-> The room fell silent as Steve Medeiros whispered to All...  
 
 SM> Have a winterizing question regards to fresh water (drinking) system. 
 SM> I bought the non-poisonous (pink) antifreeze that is for RV's and  
 SM> marine water systems.  My instructor for "seamanship" course which I'm 
 SM> currently taking said NOT to put that stuff (or ANY antifreeze) in the 
 SM> water system.  He said it's been known to clock up the lines.  I  
 SM> called my boat dealer and the head mechanic told me that's a bunch of 
 SM> bull, and that YES, I should put the antifreeze in there after first  
 SM> draining as much water as I can.  
 SM> Anyone have any first-hand knowledge about this?  
 
I hope your instructor's knowledge of 'seamanship' is better than his 
knowledge about anti-freeze. Pink anti-freeze is fine for your water system. 
I have a recommendation though -- drain your water holding tank and your hot
water tank dry and do not put any anti-freeze in them. Simple draining will
prevent damage, and this way you won't have to put up with the bad taste for
two months next year. Let's see if I can dig up my bit on winterizing 
plumbing systems that I posted a couple of years back..... 
BOAT STORAGE 6
Plumbing Systems.
First, let your taps run to drain the main holding tank (don't forget to shut
off power to the hot water heater). Next, drain the hot water tank (small
drain cock at the bottom and lever vent at the top). Remove both water lines
from the tank and devise a method of connecting them together (using an elbow
from the tank etc). The reason for this will become clear later.
Now go to your pressure pump and holding tank (they will be close together).
If possible, remove the line that runs from the tank to the pump (at the tank
end). If the line is long enough, merely redirect the line into a jug (or
pot, or bowl) of plumbing anti-freeze. If it's not long enough, find a way
of making it so. Turn on the power to the pump and open only one cold water
tap until the system primes itself. Allow it to run until anti-freeze comes
out the tap. Shut off the tap and turn on the hot water tap until anti-
freeze appears (this will take slightly longer as the path is usually
longer). Repeat this procedure for every tap (hot and cold done separately)
and shower (and the toilet if it's part of the pressure system). Don't forget
about the ice maker in the fridge, the sink in the v-birth, or the shower 
or external tap on the stern of the boat. Make sure you keep your anti-
freeze supply above the hose end to prevent you having to reprime the system.
When you're done, turn the pump off and reconnect the line from the pump to
the tank -- job done (leave the hot water tank by-passed until spring). Now
you're probably asking why we haven't put any anti-freeze in the hot water
tank or the main water tank and the answer is simple -- we don't have to.
Both tanks are sufficiently drained such that they will not incur any
freezing damage, and by not filling them with anti-freeze, we don't have to
worry about tasting the stuff for the first month next year. Non-toxic or
not, the stuff tastes and smells awful. To start the system up in the spring,
merely fill the water tank with fresh water, open all taps one at a time to
clear the anti-freeze, then hook up the hot water tank hoses again. Now the
system is completely purged of all anti-freeze ensuring no lingering smell
or aftertaste. This method is not only quick, it's also the best way (by far)
to winterize your plumbing. Stay away from marinas who merely pour gallons
and gallons of anti-freeze into your holding tank. Not only will it get
diluted by any leftover water (and thus not adequately protect) but the taste
will linger forever in your water. My method will use less than 8 litres (2
gallons), where some marinas will use up to a case (or two) under their
method.
Since the toilet is usually supplied from a sea cock in the hull, we must
find and access it. Once found, undo the hose clamp and pull off the hose.
If you're still in the water, don't forget to close the seacock.  Place
the hose in the anti-freeze jug (engine anti-freeze works fine here and is
cheaper to use). Go to the toilet and operate the pump until you have sucked
out all the anti-freeze out of the jug and passed it to the holding tank
(which you hopefully had pumped out while it was still at the marina).
Reconnect the hose and you're done (leaving the sea cock closed if you're in
the water, open if you're not).
Regards,
          Dave Brown
          Brown's Marina
 
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