Winterization of a GW 370 Express

[itsaball]

My previous GW's have used groco sea strainers for the AC seawater pump and generator. I always had a flush cap made for the lid of the strainer that I used to flush and inject rv antifreeze. My latest boat has Marine Hardware (brand) Seasumm strainer and a flush type cap cannot be found anywhere. Short of going to the machine shop and making a threaded cap to fit so I can attach a garden hose I don't know the simplest way to winterized my systems. I tried holding a bottle over the strainer opening and pouring as I started the units but I spilled more than went in and furthermore the pumps lost prime as soon as they sucked air. Access through the sea strainer lid is the best way to access the systems. Anyone with an idea?

 

[glacierbaze]

What does the end of your flusher look like? It looks easy enough to remove the top cap, and use reducer bushings to step down to whatever size you might need to attach.

 

[DennisG01]

Quick thoughts...

If you wanted, an easy way to do the AC is to simply use a $10 hand pump and rubber hose - stick the rubber hose in a gallon of AF and jam the other end into the discharge thru-hull on the side of the boat. Pump it till you see pink flowing out the bottom of the boat (seacock open, of course).

Google for Sea Flush Strainer Adapter by Trac. It's basically an easier way to do what you tried - although a bit expensive - but it works.

Trac also makes those clear threaded caps with the hose adpater - although they seem to be only for Groco (as you likely already know). But maybe they'll fit?

Another option would be putting a T-fitting on the supply side - using the "T" section to adapt to a hose fitting.

 

[jsgoris]

My previous GW's have used groco sea strainers for the AC seawater pump and generator. I always had a flush cap made for the lid of the strainer that I used to flush and inject rv antifreeze. My latest boat has Marine Hardware (brand) Seasumm strainer and a flush type cap cannot be found anywhere. Short of going to the machine shop and making a threaded cap to fit so I can attach a garden hose I don't know the simplest way to winterized my systems. I tried holding a bottle over the strainer opening and pouring as I started the units but I spilled more than went in and furthermore the pumps lost prime as soon as they sucked air. Access through the sea strainer lid is the best way to access the systems. Anyone with an idea?

I would suggest that you take the hose off that goes to your different systems, figure out the inside diameter of the of the hose and get a reducer or whatever is needed to get the hose connection directly to the outbound hose. Of course you will need to drain your sea strainer or suck out the water with a shop vac. Don't forget to get the water our of your seacock and the hose that goes from the sea cock to the sea strainer. You can also take the hose off the sea cock and hook up your bucket/hose there and that will take care of the hose as well as the sea strainer. Don't forget the sea cock. I did once and paid to have a new one put in.

Best case is use a dowel rod or something to push in the sea cock to force the water out. Or just open the sea cock if the boat is lifted out of the water and that of course will drain it as well. Pour antifreeze into the top of the sea cock just to be sure once you get as much water as you can out.