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 gasmanmd |
Washdown pump |
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Posts: 91 01/03/06 15:35:15 |
I am sure that one of the almost 1000 strong C42 owners has installed a washdown pump to handle the anchor locker and deck needs. I am looking at using a shurflo diaphragm pump mounted below the anchor locker and draw the water from the forward head inlet. Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated.
Thanks Scott MissAdventure C#123 |
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mfgrep3 |
Washdown pump | #1 | ||
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Posts: 14 01/03/06 16:55:46 |
I had our washdown pump installed last summer under the sink in the forward head also to the forward head inlet and it works great. As a added feature I took an old commerical dishwasher rack and cut it to fit down in the anchor locker and wrap it with an old dock line to give it some cushion on the sides. It works great for keeping the anclor line off the bottom of the locker and improves drainage. Would attach pictures but not sure how.
Mac Seas the Moment #853 |
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azure42 |
re: Washdown pump | #2 | ||
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Posts: 391 01/03/06 17:10:04 |
Scott,
I installed our's without too much trouble. I'd make one suggestion -- plumb your washdown system to use salt water and fresh water. I tapped into our forward 50 gallon tank for the fresh water. It's nice to rinse the salt crust off the boat and sails after a passage. I sometimes use sea water to wash the muck off the anchor rode as it comes aboard (although I confess, I'm usually too lazy to go down below to change the valves over and just use fresh water for that also). We have a water maker, but using too much fresh water for this was never an issue anyway while we cruised.....I was surprised by how little fresh water it took to make our decks and cockpit salt-free and not sticky. Washing the anchor rode was another matter -- that used up quite a bit of water. One other thing: use good quality fittings for your hose bib and on/off switch inside the anchor locker. Salt corrosion is inevitable and cheap fittings are eaten up fast. Rod Williams
Azure, #343, 2-cabin Alameda/San Francisco Bay, CA. |
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do335 |
Re: re: Washdown pump | #3 | ||
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Posts: 278 01/03/06 21:55:43 |
Make sure your pump has enough lift to bring water up from head inlet to deck and still have plenty of flow and pressure.
I'm not sure what is a minimum, but more is better. I mounted my pump on aft side of anchor well inside same compartment as windless, but near port side. Be sure all fittings are strong as this pump will fill boat if a fitting comes off and power is left on.  Steve 642-2f TESA
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garrywillis |
Re: re: Washdown pump - An Alternative | #4 | ||
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Posts: 368 01/03/06 23:39:37 Moderator |
Rather than install another system on my boat, I opted to simply go to my hardware store and purchase an adapter and 40' garden hose and use the transom shower for washdowns. I unscrew the shower head, and attach the hose and run it up the deck like that. Plenty of pressure. When not in use the hose coils nicely in the transom locker. No plumbing, no wiring, no potential leaks, no expensive pumps and no installation hassles.
Garry Willis "Breezn" #502
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CaptNorm42 |
Re: re: Washdown pump - An Alternative | #5 | ||
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Posts: 680 01/03/06 23:48:41 Moderator |
My install was almost as simple as Garry's. The stock water pressure pump has enough pressure for me. Here's a link to photo & text on my setup (look for the photo of my dinghy at the bow):
www.catalina42.org/craftsman.htm#hull600-2 ~~~~_/)~~~~
Norm Perron, Hull #600/2 cabin, Aphrodisiac, Marina del Rey, CA |
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azure42 |
re: Washdown pump | #6 | ||
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Posts: 391 01/04/06 07:46:35 |
Norm and Garry,
Good ideas for simplifying a washdown system....you guys do great stuff with C42's. One influence for Scott to consider, though, is the type of holding ground in his favorite anchorages and the possible need for a more powerful stream of water for cleaning the rode. There's a saying in our area, "One teaspoon of bottom mud can paint your whole boat". We regularly anchor in the unbelievably thick clay mud of S.F. Bay's Clipper Cove and Aquatic Park....muck that usually contains a large contingent of red worms up to one-foot long. After just one night in Clipper Cove I've pulled up our all-chain rode looking like a gray 3" OD fire hose and our 66 lbs. anchor like a huge round ball, they are so caked with clay. Once, in Aquatic Park, I found a crab packed inside the mud ball as I hosed off the anchor. Some of the other anchorages we love include generous clumps of seaweed with the mud, so that a boat pole/pitchfork attachment would come in handy along with our powerful washdown pump. Has anyone had any luck with the circular-brush-on-a-pole thing we've seen advertised for cleaning rodes? Photo of washdown hose on deck: pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r3333_99/detail?.dir=4fc0&.dnm=aa58.jpg&.src=ph By the way, the photo shows me using the windlass to haul my wife up the mast...piece of cake. Rod Williams
Azure, #343, 2-cabin Alameda/San Francisco Bay, CA. |
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gasmanmd |
Re: re: Washdown pump | #7 | ||
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Posts: 91 01/04/06 09:20:56 |
Rod: Not sure I am ever going to get my wife up the mast!
As to our mud, it is typical Chesapeake Bay "gunk". It doesn't sound as nasty as what you describe. It still makes sense to me to use the bay water for these wash-down tasks. What type of pump did you use, where is it located, how is it plumbed, is it switched in the anchor locker, where is the hose stored, etc.? We have 90 gals. of fresh water capacity. If we are out for a few days, this supply is used up fairly quickly by showers, cooking, dishes, etc. I would prefer to save the fresh water for these demands and draw from the bay for the deck cleaning needs. Thanks for your insights. Scott |
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azure42 |
re: Washdown pump | #8 | ||
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Posts: 391 01/04/06 09:53:17 |
Scott,
We mounted the pump under the pullman berth. The pump came already attached to a piece of Starboard with rubber vibration dampers on its feet, so I just screwed it in place on the hull stringer under the bunk (remove the drawers for easy access). Plumbed into the seawater intake from the head and into the water line from the forward fresh water tank, with appropriate valves to protect against any cross-pollution. The hose bib and the on/off switch are in the anchor locker, with power taken off the windlass wiring (when the pump is needed, the heavy windlass breaker switch must be flipped on. Never had any trouble when running the pump and windlass at the same time). I won't be on the boat for a few weeks -- going on a cruise ship to Mexico to warm up -- but I'll take photos of the whole set-up for you the next time I'm aboard. Sorry, right now I can't remember the specs of the pump, etc. If you don't want to plumb into your fresh water, Garry's solution is an excellent way for hosing off the salt in your cockpit to avoid that "sticky" touch on everything. Good luck with your installation. Rod Williams
Azure, #343, 2-cabin Alameda/San Francisco Bay, CA. |
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gasmanmd |
Re: re: Washdown pump | #9 | ||
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Posts: 91 01/04/06 10:11:56 |
Wear your sunscreen. It is freezing up here! My boat is "on the hard", so I have a few monthes to get these projects done. Look forward to your pics.
Scott |
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pdrimmer |
Re: re: Washdown pump | #10 | ||
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Posts: 203 01/04/06 10:17:10 |
I have a pullman. Also mounted a Groco unit on the frame of the drawers. Teed of the head inlet with a stopvalve supplied with the unit. This location keeps the distance to prime the pump very small. I ran wires from the windlass battery, put another switch and fuse next to the windlass breaker. I than ran a hose to the anchor locker with a fitting. A 7 foot piece of garden hose completes the installation.
While installation works great, I like Gary's solution better if you do not mind using fresh water. |
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thackston |
Anchor washdown | #11 | ||
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Posts: 19 01/04/06 14:18:19 |
I took a different approach. After seeing an article in the Mainsheet, 470 tech section, a while back, I installed a 110 volt pressure washer for my washdown. I run fresh water through it, which isn't as wasteful as it sounds, because this thing just sips water. But at 1500 psi, I can blast Chesapeake Bay mud to kingdom come; hose off the deck and sails with fresh water; and probably wash neighboring boats. You can run the unit off an inverter or generator. I mounted the pump under the front berth on our 2C Centerline. The included hose is about 40' long; I ran it through a small hole in the anchor locker. I store the (too long) wand and hose in the anchor locker. The unit can be purchased from Home Depot for about $70. I love it!
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azure42 |
re: Pressure washer | #12 | ||
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Posts: 391 01/05/06 11:25:54 |
Captain Thackston,
I think you've won the contest for best washdown system. Home Depot's web site has this: 1500 PSI Electric Pressue Washer, Model HD1500HSDS, Price: $119.00/ea Is this the model you have installed on your C42? pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r3333_99/detail?.dir=/502c&.dnm=4e8b.jpg&.src=ph Would it be possible for you to post a photo of your installation set-up? Is there a link to the Mainsheet article you mentioned? Rod Williams
Azure, #343, 2-cabin Alameda/San Francisco Bay, CA. |
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Dave Bolding |
Re: Washdown pump | #13 | ||
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Posts: 63 01/05/06 15:06:43 |
I will add my two cents, one thing you need to consider is if you connect 2 pumps in series you will double the pressure. If you connect pumps in paraellel you double the volume. Therefore, if you connect your supply to a wash down pump from your fresh water pump you will attain a higher pressure than the wash down pump alone.
Dave Bolding, #462/2 cabin, Main Squeeze, Ventura CA
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thackston |
Washdown pump | #14 | ||
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Posts: 19 01/06/06 00:27:32 |
I did use the Home Depot HD1500 pressure washer. It's currently $119 on their website, but I bought one (for use at home) over the recent Christmas holidays for $70 on sale. I wouldn't get too concerned about a particular model. Any compact unit, such as the Karcher model 2.45 should also work just fine. If you use the Home Depot HSDS 1500, you won't need the hose reel, wall shelf, etc.
I will try to post some pictures later, but installation was pretty simple. I made a simple mounting cradle out of pressure treated wood and mounted the pump under the forward hanging locker on our 2C Centerline. Drilled a 1/2" hole into the upper part of the anchor locker and ran the hose through (had to cut the hose and reassemble with a barb). Also mounted a waterproof toggle switch in the upper anchor locker to turn the pump on and off. The Mainsheet article was in the May 2003 issue, on page T1. |
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tinolanza |
Re: Washdown pump | #15 | ||
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Posts: 242 01/07/06 08:26:02 |
To Dave's comment on pressure, the fresh water pressure aboard is lower than normal house pressure. Most homes have an inlet water pressure of about 40 psi. Here in CA the pressure off the water main is about 90 psi to accomodate hills and water sprinklers. I have a pressure regulator to keep my house water at 35 psi.
Secondly, pressure washers such as the Karcher model I own has a pressure switch which turns the pump on and off and regulates its speed to keep the outlet pressure fairly constant at the rated PSI. There should be no problem using a pressure washer onboard. This sounds like a real good solution to me for a washdown pump. Tino Lanza, Dancing Dolphin (#739/3 cabin pullman, Westlake Village, CA)
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Dave Bolding |
Re: Washdown pump | #16 | ||
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Posts: 63 01/07/06 11:34:03 |
Tino, my comment was for those thinking of adding a wash down pump not a pressure washer. By adding a wash down pump in series to your exisiting house pressure your result will be higher pressure than the wash down pump alone. I hope this clears my two cents.
Dave Bolding, #462/2 cabin, Main Squeeze, Ventura CA
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azure42 |
RE: hoses | #17 | ||
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Posts: 391 01/08/06 09:14:56 |
Tino, you've gotta trust Dave on this one! There are only two things firefighters have to know: how to get water out of a hose, and that payday is on Friday.
Dave, how are you and Donna? It's good to hear you again! I wish I would have talked to you before I laid out my washdown system. Now, rather than retrofit, I'm seriously considering the power washer idea. Rod Williams
Azure, #343, 2-cabin Alameda/San Francisco Bay, CA. |
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tinolanza |
Re: RE: hoses | #18 | ||
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Posts: 242 01/09/06 09:05:01 |
Sorry, I misread your reply Dave. Pressure washers regulate the outlet pressure but a washdown pump will simply continue to boost the pressure. Agree.
Tino Lanza, Dancing Dolphin (#739/3 cabin pullman, Westlake Village, CA)
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tinolanza |
Re: RE: hoses | #19 | ||
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Posts: 242 01/10/06 09:40:21 |
I read through the specs on the Shurflo products and they have a pressure switch that regulates outlet pressure between 25 and 45 PSI. If using this washdown pump, you will not have an additive effect on the outlet pressure much like a pressure washer. However, you may cause the pump to cycle too frequently (on and off in rapid cycles of less than 2 seconds) which the manufacturer says will cause damage to the pump.
Tino Lanza, Dancing Dolphin (#739/3 cabin pullman, Westlake Village, CA)
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gasmanmd |
Re: Washdown pump | #20 | ||
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Posts: 91 03/21/06 16:11:55 |
Good thread here. I have installed my pump and am ready to make the penetration into the anchor locker. Looking for advice on how to do it? My plan would be to locate the hose bib just below the cover on the left side. I would like to terminate it with a quick coupler to accept a variety of hose lengths. Pics and specs would be greatly appreciated.
Scott MissAdventure #123 |
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