carver 360 aft deck drain winterization

[blue_nova]

Last winter I had a leak develop in one of the aft deck drain ballcocks. The crack was at the top of the valve. (Why this couldn't have been a simple scupper)

This time around we got some antifreeze down the drain but I plan to add some heat tape to the valve body. Any better way to protect these valves?

In the spring I guess we'll have to replace them.I patched the leak with some epoxy putty and a hose clamp. And the bilge has been dry all summer.

Anyone see any issue with disconnecting the
drain hoses? and allowing any water to simply run into the bilge. The boat is kept under cover all winter.

Thanks

 

[Unknown]

I'm not an expert on that model, but I would simply caution to make sure that there is an unobstructed path for the water to get from wherever it spills into the bilge out through the bilge drain. Don't take it for granted that it will get there. I've had problems on both my bigger boats whereby even with the bilge drain plug out an ice dam can form in there and before you know it you've got a big iceberg in your bilge! Kinda sucks to have that much ice where it doesn't belong...