Low Water Pressure

[Bad Obsession]

I was cleaning out my water tanks in my new-to-me Catalina 30. I noticed that when I first turned on the water I had really good pressure. After the water ran for about a minute I had poor water pressure. Does anyone know what might be causing this? Do you think that I may need to replace my water pump? If I have to replace the waterpump which waterpump should I put in my boat? Btw....I checked the hoses and I don't have any kinks in it. I also replaced the water filter (the water in my water tank is absolutely disgusting). I have cleaned the tank out but still don't have good pressure after a minute or two.

 

[Dick Dixon]

In my previous boat...

I had an ocassional problem with calcium buildup clogging a 90 degree fitting in the line. Because it restricted the flow the water ran slow. I would check all fittings and valves for clogs.Good luck

 

[patrick]

Probably not calcium

my guess is it is aluminum chloride from using chlorox bleach in an aluminum tank. I have said it before in spite of some other experts objections. It is stupid in my opinion to use the so called commissioning process posted here and many other places.If that is the case, you will need to cut an access hole and scrape out the salt or replace the aluminum tank with a plastic one. If you have run this bleach through your hot water tank, you might also check the anode.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Lets think about it

You have good pressure to begin with so there is not a clog somewhere. A clog would make the pressure low ALL the time not just after 2 min of pumping.I suspect that you have the old belt driven water pump catalina put on the 30'. Perhaps the belt is getting tired and after a few minutes of running it heats up gets bigger and can't drive the pump as hard to get the pressure up.If you have replaced the catalina pump with a direct drive then I'd say the electrical terminals somewhere in the circut are heating up and causing a resistance to the flow of current resulting in less power to the pump.So check the belt for heating or feel around the pump, electrical panel, ammeter, battery for a hot (heat hot not electrical hot) terminal.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Flow Master

I believe that this is the original water pump for my 1990 Catalina 30. I believe that the pump is a Flow Jet or Flow Master (something similar). I will try to mess with it more after I refill my watertank.

 

[patrick]

Bill, mine did exactly the same thing

I replaced the pump, hose, filter, etc. It was the aluminum chloride grit in the outlet of the tank causing my problems. There would be enough water in the line initially to allow it to pump and then as the pressure difference increased in the outlet of the tank, the flow would diminish. It would finally suck air into feed line fittings and that would make the pump cycle for a long time after the water was shut off. The faucets would also spit air a lot. It was very annoying.My suggestion for troubleshooting this and verifying or eliminating it as the problem is to shut off the tank, remove the hose, put it into a bucket of clean water and see if it works normally that way. You can also blow air into the outlet of the tank and dislodge the stuff but that only works for a while. A wire works too but eventually the sediment will plug it up again until you clean the tank inside thouroughly.