Winterizing question

[pamacme]

Hi,

I have a 1977 V20. This is my first winter with the boat. The boat seems to hold water in the bow. I have it out of the water with the bow higher than the stern but didn't know if I should put some anti-freeze into the bilge.

Thanks,
Pam

[scook]

I’ve never done that but I usually drive around with the plug out and go up some steep hills to drain it out. This year, it sat out in the rain and I didn’t have a chance to do that, so I used my high lift jack (with the trailer wheels carefully blocked) and jacked the toung up pretty high.

[phatdaddy]

Sounds like the drain holes in the bulkheads are blocked. Does a 77 have a deck tank or gunnel tanks? The drain under the deck tank is usually the first place to check. With the bow higher, Hull should not be holding water.

[pamacme]

The boat has gunnel tanks. I guess I should flush some water down from the bow and see how much comes out the stern. I will wait until we will be having a couple warm days to be sure.

[Striper80]

If your hull is holding water eventually it will soak through the glass and into the wooden stringers. You’ll want to get it out of there ASAP.

[bradford]

An old vhf antennae run up the garboard drain will break loose any thing under the fuel tank if you can find the pvc pipe.