Winterizing the A/C system

[pepmyster]

This is good read as per I will be doing mine soon an this boat is new to me.

[bud37]

Hans are those a press fit or screwed into the strainer? I don't believe the Algonquin strainers on my boat are threaded.
Bud don't you lose the prime once the caps are removed? I think if I did that the pump would simply run dry. Are you 'forcing' the water past the impeller of the pump to prime?
Thank guys.

I am not sure if you have the same setup with the newer boat, the problem is the unit is on the second floor.I close the thru hull and pull the hose off it and then open the strainer ( has a lid held on with wing nuts ), vac out all the water then fill to the top with anti freeze, put lid back on, hold up hose higher than the pump and insert a tall funnel into the hose and fill, once full start the pump, it will prime no problem and you continue to fill the funnel etc....takes two people and I am sure there are much easier ways, this just works for me.
The way the AC system is installed it can lose prime quite easily.it will back flow so be prepared...like I said before if you have a means of pumping the antifreeze, I believe going back thru the discharge from the outside of the boat would be OK.....

[denpooch]

My strainer may be improperly installed as I know that I lose the prime when I remove the strainer cap via wing nuts. On Tomschauer's recommendation video, the funnel system recommends a wet vac with reverse suction to force both air and then coolant into the system.
This may be the best route for me.
Bud, I am not able to prime via discharge, as I have tried this in the past, the idea of pumping antifreeze 'outside in' will not work with my set up.
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback.

[tomschauer]

I bought the seaflush last year. it is only some funnels and shop vac adapters but it saved me a lot of time. I winterized both a/c systems, generator, both engines and the freshwater systems in about two hours total.

[denpooch]

Thanks. I think that is the route that I will take.

[denpooch]

Hey folks. I am going with the Sea Flush system to winterize my A/C system. I spoke with the inventor/owner this morning and mentioned the issue I have with losing the prime when I remove the strainer cap. He forwarded me this video which explains how easy it is to winterize a 2 condenser system using sea flush.
Check it out: