Best fresh water pump

[Waylee]

Looking for recs on a new freshwater pump. 40 foot sailboat carrying 100 gals freshwater; freshwater shower and toilet flush. 14 gallon hot water tank with T-5 Expansion tank and accumulator and Jabsco 4GPM pump with 40 psi pressure switch. I want to dump the expansion tank/accumulator and just go with a variable speed pump...probably 4GPM or better. Any recommendations? Usually use 2.5 gals per day per person when cruising...liberal.

[Bowdrie]

"Best fresh water pump"?
Pretty subjective.
The "Groco Paragon Jr." for your size boat might be the "best" available.
The prices are shocking.
All pumps should have an accumulator tank, it kind of goes with the territory, (or flow, ).

[Matt Johnson]

Marco gear pumps get my vote. But as Bowdrie says, the accumulator is still a good idea.

[Richard Harper]

I got tired of the accumulator which always needed pumping up and did not do a very good job of keeping a constant flow. When the pump broke I got one of the variable speed pumps, it was a vast improvement. On my new boat I tried one of the new units with a mechanical bypass. Its even better at keeping a constant flow and probably less electronics to go bad.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Richard Harper

I got tired of the accumulator which always needed pumping up and did not do a very good job of keeping a constant flow. When the pump broke I got one of the variable speed pumps, it was a vast improvement. On my new boat I tried one of the new units with a mechanical bypass. Its even better at keeping a constant flow and probably less electronics to go bad.

Specific details - make/model?

[Richard Harper]

Shurflo Aqua King II 4 GPM 55 PSI

[Madehn]

Only anecdotal info but everyone I know with one of the variable speed pumps has had problems with them after about a year. Accumulator tank should be pretty maintenance free needing adjustment only once a year or so if that. Perhaps you have a small pinhole leak in the air bladder or diaphragm that is causing issues with your present setup. Good luck with problem. Your boat your choice.

[wholybee]

I have an inexpensive jabsco freshwater pump that I bought from stock at the local WM. No accumulator (no room for it) and it works just fine. Even flow, no issues. Five years, most of it full time living aboard. I would replace with the same if I needed to.

Maybe the need for an accumulator comes form having a pump oversized for the pluming? I will never have more than one tap open, and sized the pump for that. If the pump were trying to flow 3 times what one tap will flow, than I could see it having a problem with cycling.

[Sailorlou]

I have had a Jabsco Sensor-Max VSD Model 31750 on my boat for over 25 years and have never had a problem with this pump and it is still going strong. I have lived aboard my boat for those 25 years. The pump is a quad chamber 3.7 GPM 35 PSI unit that does not require an expansion tank. Unfortunately this pump has been discontinued. I searched the web to find it's replacement. The one recommended is the XYLEM Flojet R4426143A. They sell it on Amazon for $335.21.

[BobFord]

My experience - from new ,the 24v pumps (2) failed miserably . After 2 years and several replacements I changed both pumps to (in my case ) 240vac 'household ', pumps plus accumulator on each. Cheap , easily replaced or serviced and (8) years later -still going strong. Frankly , if the boat is working hard ,constant use , I will always look for a 'household ' substitute.e.g. frig , freezer , dishwasher ,vac , washing machine and of course f/water pumps.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by Richard Harper

Shurflo Aqua King II 4 GPM 55 PSI

I have this one also. Removed accumulator tank which was kind of annoying (eg pump turning on at night randomly to re-accumulate) and seemed to contribute to shower water fluctuations.
It's fine- I rarely have to adjust the mechanical bypass.
Have had for several years now, no idea on longevity or long term quality

[NorthCoastJoe]

I found that changing from soft tubing or hose to PEX there was a pulse in the flow.
My thought is the flexing of the soft tubing absorbed the pulses.
So if you go with PEX you need an accumulator to even out the flow.

[Sailorlou]

I don't have an accumulator and I have all PEX tubing in my fresh water system and I have never had a pulse issue.

[SV Confianza]

Originally Posted by malbert73

I have this one also. Removed accumulator tank which was kind of annoying (eg pump turning on at night randomly to re-accumulate) and seemed to contribute to shower water fluctuations.
It's fine- I rarely have to adjust the mechanical bypass.
Have had for several years now, no idea on longevity or long term quality

Also have this one. It's the quietest pump we've had.

It doesn't really provide constant pressure for us though. Still switches on and off instead of a more variable speed. I wonder if the system on our cat is just too big/complicated without an accumulator (we removed ours). Or maybe I need to do some adjustments to the bypass that I'm not aware of.

Otherwise, happy with it and it's much quieter than the jabsco it replaced.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by Waylee

Looking for recs on a new freshwater pump. 40 foot sailboat carrying 100 gals freshwater; freshwater shower and toilet flush. 14 gallon hot water tank with T-5 Expansion tank and accumulator and Jabsco 4GPM pump with 40 psi pressure switch. I want to dump the expansion tank/accumulator and just go with a variable speed pump...probably 4GPM or better. Any recommendations? Usually use 2.5 gals per day per person when cruising...liberal.

Does that "T5" tank use an internal diaphragm to keep the air charge separate from the water?
In other words; is it an "accumulator" tank designed to keep a "pressure head" in the system, (mounted just downstream of the pump and ahead of the filters, or is it designed to be used as an "expansion" tank on the outlet of the water heater?
Fifty-five PSI of water pressure is a LOT on a boat.
Also, you will seldom, (if ever,) get the best service from any water pressure system using those stupid little pre-set switches that are mounted on the pumps.
Pumps? aside from the +$2K Groco, Flo-Jet "generally" gets the nod, Jabsco/Johnson/Shurflo all seem to suffer more failures.
Use a "Square D" or similar remote switch that has adjustable cut-in/cut-out.
As an aside, those plastic Jabsco "tanks", (that effectivly hold a couple of cups of water,) they're for campers/RVs, on a boat they're worth little more than the screws to mount them).
Remember, the static air charge pressure in an accumulator tank has to be correct with respect to the pressure switch settings.