On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 22:32:38 -0400, "Ken Heaton"
wrote:



We usually do this by extending the thru hull hose with another short piece
of hose up into a 5 gallon bucket set in the cockpit. We then start the
engine and let the raw water pump move the water through. We keep the
bucket full by leaving the dock hose running into the bucket, if it
overflows it just runs out the cockpit drains. No chance of
over-pressurising anything or damaging your raw water pump. As we live in
Canada and so have to winterise this system, we then throw some antifreeze
into the bucket and let that pump through until it starts to come out the
exhaust, shut it down and that's it for the season.

This is the recommended method. You can make it easier by putting a
Y-valve above the thru-hull, The hose on the Y can have a garden hose
end on it and can be looped above the waterline if you are paranoid.

An added, if emergency, benefit of this is that you can wrap some sort
of strainer (a piece of nylon mesh, whatever) on the end of this and
in an emergency can use this hose to drain your bilges using the
engine's water pump. It's not as motivated as a man with a bucket, but
it will go longer while you are dealing with getting the boat in
order.

R.