Winterising

[shibbs]

what to do with fresh water systems? I have a large tank shower and sink with cold tap, no drain point no access to the tank under floor. should I add something or just pump it all out as best I can?

I drain my freshwater system and pump through with this...
http://www.baysidemarine.co.uk/starbrit ... Ap0D8P8HAQ
Pour it into the tank and just run it through the system until it comes out of each tap.
As for the engine, I service the engine and drive, just so it's not sat there in dirty oil for 6 months.
Run it up to temperature, and flush through from a big bucket with antifreeze, at the same time, time it so that it drains itself of fuel (so the carb is dry) and when it is about to stop I spray fogging oil into the carb.
This way, the carb is dry- no fuel to go off and go hard, blocking jets etc, the cylinders are coated with fog oil to hopefully top any corrosion within and the cooling system is left with anti corrosion anti freeze, stopping freezing and stops the whole system sitting getting attacked by moisture.
I put a couple of duvets over the engine to assist in keeping the temperature a little more steady and give it a good spray with something that's name has completely gone out of my head. Stops moisture sitting and causing rust. Has worked well so far.
A drop of fuel preserver in the tank although I try to use as much of the fuel as I can prior to winter with the plan of filling up to full with fresh fuel at the start of each year. (A painful start )
The rest of the boat is fully stripped out, everything that's removeable comes home. Anything that can be left open inside to improve air flow is and then the big cover goes on.
I place a few bags of moisture absorbent around the boat to assist but it generally gets aired every 2 or 3 weeks anyway.
Not saying it's correct or the only way but works for me so far.

[argonaut]

The coldest winter on record in 2011 saw a thin sheet of ice in Whitehaven Harbour that lasted a day. In 1962 during the Big Freeze there was ice a mile off the Kent shore. That's it. Sea temps range from 6 -10 deg C over winter in the UK. Never say never but we've had more meteor strikes in the UK than sea freezes. Winterization task 1 - build a concrete boat bunker

As mentioned we had the whole bay freeze ..... family picks on me walking out over the frozen froth of the waves .......... can't be sure of year, but mid 60's

Due to being on coast and South we get little snow or ice - I still would not go without anti-freeze in my car and winterizing my boat............. it's bout the one time it can go wrong.

To put a little perspective on this .... the original owners of my boat, on its first winter just put the boat into storage - the water in engine froze and cracked the block & the manifolds.
Whole engine had to be changed after only 17 Hrs use.
Luckily for me hey gave up boating after that ... I picked up boat with effectively zero Hrs on the engine, all new.

[mlines]

1963? I have pictures of me in the snow in Killay

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[argonaut]

My pictures are taken in front of the West Cross Inn.

[BruceK]

In 1963 my parents were still in puberty!

[argonaut]

That is the difference between faith & knowledge.
I know I have made it to this age .... you are just hoping you will

[BruceK]

given that my ticker is in a bad way I'm just hoping for a few more years, anything above is bonus. Mind you I'm not helping myself here. Took the boat out this weekend for a jolly. Anchoring overnight deliberately in F8's to to throw some bait out got the heart pumping with some vigor. My snubber line was humming at lower C under the strain and the anchor dragged every tide swing. Got back exhausted but revitalised. Only a few more weekends this season. Can't squander them