Pink Stuff

With our boat out of the water it was time to winterize the engines, air conditioning and water system. This is never a pleasant task but this year, because the weather was good, it went quite smoothly if one could call running up and down a step ladder about 100 times, smooth.

Last weekend, we dismantled the bridge enclosure. For us that's 11 individual sections, each one zippered on both sides with a clear plastic window on top and Sunbrella (or whatever this material is) on the bottom.  This year, we also removed the Bimini top itself, which also uses zippers to secure it to the stainless steel frame. The zippers on the top looked as though they hadn't been moved on years but surprisingly, each zipper opened and we were able to remove the Bimini top without too much effort.

The 11 side curtains and the top went home with us, where we hung them from our back fence and thoroughly hosed both sides of each piece. We then applied Plexus Plastic Cleaner Protectant & Polish to both sides of each of the window sections. (We have to thank Karen at Portland Riverside for suggesting this stuff.)

 Plexus produced some amazing results. Discoloration and dirt that we didn't know was there came off, leaving each window section looking like new. Plexus isn't magic. You spray a little on the plastic window section and then use a clean cloth to distribute it, taking off dirt as you do.  Then using a separate cloth (not a paper towel), you buff the surface.  We found that after doing two plastic windows, both cloths were too dirty or saturated to re-use. So, before you try Plexus, have a lot of old towels available.

This Saturday, we began the winterization process by buying 10 gallons of pink, potable anti-freeze from the marina store at Portland Riverside. The engines were done first. Our engines have a T-fitting installed just after the seacock and before the sea water pump on each engine. Years ago we made up a 5-gallon bucket with a shut-off valve in the bottom. A piece of flexible hose connects the contents of the bucket to the T-fitting on the engine. Doing this alone takes some prior planning. Connect the bucket outlet to the engine water intake, valve closed. Pour in four gallons of antifreeze. Make sure you have a supply of Marvel Mystery Oil to pour into the carb, just as the last of the anti-freeze is sucked into the engine. Open the valve on the anti-freeze bucket and then go very quickly into the cabin and start the engine.  Race back to the engine bay and watch the anti-freeze get sucked into the cooling system.  In our case, that took less than 45 seconds. Just before the last of the anti-freeze disappears from the bucket, we squirted a liberal amount of Marvel Mystery oil into the carb, stalling the engine.

For anyone who cares, our engines have heat exchangers, so this process is a little quicker and easier.

On Sunday, we did the fresh water system and the air conditioning.  The air conditioner sucked up one gallon of anti-freeze and the fresh water system, including the hot water heater took another four gallons.  We also took off lots of stuff, like clothing and bedding.  There's nothing on the boat now that can freeze.

Now it's off to the list of things we'd like to accomplish over the winter. The top of the list is repacking the stuffing boxes and installing a new toilet and holding tank.