winterize wash and live well

[waterman]

coming in to first winter with this boat Do you have to winterize or run any type of antifreeze thru live well or salt water washdown ? If so whats the best way???????? thanks

[fichtion]

The livewell should self drain

the washdown, I just disconnect the hoses from each side of the pump and let the pump drain

I leave them off until the spring

[one4water]

I think most livewell systems will drain down and out the pickup as soon as you get the boat out of the water. If it has a check valve you may need to pull it to get it to run out. However it might not be a bad idea to pour some "antifreeze" down the tube until it comes out the bottom. This way if there is a loop or dip in the line that might hold water, it will be OK. I normally don't use anti freeze for that stuff. I will use windsheild washer fluid in any lines I can get to and I pour it in the hulls as well so it mixes with any water in there and gets run through teh bildge pumps. This way it both cleans and acts as an antifreeze. Water evaporates faster than it does so usually by the end of the winter, there is no water or even washer fluid left, just a little bit of blue residue that just washes right out the first time it gets wet in the spring. Been doing that on jets skiis for years and on the boat since I got it and so far no issues at all.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

I blow mine out with the air hose,,,,but most of the time It dont get that cold here.

[OReely]

Having never lived in the frozen tundra you guys call home I can't give you firsthand info but I have read several threads like this where people use RV potable water antifreeze in various systems.

I'm sure draining would be best but sometimes systems don't lend themselves to that procedure. The RV stuff sounds like a good second best.