New Owner / Antifreeze in TY bilge?

[Mike Raehl]

Hi, I just realized a life long dream in purchasing a Typhoon Weekender, Hull #1958. Since this is my first sailboat, I'll have many questions about singlehanded rigging, hull maintenance, frozen seacocks, etc. For now, my first chore is to put her to bed for the winter. The on-line CD owner's manual mentions antireeze in the bilge, but I find no reference to this on the message board. Is antifreeze in the bilge necessary and how is it done. I'm not yet familiar with the internal structure of the boat. Roberta Jane II will winter in the yard in northern New Jersey and sail the Hudson River next spring.
Mike



mikeraehl@telocity.com

[Marino Curati]

Last year was my first winter with my Ty. I thought I was being clever by leaving the lazarettes partially open for better ventilation - I had a bad mildew problem at the time. At some point the tarp that came with the boat leaked in a bad way. The bilge and cabin sole under the cockpit was half full of ice. So then, in the middle of January, I was crouching in a frozen Typhoon throwing handfulls of "driveway heat" down into the bilge. As the ice melted, I removed the slush with a shop vac. This all could of been avoided by pouring a gallon of antifreeze down there. I was lucky though, the ice didn't cause any damage to the boat. It must have leaked in slowly, not freezing at one time. Needless to say, I bought a new tarp and keep the lazarettes closed.

Marino Curati
Ty #74 Snug
Cleveland

[Leo MacDonald]

Hi Mike,

First haul after purchase of 'Heather Ann' I installed a "Garboard Drain" at the very bottom aft end of the bilge area. Basically it's a threaded plug with a 1/2" square socket for installation and removal (use a 1/2" ratchet with a small extension.) After each haul out I remove the plug and place it in a can in the icebox. During the winter any accumulation of water will just drain out

Before launch (the "before" being important) put some Teflon tape and install the plug.

Use the search engine under "garboard drain" for additional background info.

Fair Winds,
Leo
(treading water in LI Sound)



macdore@aol.com

[JimL]

Being in the car business, we really struggle with handling antifreeze (and getting rid of it). The stuff is toxic, and can be deadly to small animals (cats will drink it because it's sweet, then it crystallizes in their kidneys). Some people develop allergies to the fumes from ethylene glycol.....I sure wouldn't want to sleep with the stuff. How about the non-toxic antifreeze used for winterizing RV water systems? I don't know much about it, but it's worth looking into. I know Camping World sells the stuff.

[Dave]

This is the process that I used this year. Take a hand pump and pump out all the water you can out of the bildge. If it doesn't reach extend it with a hose to reach the bottom. Then pore in your antifreeze. I used the RV 100degree, I'm not sure but I think it is better for the enviroment. The stuff is designed in really cold days to get a little slushy but won't freeze to burst pressure until you get to that 80 - 90 degrees below zero. Then in the spring use your pump again to despose of it properally.
As in reguards to adding the drain which I was told to do by the guy that survayed my boat, I wouldn't. Not that is a bad idea and I am sure that it works well, but I just don't like putting another hole below the water line. Hope this helps.

Dave
CD 25' R&R

Hi, I just realized a life long dream in purchasing a Typhoon Weekender, Hull #1958. Since this is my first sailboat, I'll have many questions about singlehanded rigging, hull maintenance, frozen seacocks, etc. For now, my first chore is to put her to bed for the winter. The on-line CD owner's manual mentions antireeze in the bilge, but I find no reference to this on the message board. Is antifreeze in the bilge necessary and how is it done. I'm not yet familiar with the internal structure of the boat. Roberta Jane II will winter in the yard in northern New Jersey and sail the Hudson River next spring.
Mike

ddsailot25@ureach.com

[Al Levesque]

...The on-line CD owner's manual mentions antireeze in the bilge

I have always known it to be standard practice. First remove all water then pour in a gallon of anti-freeze. Yes, non-toxic anti-freeze is the one to use.

In the days before shrinkwrap, boats often accumulated water over the storage period. Even if you were going to shrinkwrap, it is cheap insurance.



albertlevesque@cove.com

[Mike Wainfeld]

Mike-Just aft of the cabin floor is a ~4"X4" opening covered by a teak hatch with a finger hole. If you reach in with your arm you can pretty much feel the extent of the bilge. As noted in the other posts, pour an inch or two of the Marine/RV non-toxic antifreeze in. Some water may accumulate over the winter, even if covered by a tarp. Less or none with shrink wrap. Pump it out in the spring, sponge out the last few drops, and go sailing!

Mike Wainfeld(still in the water but not for much longer)
CD Typhoon "Regalo"



wainfeld@optonline.net