What's this thing and why is it in my head?

[Jamme]

Black-seltzer-water maker.
Bad jokes aside, please let us know once you have this thing run through 12v!

[Scubaseas]

Looks like a compressor for air horns?

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by garyfdl

Pump/compressor. Possibly for flush water or aerating the holding tank?(Although I admit I don't know why you would want to do that).

What is the corroded piece at the bottom of the picture, that the hose goes into, and is it connected to anything?

Aerating the holding tank is a good idea. It encourages aerobic bacteria and reduces odors. Groco makes a device for doing just that.
https://www.groco.net/products/marin...dor-prevention

[skipperpete]

If it was on a larger boat with a Gardner 8LX engine and the original mechanical gearbox with an pneumatic assist ram to operate the shift lever I’d suggest that was the reason you have that “compressor/ vac pump but since your boat is a Westsail 28 it’s unlikely you have this power plant.

[riksf]

Originally Posted by garyfdl

What is the corroded piece at the bottom of the picture, that the hose goes into, and is it connected to anything?

Some kind of fitting that's not connected to anything. When I'm back at the boat in a couple days I'll take the whole thing off and get a better look.

[NorthCoastJoe]

Looks like an air compressor that plugs into a lighter port without the plastic covering on it.

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Aerating the holding tank is a good idea. It encourages aerobic bacteria and reduces odors. Groco makes a device for doing just that.
https://www.groco.net/products/marin...dor-prevention

LOL I would have thought that pumping air in would push the 'stink' out.

[StuM]

Since it's a pump and the hose is "SAE 30R7 Fuel Line Hose - Recommended for low pressure/high temperature fuel"


I'd make a WAG that it may have been fitted with a filter and return line and used for a fuel polisher.


Can you trace the wiring back and see if it goes to a labelled switch somewhere?

[Hartleyg]

Definitely an air compressor - only thing I can think of is that if you put a sensitive pressure gauge on the airline and then run it to the bottom of the tank, it would tell you how full the tank is.


Hartley
S/V Atsa

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by StuM

Since it's a pump and the hose is "SAE 30R7 Fuel Line Hose - Recommended for low pressure/high temperature fuel"


I'd make a WAG that it may have been fitted with a filter and return line and used for a fuel polisher.


Can you trace the wiring back and see if it goes to a labelled switch somewhere?

Not a bad guess, but seems odd that it would (presumably) be so far from the tank. Then again, it is a boat...

[riksf]

Definitely an air pump (and it still runs!). The fitting on the end of the hose looks like it fits a standard Schrader tire valve. The wires ran to an unlabeled toggle switch (which was so corroded it fell apart when I touched it) taped in a cabinet above, which in turn ran to the cabin lighting circuit. Why it was there I may never know, but it resides in the trash now.

[Scubaseas]

Did the boat have a diesel heater in it? I have a Force 10 heater that has a pressurized fuel tank on it. I use a bicycle pump but could see why that pump would work. They're also used as air horn compressors but not typically with a schraeder end on it.

You could leave it in and label it "GNDN" ala Star Trek.

[AKA-None]

Air pump for blowup toys?

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by riksf

Definitely an air pump...

Why it was there I may never know, but it resides in the trash now.

You threw it away?!?! That's a 'good' piece of jun... er, stuff!

[riksf]

Originally Posted by Scubaseas

Did the boat have a diesel heater in it? I have a Force 10 heater that has a pressurized fuel tank on it. I use a bicycle pump but could see why that pump would work.

It did actually have a kerosene or diesel heater in that same area that was removed by the previous owner!