Pressurized water: a blessing or a curse?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

Shraeder valve (aka "tank valve"), four buxatoss from plumbing suppliers. And a bicycle pump.

Every cruiser should have one :-)

TP

For such a permanent installation, be sure to put a positive shut-off valve of some sort in all the vent lines for the tank. Needs to be leak free, or all your pumping is wasted.

And if your tank is very large, and the level is down a bit, a bicycle pump isn't gonna work well, for it is a relatively high pressure/small volume affair. You need low pressure, high volume... like the dinghy pump I used way back then.

Jim

[El Pinguino]

What was the question again?

Originally Posted by GTom

So far I sailed only on older boats without pressurized water, recently on one which had a pressurized water system. I did like that I don't have to pump to wash my hands but that noise...

Also planning to buy my first own boat, and have mixed feelings if I want it - or in case the boat of my dreams has it I want a hand-pump backup if the system breaks during a passage/just operate the sink silent while half the crew is sleeping.

Any idea how fragile these things are? Anyone else kept the hand-pumped taps after installation of a pressurized setup?

I have a Whale Gusher foot pump Whale Marine - Products in the same system as a Jabsco similar to this https://www.jabscoshop.com/marine/pu...olled-pump.htm

The foot pump only serves the galley.

The pressure pump is only on in port .. unless it is a designated shower day ( once a month whether needed or not )

How fragile... ? The Whale diaphragm failed at about 25 years. I replaced the original pressure pump diaphragm assembly at 20 years and then changed the whole unit at 30 years as parts for the old unit could not be found anymore and I didn't want to be caught short in a remote location.

So.. not very fragile.

And yes ... you can wash your hands using a manual pump.... if it is a foot pump.

[El Pinguino]

Don't ask me to draw the plumbing system for you just now but the one foot pump provides both hot and cold water in the galley.

[Don C L]

Well I am going to argue with everybody! My boat still has the original hand pump and I can wash my hands, no problemo! I just tell my kids to pump when I need water. So far they are pretty reliable and don't break down often. But I concede they are VERY expensive pumps.

[NevisDog]

Originally Posted by Don C L

... I just tell my kids to pump when I need water. So far they are pretty reliable and don't break down often. ...

Geeze! No wonder they want to keelhaul you!!!!!!!

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by NevisDog

Geeze! No wonder they want to keelhaul you!!!!!!!

what? I give them plenty of hard tack and lard! They have no reason to complain!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Don C L

what? I give them plenty of hard tack and lard! They have no reason to complain!

What no wippings . Or grog
That does explain the desire to have you check the bottom while underway.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by NevisDog

Am I missing something? Seems impossible to "bail" water from tanks. One way or t'other, I have to suck it out. Do you really have a method?

Does your tank not have an opening for cleaning? If not, that would be a problem. Otherwise, simplicity itself. I can reach in with a small cup or water bottle.

[TrentePieds]

The Schraeder valve is for real, Jim. The bicycle pump is a water conservation measure :-)!

TP's tankage is diminutive, and MB has a hand-washing fetish. We last about two days, but that isn't a problem in the Salish Sea. There is ALWAYS potable water no more'n'say six hours away.

Like everything else in cruising, it depends on where you cruise :-)!

TP