Beneteau 311

[Tethys3]

I recently purchased a 2001 Beneteau 311, I love the boat but have been puzzled by the plumbing. I seems that you have to open and close drain valves one at a time which doesn't seem right. Also, we just took the boat out of storage, filled the water tank and turned the water pump on- but water just trickles from the faucets. Is there a water valve I'm missing?

Thanks for your help

 

[CapitalistSailor]

Tethys3,

Congratulations on your purchase of a most excellent boat!

I think you are referring to the plumbing under the sink in the head. There are three lines running to the bilge pump, each with a ball valve, all connected to the same manifold. Normally you would leave open the valve that opens to the line running from the bilge, and close the other two. The other two lines run from the refrigerator drain and the shower drain. When you want to pump out the shower drain or the refrigerator (I usually use ice), close the bilge line and open the line you want to use, run the pump as needed, and then close the valve you opened, and reopen the bilge line valve. The shower has its own switch for the pump on the front of the sink. Pull out the know to run the pump.

There are also three thru-hulls below the head sink. One is for the sink drain, which should be simple to follow. The others are for the head intake and discharge. These three thru-hulsl are all in a row.

I am referring to the lines as they are laid out in my 2000 Beneteau 311, Footloose. I assume yours are virtually identical.

 

[CapitalistSailor]

Tethys3,

For the water faucets, there is a fine mesh strainer inside each one. I suggest unscrewing each one and see how the water runs without the strainer. I occasionally get little bits of gunk and sometimes little pieces of plastic. The hose you filled the water tanks with can be surprisingly dirty inside, and if you have disinfected or cleaned your tanks and lines, you could be getting some gunk from that. Good luck.

Also, many diaphragm water pumps pump slowly for a few minutes, or a day, after they have sat all winter full of antifreeze. If you have antifreeze in the system, pump some water through until the pink color and sweet smell goes away, and let it soak for a while and see if that helps.

Heads can be slow to pump after winter for the same reason.

 

[Jackdaw]

, filled the water tank and turned the water pump on- but water just trickles from the faucets. Is there a water valve I'm missing?

There are little 1/4 turn thumb valves on the water manifold, and many times they are left 1/2 way on (1/8th??? ;^)) at winterization/put-up. Also, check your in-line filters.

 

[CapitalistSailor]

The Beneteau 311 owner's manual and brochure can be found at the link below. Look in the lower right of the page.

http://community.ilovemybeneteau.com/boats.php?boat_id=26&type_id=1

Page 40 shows the layout and has a photograph of the value layout I described in my previous post.

 

[Ron20324]

If you have more than one drain linbe open, the pump will just suck air from any line not sucking water.

The fresh water, you don't say if the pump is running or not. If not, maybe a bad pressure switch in it?

My B323 had a anti-siphon valve in the output of the water tank under the vee berth. It locked up and did not allow water through. I removed it and all is working fine.