winterizing raritan icemaker

B

booboo

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Feb 21, 2005
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16369
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I am winterizing my boat. I have a raritan "icerette" icemaker and IN BIG LETTERS on the icemaker assembly it says not to use ANY type of antifreeze to winterize the unit. it says to disconnect the water line and let unit run for 1 hour. I can't reach the waterline to disconnect it (thanks silverton). I am told by several people that have the same unit that they just run pink through it and that is that. I did the same based on their suggestion. I noticed that I cannot make cubes that are pink because it wont freeze with the pink in it. so it seems to not be able to eject the pink and just seems to cycle without the ability to eject liquid pink. am I in trouble here? In the spring, how do I restart it and get the pink out of the tray to allow a freeze?
 
Being from Long Island, New York, I too winterize my Ice Maker/Freezer. In the spring all you are required to do is let it run itself free of the “Pink” antifreeze. It might take a tray or two? Good luck.
 
For years we ran pink through our ice maker until the cubes came out very pink & slushy. In the spring we would through out the first tow bins of ice, install the water filter and then taste test the ice.

You can't reach the water line by pulling the front grill and reaching up under the unit?
 
It says not to use anti-freeze of any kind in it, for a good reason. The glycol in the anti-freeze (note: ALL anti-freeze, regardless of whether it is the RV type or the automotive type, has glycol in it) attacks the epoxy lining of the ice mold, softening it up, and eventually destroying it. It may tank more than one winter, but over time it will ruin the ice mold.

Then, you'll notice chunks of rubbery-looking stuff inside your ice cubes, and eventually, aluminum particles from the actual ice mold will be in the ice. At that point, the mold is ruined and should not be used any longer. Plus, the ingestion of aluminum is a suspected cause of Alzheimer's Disease.

Always follow the directions in the Owner's Manual. It may not be readily apparent why something is recommended or why it is discouraged, but there IS a reason for it.

If you have difficulty accessing the water supply line to the icemaker, now that the boat is being winterized, would be a good time to re-route the plumbing, so that you will have decent access to it from now on.
 
Now that the pink is in the tray, cant I assume it has been adequately winterized and wipe the pink up out of the tray to prevent damage?
 
Blow it out with air!
I did it last year and it worked fine, no issues.
 
Vic has it right. On our first boat, a '93 Sea Ray, there were no stickers or instructions about not using pink, and the marina also winterized ice makers using the antifreeze. After about 5 years, what Vic talks about, happened. Our replacement ice maker had a sticker, about no pink stuff, and we did just drain it.
 
X2 with the compressed air.

Easy way is to use pink, incorrect way is to use pink.
 
Vic;

No BS here. I have heard of boaters winterizing the fresh water system with a gallon of cheap vodka. Any problems with the seals et.al. getting compromised by the alcohol?
 
I've had lots of calls through the years about doing the winterizing with cheap vodka. I think you'd need more than a gallon, however. Some people claim to have done it for years with no ill-effects - or so they say.

But quite honestly, unless you're a bootlegger, I can't see where it would be cost-effective. Plus over time, I'd think the alcohol would attack the rubber seals in the pumps, valves, etc.

If it were I, I wouldn't do it.
 
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