Wash down system for H356

[Terry Cox]

Hi Jim, just a thought FWIW. I installed a wash...

down system on our boat three years ago and it has worked quite well for me. No moving parts, no electrical connections to fuss with, no hoses, pumps, valves, etc. It is a round two gallon plastic bucket with a sturdy handle and rope so that I can drop it over the side and refill it as needed.Terry

 

[chuckwayne]

ok, peggy, now I'm confused....

Please clarify-I may suffer from brain fade sometimes, but I doubt I'm totally incorrect-you've always advised people never to connect a standard head to the freshwater system because of the danger of contamination. If the little buggers can get out of the head and up the supply hose into the freshwater system, then they certainly can get up the hose and into the washdown system-especially if helped by a pump. I even consulted my bible-your book, page 10, and you're very explicit. I don't understand why this would be a safe thing to do.BTW, I'm in biotech and I have to deal with preventing bacterial contamination all the time-it only takes one of the little beasts to give you real problems, and they love nice warm dark hoses.

 

[Vinny]

Contamination

I think the answer might be "who cares if you contaminate a wash down?". But you do care if you contaminate your fresh water supply. Vinny

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Vinny got it right, Chuck

Unless you plan to drink the water from your washdown or use the same hose to fill your water tank, it doesn't matter if there's already a little bacteria in the same water used to wash the bird poop off your decks.However, I would not tee any connection from the fresh water system into a sea water washdown, whether the washdown uses the same thru-hull as the toilet or not.

 

[Linda]

Garmin 3010

Hi Jim,I have nothing to say about the wash-down, but would love to know about the integated speed and depth into one thru hull that you mentioned. Is it a Garmin Sensor (I cannot seem to find it on their site)?Thanks,Linda

 

[newly anonymous]

power

Jim,When I did mine (h410) I decided not to tie into the windlass for electrical since that runs off the starter battery and you really don't want to run that circuit without the engine on. Instead, I teed into the forward head's macerator via a toggle. It was a bit weird, but it worked great.For what it's worth, I put in the better part of a day installing that washdown system, and rarely used it once it was operational. Decided to go with a bucket on a rope on the new boat.

 

[Graysailor]

air bubble?

My wash down pump seems to have air in the system. Any clues on how to purge the system?

 

[Jim Seamans]

Wash Down responds

Just now getting back online after surgery (Jan 5). Had to have my right shoulder worked on. Hurts like hell.The weekend before surgery I decided to install the pickup for water via the old transducer opening, I replaced the thru-hull. It makes for a shorter run for the hoses. The electrical is going to require a bit more work. Found out the power to the windlass is hot all the time which would not work for the pump. I need to bring a hot line from the panel !!! Can use the ground line at the windlass to complete the circuit. I've been taking plenty of pictures and will post sometime.Linda - this combo unit came with the Garmin network system which included everything but radar. The knot/depth are in the same thru-hull unit.Terry - I've used a bucket for more years than I can remember. I need to come out here and deal with the Chesapeake MUD - it stinks and sticks to everything.Hopefully I can get back to working on the boat by the end of February.JimS/V Java

 

[chuckwayne]

windlass power on all the time?

Jim,hope you feel better soon!I'd trace the windlass 12v line back to the power panel and install a high current shutoff switch. It's a safety issue-both for crew protection and fire safety-there should be a breaker/fuse within a few feet of the power takeoff, and it's a good idea to be able to positively kill power to the windlass except for when you intend to use it. from what you say, it sounds like someone could accidently activate the windlass from the deck pushbuttons while working on deck or in the anchor locker-that's bad. We keep the windlass power off until we want to use it, and that's when we usually want the washdown-so we use the same feed.Chuck Wayne H356 WWW.Escape

 

[Jim Seamans]

You're right Chuck

The circuit breaker is already there next to the battery switch under the nav table. I'm just indicating the power is there and ON. The windlass panel switch just provides power to the foot switches that activate the windlass.JimS/V Java

 

[chuckwayne]

belt and suspenders

Jim,our windlass was installed by our dealer and is wired a little differently from the factory installation. we usually switch the breaker off unless we plan to use the windlass. in any case, the pump shuts off after it pressurizes the system so it's not a real issue if it's powered up.

 

[Tony]

Smell from residual water

As Jim and all Cesapeake sailors know, bay water left for a week really smells. This is why many of us use fresh water to flush or are careful of residual bay water in pickup since the water between the head pickup and the head after a week almost knocks you down at that firast flush when you come back.I do not have a washdown system and use the bucket method but upon return to home slip one of our must do's before leaving is a full freshwater flush of the anchor locker, chain, anchor etc. those of you who have washdown systems, do you ever experience problems from water left in the system til next week end?Just curioust

 

[chuckwayne]

the little critters sure do stink *yks

in the summer in new england! our washdown uses fresh water, and we have a diverter valve in the head pickup-to the sink drain, so our last flush for the weekend is fresh water plus CP-stops the stink cold.