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Shore water hook-up Cabo

Discussion in 'Cabo Yacht' started by Breckster, Dec 11, 2019.

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  1. Breckster

    Breckster Member

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    There appears to be no shore water hook-up on our "new to us" 40 Cabo Convertible.

    Looking at the water schematics for the boat, in the manual, it would appear that you could hook shore water up to the fresh water wash down faucet in the cockpit and pressurize everything while bypassing the fresh water pump? The manual states not to do so for high pressure reasons could damage internal pipes, but was wondering if a reducer installed on my hose leading to the boat would suffice? Seems odd that all water must go through the water tank when tied-up ashore. This would have us constantly filling the fresh water tank. (kind of annoying)

    thanks again for everyones "wisdom"

    Breck
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Déjà vu ??
    I think a thread like this was just opened last month.
    I recall, no.
    Idea is, your FW tank will never have old water in it. On a boat, MAY go bad in a hurry.

    I remember this issue on one of my past boats. Yes, A double female adapter to a FW hose bib in the cockpit supplied my 34 Pequod.
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I have NEVER hooked up a boat to dock water. Ever.

    I fill the tank instead. This guarantees the water tank is always clean, the pumps ready to go and a water leak will never flood the boat.
  4. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    The builder says don’t do it but you want someone here to tell you go ahead anyway?
  5. Breckster

    Breckster Member

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    no.. not asking for a member to give me a "go ahead" but thanks for "twisting" my question. Wondered, being my other boat (Bertram) as well as every other boat i've been on has such a dock side water hook-up . Thought perhaps "lawyers" overrule the engineering team?

    Guess i'll start filling the tank.. :)
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2019
  6. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Interesting to see how different the experiences and views can be.
    I've been using dock water connection for almost a quarter of a century, living aboard for several months every year, and I would never be without it.

    To answer the OP question, yes, you can hook the shore water hose to the boat FW circuit wherever more convenient, and you automatically get FW everywhere (boiler included), without using the pump.
    And yes, fitting a pressure reducer is indeed necessary.
    I keep mine at 2 bar (about 30 psi), which is more than enough even if the onboard pump reaches 2.5 bar.
    In fact, I turn it off when hooked up to shore supply.

    Oh, and for anyone concerned about the risk of flooding the boat, it's sufficient to fit one of these devices.
  7. alvareza

    alvareza Member

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    Agree with Pascal, though I do use the shore water hose connected to the cockpit wash down with a pressure reducer to quickly flush out antifreeze in the spring.
  8. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Nothing personal against Cabo, but I suspect that writing in the manual "don't do it for high pressure reasons" is easier and cheaper than fitting a dedicated dock connection, even if it takes neither rocket science nor very expensive bits, to make it bulletproof...
  9. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Wonderful device ... take a long shower while the washer is running or someone is also taking a shower and you got to go reset the thing with shampoo in your hair...
  10. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    THIS, I never hook up to dock water ever either. BUT, it is nice to have in case the freshwater pump goes bad. Anyways, On the Cabo, yes you can hook the hose to the cockpit washdown spicket.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Bringing up what we do on our ole Bertram; We are tied to the docks water service. We live a board.
    Laundry, showers, meals and more relies on fresh water.
    The OP had a previous Bertram and may have been spoiled to these same options.
    We also hold near 300 gallons of potable water on board and use up lots of this on laundry day. It's a routine we are into and helps us ensure fresh water in the tanks.
    We will also rinse the tanks a few times before any long deployments.
    In 15 years, never an issue.
    Ole Bertrams use real copper tubing, Solid brass pressure regulators, solid brass fittings, solid brass PF water outlets.
    Unlike newer boats with plastic or poly lines, fittings and hardware. I can see the good reason (excuse) not to tie some boats water to the dock.

    We did tell our customers to ensure the dock water cock is off when ever the dock water is not in use. Mostly CYA for our company but we had just a few Few Bert & Hatt owners.

    I have no idea what Cabo uses for plumbing. It may be a question for the insurance company if a direct connect option is cover-able.
    On my antique Pequod (all copper and real brass fittings & hardware), was not an issue 15 to 20 years ago.

    OTOH, our DCv water pump system (32Vdc FloJets) provides a taller shower pressure/flow than dockside water pressure.
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2019
  12. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Re-reading your OP. The manual says not to hook up directly??????
    Always follow the mfg and manual.
    There is a strong hint there, Your not in a Bertram any more.
  13. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    Not twisting anything. Personally I don't like the dock water hook up and I don’t use it for the reasons stated against using it in this thread. But people do.
  14. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    If a continuous water usage of 50 liters isn't enough for your needs, I have good news for you:
    it's sufficient to fit as many of the above devices as you want, in parallel, allowing up to 100, 150, 200 liters or whatever.
    And maybe there are also similar devices with a higher capacity in a single unit, I'm not sure.

    That aside, it isn't the first time that you comment a post of mine without having a clue about what you are talking about.
    Don't you like my avatar, or what?
    I said what I said based on 24 years experience using shore water hook-up, with zero problems whatsoever.
    If you don't trust what I'm saying, fine.
    But I can't see how totally unsubstantiated objections can add anything to the debate.
    Unsubstantiated by your own admission, by the way ("I have NEVER hooked up a boat to dock water. Ever.").
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2019
  15. Breckster

    Breckster Member

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    Thank you for all the replies.. it has made for a very interesting and entertaining read for me this morning :)

    I will say, our 33+ year old (great lakes fresh water used only 37 Bertram) that got used maybe??? 3 months year and stored in a heated building the rest of the season had a more "solid and damped feel". both boats defiantly have their pros and cons with the Cabo overall having many "improvements" that fit our family's need at present. Ironic, though i feel, that i am still comparing a "old boat" to a much newer one. Most obvious change: Man common rail over Detroit Diesel.. though I do miss the "sound" on start-up a little ;)

    Copy advise: proceed with caution if doing so and understand the ramifications if.. It confirmed my thoughts and i truly appreciate the insight and advise from all. Thanks again.
  16. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Pressure regulators fail over time as will flow restrictors due to numerous causes , calcification being just one. Connecting your million dollar plus investment to a shore side water supply with unlimited source flow just isn't prudent nor a good marine practice. You don't find nor see many late model production built vessels with factory installed shore side regulators and valving anymore due to the liability issues.
  17. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Correct, THAT is the reason why shore side connection is nowadays more rare: purely CYA-related.
    It only takes a pinch of salt and a few basic components, to design a bulletproof shore supply.
    Safety is pretty much an excuse, rather than a sound technical reason for not fitting it.

    Btw, there's no need for any flow-, just pressure-limiter.
    And even if I never had a pressure regulator failure myself, I do know of a boating mate who had to replace it once in his boat.
    But what he experienced was a safe failure, so to speak: it progressively reduced the pressure, regardless of any attempt to regulate it.
    So, eventually he had to replace that device, at a cost of 15 bucks or so...
  18. timvail

    timvail Senior Member

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    We also use dockside water utility when at the dock for a period of time. When leaving the boat for any period of time i take about 60 seconds to turn the gate valve off at the source and the gate valve on the boat water inlet valve. Been working fine for along time now on a few different boats.
  19. Breckster

    Breckster Member

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    we always turned water off, leading into boat and at the source, when leaving the boat unattended.
  20. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I prefer not to use a shore connect for fresh water. I have a connection intended just for this purpose and nothing in a manual saying not to do it. I just prefer not to in case a hose blows somewhere inside the boat in the fresh water system. If connected to shore and charged and a leak develops you have an endless supply of water pouring in to the boat. Sure, you can turn the shore supply off when the boat is unattended but I'm old and forget these things sometimes. Plus, I stay on the boat overnight many nights per year. I don't want to have to turn off the shore supply when I go to bed and turn it back on when I wake up before I can get in the shower. But I also acknowledge that having a 240 gal tank makes it quite a bit easier to stay on the tank and fill it when needed. Just my $.02 and I understand and appreciate that others prefer different practices for differing reasons.