2004 SV211 ballast winterization

[211scott]

Hi, I have a 2004 SV211 and I’m trying to figure out how to winterize the ballast system. I have tried the fake a lake with a bucket of antifreeze with no luck. I even tried using a transfer pump with the fake a lake with no luck. It seems if it’s not completely primed, it’s most likely air bound and that’s why the fake a lake procedure wouldn’t work. I know I can pour antifreeze in the vent port and run the drain pump, but that doesn’t winterize the fill lines or pumps. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Scooter G]

Did you take a glance at this previous post 211scott?

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...-winterization

I'm a different circa boat, but I just run mine dry, any water left behind would be insignificant enough to allow for freeze expansion. I might pull the pump covers this year and hit them with a blast of air, maybe, but all was well last Spring on fire up.

[BasaltRMK]

I'm with Scooter G on this one. Different era boat for sure, but I just drain, drain, drain the ballasts, then store. I haven't ever used antifreeze in my ballast system, and have had no issues storing the boat inside but unheated in CO (I store it in Grand Junction, plenty of days in the low 20s, teens, and lower). Just my technique, your mileage may vary of course.

As an aside, I also do not use antifreeze with the engine winterization. I start and run the engine out of the water several times until no water comes out the exhaust. Then drain the strainer. Then pull the 3 quick-connect hoses (the 2020+ engines make this really easy), let them gravity drain, then pull out any remaining water with a mityvac. I store it this way, then replace the water pump impeller in the spring. I've never had any issues with this method; I know a lot of folks do use antifreeze and other techniques, and obviously different era engines have different length raw water circuits and different components in the raw water circuit. I'm curious to know if anyone thinks my method is inadequate. FYI - we do have a heater, but with the 2020+ (maybe others as well) the heater is not in the raw water circuit.

- bob

[Nick Heimer]

I have a 2005 SAN 210. My rear tanks are pulled, but for the center tank I've never added any antifreeze after similar struggles my first year owning the boat. I'm on year 8 with no issues storing it without climate control in MN and NE winters.