"Winterizing" 58 LRC

[JD5652]

Unfortunately, my 58 LRC will be staying in Mystic, CT for the winter. I will take the time to do some needed maintenance, upgrades and repairs. I will be staying in the water and will shrink wrap down to the rub rail.

On my previous boat (1989 44 Ocean SS), I always stayed in the water in the winter and never winterized any system... including fresh water. I put 3-4 oil filled heaters on the boat and had the engine block heaters energized. This provided enough "heat soak" to keep everything from freezing and this method worked in the coldest of winters for 14 years. I had the grey plastic piping for fresh water on that boat.


I've done some research on this forum and noted that a lot of my fresh water system on the 58 LRC is likely copper piping/tubing.... which we all know is not very forgiving to freezing temperatures… and frankly gives me some serious concerns about developing possible leaks or breaks in the old copper piping.

I'm torn between using my old methods and having functioning water systems (head, shower, etc) and totally winterizing the fresh water system by either using an air compressor or using the pink stuff.

I've also thought about partially winterizing some of the fresh water lines like the aft deck wet bar, ice maker and cockpit washdown and leaving rest of system operational.

I'm totally open to suggestions and others experiences here.....

Thanks in advance!

[JD5652]

Separate Question... has anyone replaced the old copper tubing with Pex or similar product?

Is this a crazy idea??.... is there "tons" of copper piping on this vintage Hatt??

[MadHatter53]

I did a poor job last winter when I winterized my freshwater sys. The old copper burst in 7 spots so I redid entire sys with pex and sharkbite fittings. Then my waterheater was leaking so that was replaced as well. Then I also had to replace my VIP faucet which turned into a new sink and faucet. The pipe is cheap $50 a roll of blue and red, the fitting are not cheap. I'm not 100% finished and I'm at about $200+ worth of connectors.

[JD5652]

I did a poor job last winter when I winterized my freshwater sys. The old copper burst in 7 spots so I redid entire sys with pex and sharkbite fittings. Then my waterheater was leaking so that was replaced as well. Then I also had to replace my VIP faucet which turned into a new sink and faucet. The pipe is cheap $50 a roll of blue and red, the fitting are not cheap. I'm not 100% finished and I'm at about $200+ worth of connectors.

Madhatter-

How much time and how difficult running the Pex throughout the boat?

Did you create a main header and then make runs off that??…

Any pics?

Thanks!

[oscarvan]

I can't speak to the plumbing specifics of the Hatts.

Your statement "either compressed air or antifreeze" I will respond to.

Many, many years of messing with RV's and living in cold country I have learned (the hard way) to not rely on blowing out the lines alone. You never get it all, and some of it will settle back down, not to mention added condensation, in nooks and crannies where it can cause problems.

I blow out and then I use the pink until it comes out everywhere. Yeah, on a boat with three heads/showers that's a lot of pink. under $3 a gallon at Wallymart when on sale. On a boat instead of putting it in the tanks, which can be quite wasteful I run until empty, then I 3 way into the pump intake to send it down stream to all faucets etc, and then upstream to protect all the lines to (from) the tanks. You'll have to figure a way to verify that some of it is forming enough of a puddle in the bottom of the tank. Some clear line just before could help.

If you're going to do this more than once some mods to make it easier are in order. First time will take a while, next time shorter. I have my diesel pusher down to 20 minutes, in a rest area if needed.

Worth researching getting a bulk supply to park somewhere and fill 5 gallon cans with.

[MadHatter53]

Running the pipe was easy I removed the copper and put the pex where it was. Problem was all the 3 and 4 way couplers, they haven't been touched in some time and wouldn't budge so some of the copper feeding sinks and shower kinked while I was trying to undo them. I planned on just replacing the feeds and leave the connected piping in place and use adapters to make things fit.i used a four port manifolds to bring the piping together So,I have 4 sinks, 3 showers, hose bib on flybridge and a cold feed to bar in aft deck and a hookup for my windshield washer, clothes washer and dishwasher. I have a set of pipes going aft a set going thru gen room for galley and forward head& shower. Dishwasher, clothes washer, flybridge bib, aft sink and windshield washer is not finished. It took forever as my boating is on weekends. I used the push in connectors not the crimp type.