COLD WEATHER & WATER TANK & Barnacles

H

hank schneider

New member
Hey Folks
Brought my CC 23 back from the coast last week - Ran the water out before I started - probably some left in the tank - Temps expected to drop into the single digits in the NC mountains for the next few days. Tried to empty tank w/o luck - put a Quartz heater in the cabin to warm it up.

Is there a way to fully drain the tank??
Anything else to do to protect the water system?
Had baby barnacles on the bottom after 8 weeks in the H2O - they seem to scrape off w a plastic scraper -anything to do to refresh the gelcoat.

Thanks
Hank
Have got lots of good advice from you folks - even listened.
 
For the tank-

Add a gallon of non toxic RV antifreeze (the pink stuff) and the pump until pink comes out of the faucet.

Barnacles- once they dry out and harden, it will probably take something pretty aggresive to get the residue off.
 
Generally a small amount of water in the bottom of a water tank is not a problem with very low temps. If the water is in the lines, then you can have problems. On our 22, the hose from the tank went across the back of the cabin floor and we put a "T" into it, so it would drain into the "bilge" (cabin floor)--and that way we knew that all of the water was out of the line.

If you got all of the barnacles off; good. But if there is still some of the base left, then consider using muriatic acid to wash down the hull. Be sure and wear protective clothing, goggles and heavy gloves; this is hydrochloric acid and will cause burns.

To restore the gel coat, consider using 3M Finesse-It II, After it is polished then put on several coats of Collinite paste fleet wax. I would be sure that it is well waxed before putting in the water for any long time--and I would take a terry cloth rag and wipe the bottom down every week to prevent any growth, even in a low fouling area.
 
My advice is to drain what comes out easily from the water system and forget the rest. I used to do the RV antifreeze thing, but found it is unnecessary. And it was -42F here this morning.
Al
 
Re water, it is my opinion that the water tank exists for trips away from the ramp of more than overnight. I have the pink stuff in there year round up to when I take a trip and then upon getting home, drain the tank and add the pink again.
We save clear OJ plastic 1/2 gallon bottles fill them and freeze them and use them for ice, as they melt you get water for cleaning and washing. We take a liter of water for drinking and have a few smaller bottles with our back up food.
Also, when using that acid on the hull, set up a fan behind you when you are under the boat, aim it at your head and switch it on high. You want all those vapors to go the other way.
 
MOOSE":24tiskst said:
My advice is to drain what comes out easily from the water system and forget the rest. I used to do the RV antifreeze thing, but found it is unnecessary. And it was -42F here this morning.
Al
Click to expand...

Hank,

Draining the water system may be ok, if all the water lines drain to the lowest opening and there are NO LOW spots or SAGS in the lines. Any water trapped in pipes WILL freeze and burst the pipe. I agree a little water left in the tank can not expand enough to cause a problem, as long as it does not find it's way back into a line.
If you don't want to use the "pink antifreeze", use a air compressor. Open the faucets one at a time, and blow out the lines until no water is present. If you have a hot water tank, drain it first, close the drain while blowing out the hot water lines, then leave the drain open.

Gary
 
things look OK so far - I'm on it tomorrow to see if there is any damage - I'll get some pink stuff - is ther a problem with fluids in the motor or does it drain out.
Thanks again Folks
Hank
 
Hi Hank,
What I do is lower the engine if it is on the trailer to the lowest point and most of the water will drain out.
On the water tank I take a clear 5/16 hose and put it over the falset and run the hose out the window down below the floor of the boat, and hit the pump a little and the water will siftle out of the tank. when it quits running I will hit the foot pump to see if any is left in it, if it does not pump then most of the water is out.
Jim
 
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