I'm redoing the fresh water system on my boat, and the idea of mounting the pump (and consequently, accumulator) in the galley cabinet, under the sink area. Bad idea?
thanks, Pat Greene
thanks, Pat Greene
Fresh water pump mounting
- Thread starter fiestaMojo
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Make sure you mount the pump with the motor end higher - that way if there is a leak in the future the motor won't be destroyed.
Pat,
One common theme I see with boats and counter tops is that they are rarely water tight and very often leak. Sink lip seals, faucet holes, foot pump faucet holes, counter fiddles etc. etc. can all allow splashed counter water to drip under the counter. If using a plastic accumulator no problem under the sink but I generally try to find a better location for the pump if there is potential for water drips... The also dislike any static head loss in the feed line so I try to keep them low and as close to the tanks if possible.. The accumulator needs to be on the pressure side of the pump...
Unconventional pump mounting
In all the years I have had a boats big enough to have a domestic fresh water pump (20+) I have been bothered by the noise of said pump. In my opinion, most of the noise seems to come from the resonance provided by the bulkhead upon which the pump was mounted - even with the rubber feet. My solution was to take the pump off the wall and lay it horizontally on the compartment floor - unattached except for its hoses. With a few pieces of foam underneath I was able to reduce the noise considerably. The pump still gets plenty of cooling air and the attached hoses keep the pump in place. Not much good if I have a roll over but the chances of that out on the bay are slim to none. The positioning has not seemed to have shortened the life of the pump and I have replaced the pump only once after 10+ years of service.
In all the years I have had a boats big enough to have a domestic fresh water pump (20+) I have been bothered by the noise of said pump. In my opinion, most of the noise seems to come from the resonance provided by the bulkhead upon which the pump was mounted - even with the rubber feet. My solution was to take the pump off the wall and lay it horizontally on the compartment floor - unattached except for its hoses. With a few pieces of foam underneath I was able to reduce the noise considerably. The pump still gets plenty of cooling air and the attached hoses keep the pump in place. Not much good if I have a roll over but the chances of that out on the bay are slim to none. The positioning has not seemed to have shortened the life of the pump and I have replaced the pump only once after 10+ years of service.
Water Pump
I went to one of the variable speed pumps and find it to be MUCH quieter than my old pressure switched pump. It runs very slowly most of the time (when it runs).. It is essentially the same triple diaphragm rotary as my previous pump but because of the variable speed, makes a lot less noise. It is mounted on rubber feet on a wooden block which is screwed into the grid. I think the mount is original Hunter. Picture shows the pump on the right side; that is the port locker, looking aft, under the cushion just forward of the nav station.
I went to one of the variable speed pumps and find it to be MUCH quieter than my old pressure switched pump. It runs very slowly most of the time (when it runs).. It is essentially the same triple diaphragm rotary as my previous pump but because of the variable speed, makes a lot less noise. It is mounted on rubber feet on a wooden block which is screwed into the grid. I think the mount is original Hunter. Picture shows the pump on the right side; that is the port locker, looking aft, under the cushion just forward of the nav station.
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Pat: If you use a VSD pump you can eliminate the accumulator tank and these pumps are nearly silent and use less power too.
Steve, thanks, I just got an accumulator for short money a couple o' weeks ago, and my pump is about a year old. so I think I'll stay with this setup (unless of course the Admiral suggests otherwise. . . ) thanks, though,
Pat Greene
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