Pressurized Water System

[Claude L.-Auger]

Is that a custom copper "T" set-up coming off the top of the engine's internal system water pump?

Yes Dan, boat was set up like that when I bought it in 2000. I replaced the engine a few years ago but having had no problem I installed the "T" set-up on rebuilt engine. The "T" is for temp alarm sender and top elbow is for heat exch. hose to water heater. Other WH hose goes into the engine directly.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

With all this in mind is there any need to "winterize" our water system?

Doug, I'm just around the corner from you in Thunderbird Marina and I winterized my potable water system just once, when the boat was on the hard for the winter, and never again. It took several months to get rid of the chemical smell of the PG antifreeze (something like cat urine) no matter how carefully we drained and rinsed the tank. The water tank is not used for drinking water and with the small amount of PG antifreeze remaining in it, dish-washing became questionable.

I find that the heat from two 80 watt "dehumidifiers" (now there's a scam) AND the heat coming from the water under the hull are sufficient to keep the interior temperature to 0 deg. C. or slightly better. During our last cold spell of -11 deg. C (a relative heat wave on the east coast) I found the interior of the boat was 0 deg. C with an outside temperature of -9 deg. C at that time. Given the surface area of the wetted hull, I wouldn't be surprised to find the hull is the major source of heat within the cabin. I find this is more than enough to get us through our short cold spells.

Another source of heat is to keep your water tank and holding tanks full and uncovered.

 

[lumberczar]

I appear to have air in my fresh water lines. I turn the electric pump on and the water spurts un-evenly and sometimes not at all. The pump also doesn't turn off. I also just hear a bubbling sound from the hot water heater as if the pump is just blowing air into it.

 

[lumberczar]

I have a 1995 Hunter 36 Vision

 

[splax]

fresh water system

I appear to have air in my fresh water lines. I turn the electric pump on and the water spurts un-evenly and sometimes not at all. The pump also doesn't turn off. I also just hear a bubbling sound from the hot water heater as if the pump is just blowing air into it.

This occurs when the pump is not able to draw water into the lines and pressurize the system. Filll the tank or use the selector valve to draw from a tank with water in it. The fresh water tanks may be set up so that one may flow to fill another, allowing one to be used to fill and another drawn from to supply the system, but this is not efficient use and probably means the selector valve is bad.

 

[waternwaves]

".....spurts un-evenly and sometimes not at all."




Sounds like intake clogged...... you don't still have the aluminum tank do you?

 

[lumberczar]

Making great progress guys. 50% better. Input joint to strainer had gash., not a very good seal. Also, think the supply valve from the only tank, 75 gal, isn't opening right or is clogged. Shopping for replacement valve. It does appear that the pump is straining to get water it can't get somehow and is "sucking air". I did make sure the tank was full.