Fresh and Sea Water Faucet in One in the Galley Idea ...

[Tellie]

This issue with routing salt water through a home faucet, even a good quality chrome or SS one, is not the chrome or SS. These faucets use brass valves and parts. Though it may look purty on the outside, the insides will certainly and quickly suffer from the salt water. If you had to use a home type faucet, it would be better to buy the El cheapo all plastic ones for $14.95 at Home Depot.

[mrohr]

Think : Foot pumps esp. on smaller craft (you).

[waterworldly]

Spend your time and money on bigger fresh water tanks. Usually the husband has this idea, because he spends the least amount of time at the kitchen sink! Cross contamination is a real possiblity if you plumb them together. If you are going to be anywhere near the U.S. coast, then you really wouldn't want sea water near your food.

[familycruisers]

well it depends on the faucet. Some have one mixing valve, others have separate valves: no real one answer. Backflow preventer could be added.

[Shanaly]

any favourite brands for foot pumps? anyone use solenoids for water switching? i have head + galley, and HWT. will add deck wash and head # 2. also i was thinking of popping a small 1A pump on the foredeck to pump seawater along the side decks on hot days to keep the decks and cabin cool. any reactions?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by waterworldly

Spend your time and money on bigger fresh water tanks. Usually the husband has this idea, because he spends the least amount of time at the kitchen sink! Cross contamination is a real possiblity if you plumb them together. If you are going to be anywhere near the U.S. coast, then you really wouldn't want sea water near your food.

Actually the seawater is more useful for cleaning up the really dirty plates after a meal. Then they get a light fresh wash.

[Matt Johnson]

I just installed a 3 way valve for my fresh water foot pump and pressure system to the cold line on the main faucet. I can now use the middle larger faucet for all the times I'm only using the foot pump.

The salt water has it's own foot pump to a separate chromed bronze faucet located on the corner of a double sink.

[Chef Mike]

We just created a short video about our fresh/salt water faucet. This should save on both water and hence the fuel it takes to run the generator to make water.

[Lagoon4us]

A couple of things to contemplate.
1) Consider the position of the seawater intake for cooking relative to grey water and effluent discharge, remembering current drift etc.

2) Consider not using it when recently slipped with new anti-foul.

3) As Cheechako pointed out be very cautious of harbour/pollutants, where we are now raw sewage empties into the water constantly.

4) It's great for cooking vege's and pre-rinsing when at sea.......

We have a seperate foot pump with seperate spigot as 99.99% of yachties do.

Cheers.

[sailorchic34]

As others have said its a bad idea to combine sea water and fresh water on one faucet. Assuming both systems are pumped with roughly the same size pump, If the pressure in the sea water pump is just a little higher then anytime you transition between fresh and sea water its possible to get some sea water into the fresh side.

This could also happen even if the fresh water pump was larger but you used two faucets at the same time.

If the fresh water seat leaks just a tiny bit, you will have contaminated your drinking water. Annoying if your out to sea..

For the fella with the three way valve, I'm hoping that the 3 way valve is an either or and does not have a middle both position. They can come either way, btw. While its mostly safe to use, if the valve can be left where both sides can connect, it might be possible that the fresh tank could drain overboard via the salt water intake. Also annoying.

[MarkJ]

I think it's a great idea!

I plumbed the salt water via foot pump because people here told me not to put in on a electric pump or I might sink the boat.... Anyway after a while I snuck an electric pump in (without telling the forum) and its been wonderful! Only drawback is its faucet is tiny and takes a year to fill a sink.

I think plumbing it into a hot water side of a mixer is great! Listen to Telly and see if you can get a plastic one that won't rust, or just get a cheapie and replace every two years!




It really is a great idea!

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

For the fella with the three way valve, I'm hoping that the 3 way valve is an either or and does not have a middle both position. They can come either way, btw. While its mostly safe to use, if the valve can be left where both sides can connect, it might be possible that the fresh tank could drain overboard via the salt water intake. Also annoying.

I think this is routed my way. If so, I'll explain it better.

I have two faucets on the galley sink... the main faucet which only does fresh water via either the power pressure system or a Whale Gusher foot pump (this switching between fresh water pumps is what's controlled by the 3 way valve).

There is also a second small faucet in the corner of the sink that is just an outlet for the salt water pump. The fresh water never comes in contact with the salt water system.

[sailorchic34]

Think I read it wrong then... blonde happens.

[senormechanico]

One word.

Come to think of it, two words.

No, three.

Aw, crap. FIVE !

Solar panels, and Spectra Watermaker.

Well, SIX if you count making your fridge efficient enough not to make you electricity poor by insulating it with Aerogel insulation.

Who needs saltwater for anything after all that?

THERE ! I said it and I'm glad.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

One word.

Come to think of it, two words.

No, three.

Aw, crap. FIVE !

Solar panels, and Spectra Watermaker.

Well, SIX if you count making your fridge efficient enough not to make you electricity poor by insulating it with Aerogel insulation.

Who needs saltwater for anything after all that?

THERE ! I said it and I'm glad.

We have an HRO Seafari Escape with the same basic energy recouping Clark pump as the Spectra... just cost about $5,000 more and doesn't have as good of reviews , 485 watts of solar and I still love having saltwater to wash the dishes. Just pump as much as you want and spray all that crud off. What am I saying, I never wash the dishes on our boat