Tapping into engine cooling water line for galley

[Weyalan]

We are installing a salt water faucet at the galley to help preserve our limited fresh water supply.
I’m not a fan of drilling any more holes in the boat than I have to, especially below the waterline
I am therefore considering tapping into the cooling water">engine cooling water line by insering a t-piece just behind the inlet ball valve.

The salt water pump is a simple manually operated (foot pump) so the draw is negligible, so I am not worried about “starving” the supply to the engine.
I am concerned, however, that I may introduce a way to suck air into the engine cooling water (although the engine is fresh-water cooled via a heat exchanger).
If I put a ball valve in the line to the pump, will the system be ok, or am I taking too much of a risk tapping off the engine cooling water?

Thanks for your advice.

[JPA Cate]

Hi,

Jim took the sea water for I-1 from the salt water intake for the engine. Did not affect flow to engine. Worked fine for years, and made salt water dishwashing a piece of cake.

Ann

[HopCar]

I don't think you would have a problem. There are two check valves in the pump that should prevent any air from getting back into the engine intake.

[konakoma]

Don't like more holes in the hull either, so we replaced salt water foot pump thru hull with a keel cooler for our new Frigoboat refrigeration. Swabbie says a bucket with a rope on the handle gets her all the salt water she needs, and it has no chance of interfering with the engine.