Going up to "winterize" today....

[brackish]

...which for me means pump out the water tank, drain the lines, dump the porta potty supply tank.  Boat stays in the water, available for winter sails by the "hardy".  Overnight lows in the low twenties by Sunday.  I keep a small t-stat controlled heater aboard set to come on only at freezing, but if we get any ice during the winter, the marina's power is unreliable, so drain it all down and carry water as needed for any winter sails.

[Salty19]

Sounds like a good plan. 

What about other maintenance items like hull scrubbing/inspection, engine tune-up/winterizing and  wax?

[brackish]

Sounds like a good plan. 

What about other maintenance items like hull scrubbing/inspection, engine tune-up/winterizing and  wax?

Despite winterizing, I'll be using the boat off and on all winter as it stays in the water.  Those items will be reserved for spring haulout before a road trip. 

[curtisv]

Brack,

Instead of just draining the water tank, I drain it and then add a half gallon of cheap vodka.  Add some, then pump out most of that to clear the lines of any water.  Do that once or twice and then add the rest of the bottle.  About the same price as the pink stuff.  Pumping the water tank out in the spring is optional.  We mostly use the tank water for rinsing dishes and glasses after cleaning with salt water and bring bottled water for drinking since we use the tank so rarely.

Anyone know the freezing point of vodka off hand?  Seems to be fine so far and we've hit at least -20 in the last few winters.  That might be pushing it but we don't have moonshine handy.

Curtis

[brackish]

Brack,

Instead of just draining the water tank, I drain it and then add a half gallon of cheap vodka.  Add some, then pump out most of that to clear the lines of any water.  Do that once or twice and then add the rest of the bottle.  About the same price as the pink stuff.  Pumping the water tank out in the spring is optional.  We mostly use the tank water for rinsing dishes and glasses after cleaning with salt water and bring bottled water for drinking since we use the tank so rarely.

Anyone know the freezing point of vodka off hand?  Seems to be fine so far and we've hit at least -20 in the last few winters.  That might be pushing it but we don't have moonshine handy.

Curtis

Curtis, considered that, but was just a little worried that the parts in the 2GPM pump I just added might not like the alcohol.  Don't know that it would or wouldn't but couldn't find a clear reference to it being safe so used a gallon of the pink stuff just in case.  Would prefer the vodka, disinfect the system while it is winterized.