www.iFourWinns.com

So I decided to try to take a hot shower on the boat the other day. Mind you, this boat was used when we got it. And I did not get the official Four Winns systems tour. I turn on the water and its rust color! It stays that color for a few secs then a foul stench came from the water. It was such a foul smell that I didnt continue with the shower. It did not smell like waste. I called my service guy and he said it may be actual rust or similar growing in the hot water heater. Fix? Run the hot hot water till its empty. Sound right?

My questions are:

Is the regular water input, the same as the hot water boiler input? Meaning do I only have one or two water holding tanks? I know I have a waste water holding tank.
Can the hot water system be cleaned with detergents?
Can water purifiers or filters be placed inline at all the outlets? SInks, showers, etc.

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2005 268 Vista

You have one fresh water holding tank and probably a fresh water input that bypasses the tank. The fresh water input can be used at the dock to save the water in your tank. Either water source feeds your cold water taps and the hot water heater.

Sound like some nasty water in the system. The general way to clean a mildly dirty system is with bleach. Fill your fresh water tank with clean water and bleach. The exact mixture escapes me but do a quick search and you should find it, along with more detailed instuctions. The run all the faucets and shower head, hot and cold until the bleach water reaches each one. Let this stand for a while. The bleach should kill everything and clean the system. Then fill the tank with clean water and flush out bleach and dirt.

I wouldn't use detergents. Just keep using bleach until it cleaned the tank. If you boat is older and or neglected you may have to do this more than once. You might just do the hot water to save time, especially if you need to repeat. I also use a small amount of bleach in my fresh water tank all the time. If you use clorinated city water, you might not need this.

You can always look at adding filters, but you really want to flush the heavy dirt out first. A lot of people filter water on the way into the tank or at feed to the ice maker. Usually it's not necessary to filter wash water (shower toilet, bath sink) but just places were you get drinking water. Or you could add a whole boat filter after the tank. Search here or other boat forums, lots of discussions.

Remember, don't turn on your water heater if there is no water in it. I'd turn it off until done the whole cleaning process. The coils will burn out if the are not covered in water.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

When I sanitize the RV or boat fresh water system, I use approx 1 tablespoon bleach to a gallon water. As mentioned above let it set in system for a while, if its very dirty, let it sit for a day.
As far as water heater, fill and then open drain right on the water heater a few times to get crud out of it before sending anymore throughout system.

I put a PUR filter on the galley sink, but still refuse to drink it. bottled water, canned beer for me.

We have never used the shower in the head, we have a hot water shower that uses lake water and goes through motor to warm. But thats just us. Unlimited supply of good water and we dont have to carry it!!!

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I tried to find a thread by Capt'Morgan where he gave some solid advice on using bleach to sanitize just as powellcrazy suggested using bleach but couldn't find it. He made 2 good points that you should consider when u sanitize your system now.

1. Run the water after u drop your bleach in to make sure the water with bleach also sits in the lines and sanitizes those.
2. Leave the water w/ bleach in your lines for at least 8 but no more than 24 hours as the bleach could then begin to eat at the lines.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

captwalt covered it. But here is the thread. FWIW.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3350

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

You guys rock! I will try this today.

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2005 268 Vista