I want to install a washdown pump on a 2002 Catalina 270. Where is the best place to install it and what should I connect it to (both water and elect)? If you have photos that would be great! Thanks.
Installation of Washdown Pump on a 270
- Thread starter Soggy Paws
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Size matters.
I see from your post that this would be installed on a C270. To start with the pumps that would have the power to wash down anchor gear or for general boat use require more amperage than most boats that size have. Without knowing your electrical system size and the ability to recharge this system it is hard to suggest what is needed. In addition if you live in Colorado you will have to completely drain the system in the fall. Buckets attached to a 10 foot line have cleaned many,many anchors and usually are standard equipment on most boats. If you have additional info please post it and I'd be glad to help. We put a fresh/saltwater system on out bigger boat and it was a nice improvement. Ray
I see from your post that this would be installed on a C270. To start with the pumps that would have the power to wash down anchor gear or for general boat use require more amperage than most boats that size have. Without knowing your electrical system size and the ability to recharge this system it is hard to suggest what is needed. In addition if you live in Colorado you will have to completely drain the system in the fall. Buckets attached to a 10 foot line have cleaned many,many anchors and usually are standard equipment on most boats. If you have additional info please post it and I'd be glad to help. We put a fresh/saltwater system on out bigger boat and it was a nice improvement. Ray
Just keeping the top clean
Thanks for the response. I just want to keep the top of the boat relatively clean from birds, dust, etc. I have a 12 volt washdown pump from West Marine that my wife bought me for Christmas. On the boat I have two 12-volt batteries. My guess is that I will use the pump once a week for 5 to 10 minutes or so to hose off the topsides. I thought about hooking it up in one of the rear storage lockers. I guess I could mount it in the anchor locker. I was thinking of just teeing into one of the thru holes and running the electical to the power center. The questions I have are which locker would be most convenient. Should I put in a fixture for attaching the hose on the outside. Just using lake water for the cleaning would be fine. There would be no tank needed so only winterizing would be to make sure the pump itself is either drained or has antifreeze in it. Where I keep her docked, I do not have running water or power (other than my solar panel for recharging the batteries). The way I clean it now is to take it up to the gas dock and wash it there. Sort of a minor pain I am trying to get rid of. Let me know if you need more info.
Thanks for the response. I just want to keep the top of the boat relatively clean from birds, dust, etc. I have a 12 volt washdown pump from West Marine that my wife bought me for Christmas. On the boat I have two 12-volt batteries. My guess is that I will use the pump once a week for 5 to 10 minutes or so to hose off the topsides. I thought about hooking it up in one of the rear storage lockers. I guess I could mount it in the anchor locker. I was thinking of just teeing into one of the thru holes and running the electical to the power center. The questions I have are which locker would be most convenient. Should I put in a fixture for attaching the hose on the outside. Just using lake water for the cleaning would be fine. There would be no tank needed so only winterizing would be to make sure the pump itself is either drained or has antifreeze in it. Where I keep her docked, I do not have running water or power (other than my solar panel for recharging the batteries). The way I clean it now is to take it up to the gas dock and wash it there. Sort of a minor pain I am trying to get rid of. Let me know if you need more info.
Soggy, What's the amperage rating on the pump?
Water being heavy and dense requires a pump of fairly high amperage to push with any force. Therefore there are a few requirements. Because of power drop when electricity is run through wire you must up size the wire the further you run it. It is easier on the elect system to keep the wire run short and run the water further through a hose. I would think the pump draw is around 20 amps so if the wire length is under 10 feet and you use 10 guage wire you should be alright. This includes the switch. Use tinned wire and solder all ends. This system should be fused or breakered at the pump rating. If the draw is 20 amps and you use it 15 minutes you will have used 5 amp hours of your deep cycle battery. More amps drawn or more time used will increase amp hours used. DO not run this from your starting battery. If you have one of those small trickle charge solar panels it probably is not enough to recharge the battery after all the assorted power uses on the boat. You really should have one of the newer style smart chargers that can be run from shore power. If you have a solar panel that is large enough to produce at least 1 amp or 12 watts then in 5 hours you will have replaced your 5 amps used. That panel might be big enough for all boat uses. Follow the standard practices when splicing into the boat through hull valves. Much better yet would be to just drop the pickup hose overboard when using the pump and stay away from the through hull fittings. You would just be adding 1 more reason for the boat to sink if done internally. Ray
Water being heavy and dense requires a pump of fairly high amperage to push with any force. Therefore there are a few requirements. Because of power drop when electricity is run through wire you must up size the wire the further you run it. It is easier on the elect system to keep the wire run short and run the water further through a hose. I would think the pump draw is around 20 amps so if the wire length is under 10 feet and you use 10 guage wire you should be alright. This includes the switch. Use tinned wire and solder all ends. This system should be fused or breakered at the pump rating. If the draw is 20 amps and you use it 15 minutes you will have used 5 amp hours of your deep cycle battery. More amps drawn or more time used will increase amp hours used. DO not run this from your starting battery. If you have one of those small trickle charge solar panels it probably is not enough to recharge the battery after all the assorted power uses on the boat. You really should have one of the newer style smart chargers that can be run from shore power. If you have a solar panel that is large enough to produce at least 1 amp or 12 watts then in 5 hours you will have replaced your 5 amps used. That panel might be big enough for all boat uses. Follow the standard practices when splicing into the boat through hull valves. Much better yet would be to just drop the pickup hose overboard when using the pump and stay away from the through hull fittings. You would just be adding 1 more reason for the boat to sink if done internally. Ray
Size does matter
The amperes on the pump I have (Shurflo Pro Blaster from Wrest Marine) is 10 amps, 12 v. 4 GPM. I just want to install this somewhere in the cockpit that I can use to quickly washdown the boat. It looks like the best place is under the port seat where the hot water tank is. I am trying to figure out what to connect the water to and what electical connections I want. That appears at least to me to be the most convenient. Thoughts?
The amperes on the pump I have (Shurflo Pro Blaster from Wrest Marine) is 10 amps, 12 v. 4 GPM. I just want to install this somewhere in the cockpit that I can use to quickly washdown the boat. It looks like the best place is under the port seat where the hot water tank is. I am trying to figure out what to connect the water to and what electical connections I want. That appears at least to me to be the most convenient. Thoughts?
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