I recently converted the freshwater pump system to a pressurized system and would like to share how it was done. The reason for the conversion was twofold; it seemed very uncomfortable to pump, having one hand occupied, especially when washing hands. The other reason is the pain to empty or flush the freshwater tank with the hand pumps on the sinks.
I put a platform to install the pump on close to the tank, under the v-berth. Cleaned a spot and a little to make the epoxy stick, glassed in a small piece of plywood. Picture 1, 2.
I wired 2 x 14 gauge marine cable from the fuse box to the spot, put a 4A fuse, and switch. As pump was a Jacobs Model Par-Max 1 automatic. The pump delivers 1.1 GPM, switches off by providing 35 PSI of pressure and off by 22 PSI. The pump is self priming, can lift 4 ft of suction. Thought first of a bigger pump but this little one seemed just to be perfect. Picture 3.
From the tank coming is a shut valve and a filter in line. The pump makes noise. It is recommended to put two flexible hoses between pump and the hard plastic water pipes. I used commercial ½” – ½” fitting hoses from Home Depot for easily pump replacement. Usually freshwater pumps have ½” in- and outlet terminals. The pump I used had unfortunately 3/8” hose barb terminals, that’s why I made two short hose adapters with ½” thread to fit the flexible hoses. This allows me, when I should need to replace the pump on day, to use either one with barb or ½” thread terminals. Picture 4, 5.
It was not easy to find a regular one-hand faucet and I decided to use faucets made for filtered water outlets. Picture 6.
The pump faucet left a big hole which needed to be covered. I bought a cheap kitchen cutting board and used a hole saw to cut-out the two cover plates needed to install the faucets on my two sinks. I used 3M5200 to glue the cover plates to the sinks. Picture 7, 8.
In the bathroom I used a filter faucet with a lever valve, which can be operated by the wrist while still washing both hands. I thought it would be a good idea to be frugal on the limited water; no-one can be too generous in letting it run and it cannot be forgotten to be closed. Picture 9.
All pipe connections are done by the 15 mm quick connector system, that supposedly most boats builders use.
I put a platform to install the pump on close to the tank, under the v-berth. Cleaned a spot and a little to make the epoxy stick, glassed in a small piece of plywood. Picture 1, 2.
I wired 2 x 14 gauge marine cable from the fuse box to the spot, put a 4A fuse, and switch. As pump was a Jacobs Model Par-Max 1 automatic. The pump delivers 1.1 GPM, switches off by providing 35 PSI of pressure and off by 22 PSI. The pump is self priming, can lift 4 ft of suction. Thought first of a bigger pump but this little one seemed just to be perfect. Picture 3.
From the tank coming is a shut valve and a filter in line. The pump makes noise. It is recommended to put two flexible hoses between pump and the hard plastic water pipes. I used commercial ½” – ½” fitting hoses from Home Depot for easily pump replacement. Usually freshwater pumps have ½” in- and outlet terminals. The pump I used had unfortunately 3/8” hose barb terminals, that’s why I made two short hose adapters with ½” thread to fit the flexible hoses. This allows me, when I should need to replace the pump on day, to use either one with barb or ½” thread terminals. Picture 4, 5.
It was not easy to find a regular one-hand faucet and I decided to use faucets made for filtered water outlets. Picture 6.
The pump faucet left a big hole which needed to be covered. I bought a cheap kitchen cutting board and used a hole saw to cut-out the two cover plates needed to install the faucets on my two sinks. I used 3M5200 to glue the cover plates to the sinks. Picture 7, 8.
In the bathroom I used a filter faucet with a lever valve, which can be operated by the wrist while still washing both hands. I thought it would be a good idea to be frugal on the limited water; no-one can be too generous in letting it run and it cannot be forgotten to be closed. Picture 9.
All pipe connections are done by the 15 mm quick connector system, that supposedly most boats builders use.
