www.iFourWinns.com

I seriously dislike putting antifreeze in the main tank. The taste just never goes away.

Instead I put on a hose thread tee fitting just past that shut-off valve. I drain the tank, close the valve and attach a jug of antifreeze (westmarine kit) to the tee valve. I then close a bypass valve on the water heater, isolating it from the water system, and drain it.

I then use the freshwater pump to circulate the antifreeze. And once that's done I then hook up an air compressor to the shore water bib connection at the transom to blow the antifreeze out of the system. This way I'm pretty much guaranteed there won't be anything left to freeze, or leave too much of a nasty taste behind. Come spring I purge the system from the shore water bib, refill the tank and open the shut off.

If you have a separate pump you might be tempted to do this from the hose bib, but you'd still be leaving a bit in the line between the tank and the pump (and the pump itself). Thus I installed the tee ahead of the pump at the tank.

I also has shavings in my tank screen. But I think mine were from when I installed a new level sensor to replace the terribly unreliable Xintex unit. My screen caught them all, but you raise of good note of caution to everyone else. CHECK YOUR TANK SCREEN and pump to avoid having debris wreck it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

different strokes.... but we love the tast of AF (just kidding its horrible!!!). We do condition the tank each year with chlorine bleach. And we never drink the water. even brushing teeth we have bottled water. After the bleach we never taste/smell the AF though. Fine for showering, toilet and washing dishes.

We also replaced icemaker with new freezer (I will make a new POST in a week or so to show., we love it!!!)

Hey Bill, do you like your new tank sensor? if so what is it and how hard to install? Ours is worthless.

Guess I have to check my screen et al. Always something to do.

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2006 348 Vista
"Cruisin Home"
Hampton NH

I went with a dometic unit, three floats and a red/yellow/green indicator panel. I put it in the winter before last and it's worked nicely all that summer. I did adjust the high level float of the water tank a bit too high, so it won't read green (full) until it's REALLY full. That's about the only issue.

If I were doing it again and spending my own money (instead of the freebie the factory gave me) I'd be more inclined toward one of the external foil sensor kind. They're pricey but they eliminate the in-tank issues.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Cruisin: Your summary/sequence is correct. The leak from the housing was due to improper winterization. The low flow was due to blockage in the shutoff valve. We did have pressure last year but it took longer and longer for the pump to shut off as we got further into the season. I didn't recognize it as a problem last year.

You're right - it doesn't get too cold where I live in GA (which by the way took a direct hit from TS Beryl) but the boat is in Michigan.

I'm glad it's over too. Now I can move on to the next problem - why is there always water in the trough between the stringers in the engine compartment?

Thanx

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

I have had that problem with water. I really troubleshot it to be predominantly from rain leaking though rear fender locker. I sealed the doors to the fender locker and electrical connection locker with thick weatherstripping and now I almost get zero. I got the idea from a POST by Bill Kearney. I am going to install drains in those lockers this year when I get time that will connect to the drains from the swim platform compartments.

The bilge pump in the engine compartment sits up quite a bit thus allowing significant buildup until it reaches pump. I just cutout my icemaker and installed freezer, but forgot to shutoff icemaker water line. when I turned on water this year the compartment flooded and drained into bilge before i could find the issue. I use my dinghy handpump to evacuate the water between stringers.

Bill, did you also replace the waste tank indicator?

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2006 348 Vista
"Cruisin Home"
Hampton NH

Michigan explains it.

BTW Bill kearney's method is a great method for winterizing as well, and maybe be better suited if one is in fresh water and has any restrictions on overboard discharge.

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2006 348 Vista
"Cruisin Home"
Hampton NH

Yeah, tossing the antifreeze overboard is a waste and some areas might have restrictions on that. But if you're on waters that have those restrictions then you're probably already dealing with this via the gray water system, one would hope. For me it's either leave the antifreeze in the lines all winter, and dump it overboard come spring, or do it right at the start as a means to be 'sure' about the lines being clear of any liquids.

I also plan on putting in some transom locker drains. It's been on my list for a while. As they're pretty much the only way excess rain gets into the engine room bilge.

I've had water from time to time in the forward bilge. I've yet to fully determine it's source. I just recently discovered the galley porthole isn't closing tightly due to the center clamp screw having broken off. One more thing to fix...

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista