Deck Wash are they worth putting in

[silverdart]

Hi
I am considering having a deckwash installed in my Catalina 445 sail boat.
Its a luxury I know but a nice one to have when the anchor comes up covered in black mud.
Is anyone out there that can give me a few tips on how to go about the install and the things not to do.
Cheers
silverdart

[transmitterdan]

We have one near the bow on the port side installed on the inboard side of the bulwark. The through hull and pump is installed below the V-berth. It prevents a lot of gunk from accumulating in the anchor locker. You want a high flow unit with plenty of pressure. So the pump should be something in the 20-25 LPM or maybe higher if you can find. Having a massive water flow helps speed the anchor chain retrieval process. I would always specify a fore-deck washdown system like this on any boat. That and a freshwater cockpit shower hose is mandatory for us.

[colemj]

I don't consider a wash down pump a luxury. Installation is dead simple in design, and only complicated by the specifics of the plumbing and electrical runs. Mount a pump below and run pipe to a fitting that takes a hose.

I made ours with a selector valve at the deck hose fitting that lets us choose fresh or sea water.

Mark

[Pelagic]

Hard to believe it was not standard on your size of boat

I agree with Mark and did the same re fresh water option.

Also a quick connection to add extra hose for fire fighting.

Google 'deck wash pump installation' for lots of ideas.

As a new installation, remember to either remove the fuse or put switch on pressure pump when drydocking... otherwise demand pump will run dry.

[J Clark H356]

I hooked mine into the head intake. I have one in the forward anchor locker and one at the stern. Since I am primarily in fresh water, it works for that. While cruising in salt water, I wished I had a way to supply fresh water to the stern one. The anchor wash down with salt water is ok, but I would like to have fresh water at the cockpit to wash off the salt.

If I ever put on a water maker, I 'll replumb the stern one and take it from the fresh water tank. I would not be without a wash down pump.


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[silverdart]

Thank you all for the helpful info. I am convinced and will proceed.
Best regards

[HopCar]

The Supercoil ST 301 is a very nice deck fitting for the wash down hose and it includes the adapter to standard garden hose threads. If you can't find them in Oz, postage from the US shouldn't be too bad.
Supercoil Speed-Tap Quick Disc ST301
Supercoil System - Quick Connect Fittings - Manifolds - Valves - Sea Tech, Inc.

[silverdart]

Thanks I will check out the super cool Sys.

[Jolly Roger]

I agree with everyone else. It is good to have and can be self installed on any boat. It speeds up weighing the anchor because you can clean the chain as it comes in. This also reduces the stink from the chain locker.
My hose is also long enough to wash down the whole boat.

[2Hulls]

Originally Posted by colemj

Mount a pump below and run pipe to a fitting that takes a hose.

As for installation, mounting the pump as low as possible - even below the water line - is really important. The common type of washdown pumps - centrifugal - are much better at pushing water than sucking it. Even if the pump manufacturer claims their pump is self priming, it's way better to not challenge this capability. When I bought my boat its washdown pump was mounted just below deck level in the chain locker and was corroded almost beyond recognition - the chain locker was a stupid place to put it. I ripped it out and installed a new pump down in the bilge next to the existing through hull and used the old suction line as the discharge line back up to the chain locker where I installed a hose fitting for the hose. In the process I installed a tee at the pump outlet with two valves (one on each discharge line) and ran a second discharge line back to the cockpit for another hose to serve as a fish blood washdown.

Dave

[a64pilot]

Every Sportfish boat there is has a washdown to wash fish blood off of the deck, there are kits in every WM and boat store there is just for this, complete with hose, fitting, pump etc.
I was going to link to one, but darned if I can't find it's proper name.

OK, here is one, but there are several
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/jabsco...11_335_001_515

[AnchorageGuy]

Here is our wash down installation, The Trawler Beach House: Anchor Washdown System . It's the best modification we have done on our boats. I would NOT want to anchor without one. Chuck

[zboss]

On a side note, another poster on here and a dock mate added plumbing to their salt water washdown to allow it to supply salt water at the sink. Which I thought was a brilliant idea - two for one special

[Sailmonkey]

I wouldn't be without!


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[hgd137]

Originally Posted by silverdart

Hi
I am considering having a deckwash installed in my Catalina 445 sail boat.
Its a luxury I know but a nice one to have when the anchor comes up covered in black mud.
Is anyone out there that can give me a few tips on how to go about the install and the things not to do.
Cheers
silverdart

Anchor wash down is highly desirable, I would not even call it a luxury.

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