake vents

three 12 volt trouble lights in engine room rigged into extension cords alligator clipped to the 2 separate battery banks (2 banks of two group 27)

run cords to cockpit floor

Driver will only plug in 12 volt lights as necessary

what have I missed?

RWS

If you have time maybe try to rent or buy a pile of heavy moving blankets from UHaul. Wrap the engines for extra insurance.

 

[JHornsby3]

A DUI for simply hauling booze and/or open containers? You may want to double check that math...

Nope! It's TRUE. Any alcohol in a truck is a DUII. Have a drink and climb in the sleeper, DUII. Have a bottle in the side compartment, DUII. Zero tolerance is zero tolerance. Went to a party at a buddies house. Had a few drinks. Going home I got stopped. I was lucky that all I got was a 34 hour reset. That was me driving my pickup and not company driving.