Camanos 31 Owner's Handbook Manual - page 25
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WINTERIZING
In the Pacific Northwest and South, cruising is a year-round activity. We are fortunate that only minor
adjustments have to be made to cope with most winters. If you plan to leave your boat in the water and
use it whenever the weather permits there are a few things we think you should do in order to keep
your boat in prime condition.
Year Round Boating
Generally speaking, there are only a few precautions you need to take to keep all the boat's systems
operative. If moored in colder climates while the boat is at dock it is a good idea to use electric heaters
to prevent freeze up. Simple 100 watt heaters can be placed under the forward end of the engine, the aft
end of the engine (with particular concern for the after cooler and transmission cooler), the head and
the galley (under the sink) leaving all of the doors open. It is also a good idea to place one of these
heaters near the water lift muffler (in a pinch light bulbs will do the job but they are not as efficient and
are far less reliable ) which usually has about 3 inches of water sitting in the bottom.
Whatever way you do it, make sure that unnecessary appliances are switched off before you leave the
boat. If, for example, you leave the hot water heater on it will cycle on and off, along with the heaters
you have installed, and if together these draw more power than the shore power circuitry can handle,
the breakers will shut down everything and you will be without any shore power.
Keep in mind that the foregoing is the minimum you should use in areas where it can go below
freezing. If you have ample and secure shore power you may wish to supplement your heaters with
thermostatically controlled electric heaters.
If your boat has an air conditioner, you may want to winterize that. Simply remove the water intake
hose from the strainer, and pour non-toxic (pink) antifreeze through it with the air running. The
antifreeze will be pumped through the system and out the thru- hull on the port side. Shut the system
down and reattach the hose to the strainer.
If your boat has a cockpit shower, it is a good idea to drain it for the winter (if in a colder climate)
while still leaving the rest of the domestic water system fully functional. Find a container to catch the
water you are about to drain and then disconnect the grey plastic pipes where they "T" into the pipes
under the galley sink. Have a helper open the taps at the shower while you hold the container to catch
the water that drains out of the shower system. Now close the stop valves that feed the "T" connection
and reattach the tubing. In the spring you need only open the stop valves and you are ready to go. If
you are in an area that regularly loses power during winter storms (or for reasons not readily obvious to
the untrained observer), you may wish to fully winterize your boat just to be on the safe side.
Winter on the Hard
If you plan to haul the boat for the winter and you will be around to keep an eye on it, you should be
able to maintain it in much the same fashion as when it was in the water. The main difference here is
that the boat will not be in the relatively warmer water when temperatures plunge. That being the case,
it is probably a good idea to drain the domestic water system, install the heaters as suggested above
and remember to check the boat frequently.