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Fresh Water System - not there

Discussion in 'Ocean Yacht' started by Pamela005, Sep 30, 2018.

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  1. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    On most boats the supply line has a T or Y on the intake line and a hose goes to each pump, generally each pump has a shutoff valve at the pump. The same on the output side, shutoff valve and a Y or T into the discharge line. The pumps should have check valve and not allow either to backflow and I've seen them installed with no shut off valves at each side, but the shut off valves are extra insurance. Generally a 240 Volt pump has more flow than most DC pumps and is the preferred pump if you have 240 volts (or 120 AC) available.
  2. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    In all due respect, I would not have an A/C pump. You don't need it. You can hook up to the dockside water while in your slip, then use the 12volt pump while underway or a anchor. The more pumps and motors you have on a boat, the more problems you create. And always remember! Turn off you dockside water when you leave the boat for the day or longer. I've see a boat or two sink at the dock from a broken water line and the dock water just fill up the boat....
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    You should install manual valve before and after each pump so one can be removed for repair if necessary. And you use check valves so all it takes is turning breakers on or off to turn them in
  4. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    On a customers boat a while back, we installed ac and dc pumps in parallel with each other. Shruflow makes matching ac and dc pumps at around 6gpm. Using C-tech plumbing and pressin fittings the job was neat and compact.
    I'll be on that boat later today, I'll get a pic.

    Usally boats have 3/8" water lines and it's hard to get more than 6gpm to flow thru them.
    Oh, the bigger the accumulator, the better. If you can T in one on the cold pressure line anywhere, you will like it.
  5. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Two issues... the risk of flooding if you forget to turn off the water but also here in south Florida you don’t want water that’s been cooking in the hose in the sun flowing thru your system.

    And using the tank means the water gets refreshed, with fresh chlorinated city water killing bugs. I have connected to dock water in 10 or 15 years
  6. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    My AC pump sure makes a difference in shower comfort and the DC is nice when you don't want to run the genny. It's all about what you prefer. But no pump just doesn't make sense to me. The only real time that I use my dock side water is to run the pink stuff thru for the winter. I have 240 gallons of on board water and like to turn that over regularly.
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Were full time live aboards. Laundry (I'm a slob) is heavy and run weekly.
    Josie has got into the habit when she runs the laundry, she turns the dock water off and useses the onboard potable water. Within a few days, the aft deck gets hosed off from me (Da Slob) and all guest that step up from a working boat yard (Huckins). Then when all clean, she floods the potable tanks awaiting next laundry service.
    We sometimes take a night ride up river, drop a hook and vege with out warning.
    Nice to always have fresh water onboard when we do bug out. Not a woo to me, when we bug out, I'm not drinking water but da boss is very happy.
  8. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    Capt Ralph , I had to read that over a few times to get what you were saying...sounding like a Southern Tug boat captain giving a security call on channel 13 , Lol... "what did he say?''

    Anyway I have to admit, we had a hot wet summer in CM and I did accumulate a load of "skank and junk" in my white dockside water hose. It was nasty, a first time for me. Never had growth in my water hose before. Think I need to drain it when I leave for the week. Good points on using the water from the holding tank. Giving my experience from this summer I will have to change things up a bit.
  9. Pamela005

    Pamela005 New Member

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    Thank you all for great thoughts and ideas. I am sure I will be installing a DC pump first, old sailboat life here. I am thinking of the AC and DC pump plumbing should look, it is where will it be installed. Part of this is how to make sure the few milliliters of water trapped in the plumbing are clean before switching in pumps.
    I did find the receipt from the technician I hired when he installed a freshwater pump almost twenty years ago. He also installed separate wiring. The original pump was AC. I need to find out what he installed.
  10. sgawiser

    sgawiser New Member

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    Jupiter, FL
    If you attach dock water, you should seriously consider a automatic shutoff on the hose which will only allow a certain amount of water before it needs to reset. These are usually used for controlling sprinkler hoses but can save your bacon if you end up with a fresh water leak in the boat.
  11. bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    Always disconnect the hose when leaving the boat.
  12. Pamela005

    Pamela005 New Member

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    Great ideas for having a dock water hosed attached. It is not something I like! Although I would like to install a standard dock water inlet system, this is only temporary until I get the rest of the system installed. Right now I am prepping to get a DC water pump, you never know when you are thirsty with the engines not running, and also putting in a freshwater pump. I like the concept of having both available. But DC pump is first. Y'all are great for your ideas and help.