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Hi everyone, so far the information I have received from this forum has been extremely helpful. We are very lucky to have a bunch of boaters (some with lot's of experience and others with very little) who are very willing to help out with information, direction and instructions.....thx to all.

My question today is I am winterizing my fresh water system on my V358 and I have heard that the smart way of doing this is to install a bypass hose at the water heater......can someone be a little more specific with this one.
I looked at my heater and I have 2 rubber hoses coming from the engine and 2 flexible mesh/metal hoses which appear to be the inlet for cold water and the other outlet for hot water. This may sound very inexperienced to most but it is the first time doing this and I want to make sure I don't screw up.
Which of the 4 hoses do I use in this bypass.
And if it happens to be the mesh/metal type hoses what can I use to join them?

Thx again

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Denfor
Oakville, Ontario
Bronte Outer Harbour Marina
2009 V358 (Deb's Den)

The rubber hoses from the engine, don't touch them. You need something like this: http://search.defender.com/?expression=by+pass

What you are doing is saving 6 gal of A.F.(the pink stuff) by not letting in run into the water heater. Run the water tank dry or as much as you can. Add about 4 to 5 gals of AF, turn on your water pump, go to each sink and shower (I like starting with the head shower first, since it is the furthest). Now turn on one at a time the cold & than the hot until it turns pink.

On the hot water tank, open the drain, let all the water come out or what is left. When you install the by-pass, most of it will drain out. As peace of mind, I pour in about a pint of -100AF into the hot water inlet. Then blow air into it, (close the drain) so it drains out the outlet hose. I use -100, because it can be mixed 50/50 and still not freeze if the is any water left in the tank.

In the head, I clean the sump pump and add -100AF into that untill the pump turns on.

Just to add, I like leaving all the sinks open and removing the bypass. This lets out some of the AF so its not sitting in the pipes. Some boaters will blow the pipes out with air to remove it.

Great information Paul, thank you very much for your help.

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Denfor
Oakville, Ontario
Bronte Outer Harbour Marina
2009 V358 (Deb's Den)

DON'T fill your water tank with the pink stuff.

Buy this kit, and plumb it in before your fresh water pump but after your water tank. Just run your water tank dry and you'll be fine. This will keep you from having to flush all the pink out of your water tank...

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pump- ... B0006JJ588

And here is the permanent water heater bypass kit, with pics even...

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-35953-Supre ... 08-9519104

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Once again thx very much Firecadet your information is very helpful.

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Denfor
Oakville, Ontario
Bronte Outer Harbour Marina
2009 V358 (Deb's Den)

Denfor

What I forgot to mention too is, you need to do the head. If you have a vac-u-flush, you need to turn on your water pump and hold down the pedal to the head until the AF comes out. If you have the manual type head that sucks in sea water, the pump & lines need to be done too.

On the back of the bowl, remove the 1" hose. I use -100 AF for this, pour down the hose until full. Use the hand pump to suck it in, I do this twice & you should see it in the bowl. Take the supply hose off the pump (that goes to the sea strainer) and pour about 1 pint down. I like to blow air down the hose until I see AF in the strainer. I have seen, depending how the hose was laid out. low spots were the water pooled and split the hose over the winter.

Thx again Paul I appreciate all the tips I can get.

I assume that since I have the vacuflush system all I need to do is hold the pedal down until enough pink stuff has flowed through?

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Denfor
Oakville, Ontario
Bronte Outer Harbour Marina
2009 V358 (Deb's Den)

Yes! After the AF hits the bowl, let it run for 20 to 30 secs. You want the AF to push the water though the pump and out into the waste tank.

I do the "pump out" first, than winterize, not by choice. Since some water goes into the waste tank and I like to play it safe. I pour about 1 pint of -100 AF into the waste tank. Again, the -100 AF came be cut 50/50 (by the water in the tank) and still work.

That's a good tip, thx a lot.

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Denfor
Oakville, Ontario
Bronte Outer Harbour Marina
2009 V358 (Deb's Den)