Auxilliary Water Tank Valve

[248rpafan]

I have a 1987 O'Day 35 and have only had it 3 years now. Since I have had no time to go through the boat other than just take short sails on rare weekends, it was not until this weekend I took the time to visit the issue, as I really wanted to give it a good look/see and cleanup. I went through the "guts" of the boat searching for the valve that switches one fresh water tank to the other. Last fall when I sailed the boat back to the yard for winter storage, I began emptying out my water tanks by running the faucets. When the water appeared to cease running out of the faucet I thought I had emptied the tanks. However, when I finally got to the yard, later in the evening, I noticed a full tank of water still on the starboard side; I had only emptied the port tank. Then it dawned on me that when I went to re-fill both port an starboard tanks during the summer, the port seemed to overflow immediately while the starboard took in the water for some time. I guess I never used the starboard tank at all. After bringing the boat back in near darkness I did not have the time nor light to find the switch-over valve and told my yard that my starboard tank was still full and needed to be emptied before hauling out. They said they would handle this and I specifically asked them to let me know where the switch was. It never happened.

Yesterday I was using the fresh water from the port tank that the yard filled up for me before the spring launch and it started to run dry. I still have not found the switch lever and am asking any Oday 34/35 owner to give me a clue as to where it can be found.

I see some kind of blue v-shaped knob on the port side, near the water pump...another under the galley sink...and another under the v-berth (which I think handles the waste tank, so I don't want to go there).

I don't want to move any valves any unless I'm certain I'm messing with the right one.

any clues?

 

[Mitch]

On my '82 34 foot O'day, the Y valve is on the port side, by the fresh water pump underneath the cabin seat, just forward of the port fresh water tank. The seat aft of the port bulkhead next to the head. I only have a seacock under the galley sink for its drain. My head intake is lake water and not connected to the fresh water tanks. My holding tank, under the V-berth, has no Y valve. Toilet to tank then have it pumped out. There is an old hand pump next to the holding tank for direct discharge but it is not connected.
Hope this helps.

 

[Jon6436]

On my -85 O'Day 35 the Y-Valve for the Fresh Water Tanks had a Blue Plastic Handle.
The valve was located very close to the Water Pump and had an In-Line Water Filter.

 

[Juggernaut]

We have a 1983 Oday 34 and the valve you're referring to is on our port settee's forward leg (The part that runs along the heads bulkhead). It's the "V" shaped valve. After not being used for so long, it may be stuck. I would take it out carefully and work it free. Keep an eye on your water level in the bilges, but if you have a good bilge pump, it should be able to handle pumping out the 25 gallons of fresh water.

 

[BarryL]

Hello,

The tank selection valve on my 86 35 is also under the port settee, very close to the fresh water pump.

If you spend a few minutes looking at the plumbing lines (a flashlight will help) you can easily find the valves. First find the fresh water pump. It is probably under the port settee, the short L part that is against the bulkhead shared with the head. The water pump will be a black cylinder with one hose in and one hose out. It is probably a Shureflo. Anyway, follow the input line, and I bet that you will find a Y valve not too far from the tank. There might be arrows on the valve that show you which way the water will flow.

FYI, when I want to winterize my tanks I just remove the hose from the water tank and let the water drain into the bilge. I believe the bilge pump is better suited for pumping a lot of water than the fresh water pump.

Lastly, my boat has three water tanks, the port and starboard tanks as from the factory, and a bladder tank on the stbd side, forward of the hard tank. I have another Y valve at bottom of the hanging locker across from the head.

Good luck,
Barry