anybody every re-do their plumbing?

jimmcgee · Oct 25, 2012

NCC,
Our boat sat for a couple of years before purchase. The tanks were dry and the lines were a science experiment.

I tried "shocking" the system. I added a half cup of bleach to each tank, filled it with water, removed the filters from the spigots and flushed it through the lines for the head, galley and deck shower. I started by flushing a little bit through. Then let it sit in the lines for a couple of hours then flushed the entire contents of the tanks through.

I got a LOT of crud out on the first pass, a little less the second time. I just kept flushing the tanks until the water ran clear. Now I add a cap full of bleach whenever I fill the tanks and haven't had a problem.

I use the tank water for washing dishes, showers, brushing teeth but not for drinking, coffee or cooking. I use bottled water for that. Better taste. And the water that goes into the tanks goes through a charcoal filter on my dock line.

Jim

Coriolisbc · Oct 25, 2012

Thanks Jim for the filter tip when filling the tanks.
My tanks are fresh, and clear, however I got some pure silver wire from a jewlery shop, put a short length, ( one inch) in each tank, cannot do any harm, and the old salts used to drop a silver coin into the wooden fresh water barrels to keep the water fresh.
I do the bleach thing as well, and in the winter, some Vodka goes into the tanks just to keep them happy

Stu Jackson · Oct 26, 2012

Fresh Water System Recommissioning 101 http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5836.0.html

Peggie Hall's recommissioning is in reply #6.

degreeoff · Oct 30, 2012

Go PEX........its easy to do and will only set you back a few hundred in parts/tools. The tanks can be pulled and the caps removed and hand in scrub.....my .02$. I did it. Do ALL of it.

fox islander · Oct 31, 2012

Degreeoff...I've been looking at PEX also. Which attachment system did you use, the crimp on type, or the snap on with O ring? Thanx.

degreeoff · Oct 31, 2012

I used the crimp on, also have an 85' #4099. My boat was stripped to the liner deck and hull. It made it a little easier to plumb, but its all easily taken apart. You will need to think it out and crimp some stuff and feed it through premade.

Lost Parent · Oct 31, 2012

I did my backyard with PEX and push on fittings last year and forgot to drain it last winter still no leaks till this day , bout all fittings from Home Depot , don't worry about people telling you if a fittings ever comes of your boat will fill and sink, you should not have system pressureized if not on board

jimmcgee · Nov 6, 2012

if you go to all the trouble of re-plumbing your system don't forget to add dockside water if you don't already have it.

Once you have it you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Me and Boo · Nov 22, 2012

PO replumbed the entire fresh water system using plastic water pipe and connectors. It is nice to view. There are two sections that need to be finished - sometime.

jrowan · Nov 22, 2012

Our C 30 came with the forward tank under the V birth, which was disconnected & I never bothered to replumb it. Being that this 20 + gallon tank would add 160 + pounds of water right on the bow, I didn't want to make the boat more sluggish through the water. If I were a live aboard I might consider hooking it up, but otherwise it just adds weight where you don't want it.

caguy · Nov 22, 2012

degreeoff said:
Go PEX........its easy to do and will only set you back a few hundred in parts/tools. The tanks can be pulled and the caps removed and hand in scrub.....my .02$. I did it. Do ALL of it.

Thanks Degreeoff, Google it and that PEX looks pretty good. I was going to copper repipe the house and this is alot less labor intensive. I'll be redoing the plumbing on the C27 as well as the Luger 30.