I've learned the hard way.
Remember that home made water cooled AC unit I made for the Starwind? Every
Spring I had to crimp and braze all the burst copper tubing. I never got
around to winterizing but I got good at repairing. This time I'm being
proactive!
Scout - "things I did not learn at once, I learned by doing twice"


"Scotty" wrote in message
...
Oh, it's for *last* Winter.

SV

"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
I'm a bit slow!
Scout

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
Why are you Winterizing now, it's still Fall?


--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_


"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
"Jeff" wrote in message
...
Scout wrote:
Anyone familiar with PEXtite systems?
After getting a close up look at my plumbing, I'm
considering some
changes and mods, like a bypass on the hot water
heater
for winterizing
purposes.
Looks like it's easy to work with. Just need to
find a
local supplier.
Scout

My boat was built with the Whale "System 15"
throughout.
I think its
similar, except that the fittings are a slightly
different size (15 mm?).
For a while, I had trouble getting parts, then, once
I
was fully stocked,
West start to carry two different brands.

Its actually rather nice to be able disconnect and
re-connect quickly. For
winterizing, I disconnect the main delivery, and blow
out the lines with a
dinghy pump or compressor. Then I disconnect a few
of
the low spots.
There are a few small issues. The connectors do wear
out with use, so in
the spring I usually have a little trouble getting it
all tight. Usually,
a little poking and tugging gets everything seated
well.
The hardest can
be the delivery from the tank where a small air leak
confuses the pump.

Another problem I had was that plastic fittings were
used to connect to
the water heater, and one of these failed within 6
months. A metal tail
must be used in this situation. Also, there were no
shutoffs - I added
one on the lone to the hot water heater so that any
leak
on that side
doesn't disable the cold water. Also, I added
shutoffs
to the cockpit
shower so that the lines "outside" of the heated part
of
the boat can be
shut down.

A downside, of course, is that the tube is only
semi-flexible and you have
to think about how to do runs. If need be, you can
mix
it with
traditional pipe.

Thanks Jeff,
I started winterizing today. Checked the engine
coolant,
reads good to -10
deg F.
Poured a gallon of RV anti-freeze in the toilet and
flushed it into the
tank. Pour a quart in the shower drain and sucked it
dry
with the pump.
Poured some in the ice box but the pump didn't suck it
out, may be a
blockage, i'll check that next time. Drained the hot
water
heater tank.
Tomorrow is another day, just as long as it doesn't get
below 32 tonight!
Scout