Portable Washdown Pumps

tommays · Jan 2, 2014

I went to the trouble to install a Johnson saltwater unit under my sink with valves to allow it to draw fresh or saltwater

While it was the PITA your thinking to install it is priceless to have and unlimited supply of bird poop washing water while keeping a boat on a mooring

And being able to draw freshwater on occasion was also well worthwhile

Tim R. · Jan 2, 2014

No experience with the portable unit but why not install it in your anchor locker with a hose and strainer you drop over the side when in use?

I had a spare through hull under my anchor locker so I installed it under there and it serves as a wash down pump and also a saltwater feed to my forward head toilet.

woodster · Jan 2, 2014

Chuck Baer(spelling?) wrote a good artical in Good Old Boat either last year or the year before on just what you are talking about ...you may want to read it before you spend any boat bucks .....just a thought on my part .....

regards

woody

Mulf · Jan 3, 2014

If you need other examples, here's what I did.....

Link is to the owner's mod forum for the Hunter 410.

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...id=267&cat_id=44&aid=7996&page=article&mn=410

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Jan 3, 2014

I notice the Johnson pump is out of stock

Delezynski · Jan 4, 2014

TFrere,

I do not have any info on the pump you are asking about, BUT, I do have info on non-installed pumps.

As we were preparing to head out for full time cruising I built a spray hood for our main hatch. I built it wide and had extra space in it. So... I decided to put our wash down pump there, instead of plumbing into the below deck systems.

I can't express how GREAT this has been! One of the BEST aspects was when we were in the Sea of Cortez during the summer. It may sound strange, but by lowering the pickup hose deeper into the sea water (apx. 15 ft.) I was picking up water about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the surface water (often 95+ degrees 24/7). It was like we had air conditioning aboard! I would wash down the deck during the day with the cold water.

This is a photo of the box.
You can see all the info on the box on our web page in the Outfitting Guenevere and projects page. Including a step by step build.

Greg

Delezynski · Jan 5, 2014

TFrere said:
Thanks Greg, that is the information I was looking for. I have considered building my own portable pump box. Do you mind letting me know the pump you used? Does it have a pressure switch? I looked at the spray hood project on your website but not much about the washdown pump. Your spray hood is very impressive.
Thanks

No problem, glad to help. The original pump I installed was a Shurflow (I think)I picked up at a swap meet for about $30. It does have a pressure cut off switch built in. So, once the hose is pressurized, the pump stops.

I did have to rebuild the pump switch once after about 4 years of constant use. But it was due to use and salt water inside it all the time, not from being on deck.

Greg

Ron20324 · Jan 5, 2014

I used a paint bucket that I punched a bunch of holes with a solding iron. I secured a typical RULE bilge pump in the bucket. You could use a SS steaming pot also, as it already has the holes. With electric wire of whatever length is needed to reach a cigar outlet, and a water hose that would reach to deck height-plus, I lowered the bucket into the water off the deck anywhere around the boat.