winter in Sweden

[jonayuen]

Hello,

Like most other owners of smaller sailboats, we have taken up our Hallberg Mistress for the winter. I installed a Lavac earlier this summer, and while I have no qualms about the small amount of water in the holding tank freezing, I am a bit worried about the little water that remains in the Lavac. Is this anything that I should worry about? I could put some windshield washer concentrate in there so it wouldn't freeze... Or somehow pump it out.... Or leave it.... We can get down to -25 or so if it's a bad winter so it WILL freeze....

Jonathan

 

[heerenleed]

Hi Jonathan,
Don't use windshield washer stuff, it evaporates too quickly. Use normal car engine antifreeze. Take the inlet hose off the seacock, put the hose into a bucket of antifreeze and start pumping with the lid closed. Like this, the antifreeze will also get into the holding tank protecting it asgainst freezing. Reconnect the inlet hose when finished. Ready!

cheers

 

[SvenglishTommy]

Hi Victoria,

I always use the blue glykol, that is avaialable in all Swedish chandlers at this time of year, for anything that is likely to freeze. It is much more environmentally friendly than the green or red stuff.

 

[jenku]

Real environmentalists use vodka!

 

[gunnarsilins]

I keep my boat afloat in Stockholm and she have 2 Lavacs. I only pump the toilets vigorously with the lid open when winterizing. This way only a very small amount of water is left in the bowl and pump and can´t crack anything if and when it freezes. Otherwise just put some engine anti-freeze in the bowl and pump some strokes.

 

[jonayuen]

Hello All,

Sorry about the delay, but I'm travelling and internet access is so-so. I guess we will look for some antifreeze but not worry too much if we can't get it in. I've pumped out the Lavac as much as I could, and there isn't that much water left in the bowl.

Jonathan