Washdown Kit

Nodak7 · Jul 26, 2012

Bowedtoothdoc said:
Anyone have an opinion on washdown kits for my 450? I am considering this unit which could be mounted in the anchor locker.
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|51|299222|315122&id=1813340

Bowed, I just installed a Johnson 5.2 Wash Down Pump Kit on our boat about two weeks ago. Installation was pretty straightforward. I am very very pleased with it and have used it a lot since installation. Good pressure, lots of capacity and pretty quiet operation. The boat is much cleaner now!

Why did I purchase this kit? It was complete. Including the strainer, panel switch and fuse. I believe it was rated pretty high in Practical Sailor when I read their test.

Notes: I did not use the deck fitting they supplied with the kit since it was pretty cheap plastic and did not look like it would last or look good on the deck. I purchased a metal one, with hose plug, from West Marine I believe. Very happy with that as well. The kit came with a 25' hose but I soon realized that a 50' hose was what I needed.

My connection to the thru hull is at the cluster aft. I tee'd off the thru hull that supplies the AC pump.

Good luck!

seadaddler · Jul 26, 2012

Salt or Fresh

My is salt water and the hose and connection is in the anchor locker and even have it at the stern for washing off any mess from fishing or dirty from anything and love it.
My pump is at the 6 thru hulls on my H-36 and connected to the intake for tiolet with extra shut off and the switch under nav station,works great for washing off the mud on anchor,I also added stainless connectors for the hose.
All boats will be different where to get raw water intake and did not want to use my fresh water supply and when at the dock wash everything even the anchor locker and rrode with fresh water but that's how I use and like it.
nick

Nodak7 · Jul 26, 2012

Of course the layout in the 450 is much different than the 41 but I mounted mine under the deck in the salon just outside the aft head. That way I had easy access to the thru hulls and an easy way to run the discharge line up to the deck. I used the same chase as the starboard water tank fill line. Also there is easy access to the electricals in that area. I really do not have any thru hulls that I can use up forward and would not want to clutter up my anchor locker with the the pump or its discharge.

onecoolair · Jul 26, 2012

Heres my take.....In your case...Under the sink in forward head sounds best. Plus you can tie it in to the sink drain thru hull close buy or head pickup thru hull. This way pump can pull max preasure. Make sure you run the properly sized electric wiring back to the deadicated breaker on your main breaker panel . I am guessing at least #10. Mount hose bib fitting in anchor locker.

Nodak7 · Jul 26, 2012

onecoolair said:
Heres my take.....In your case...Under the sink in forward head sounds best. Plus you can tie it in to the sink drain thru hull close buy or head pickup thru hull. This way pump can pull max preasure. Make sure you run the properly sized electric wiring back to the deadicated breaker on your main breaker panel . I am guessing at least #10. Mount hose bib fitting in anchor locker.

Onecool, not certain that you want to tie into a sink drain. You could end up pulling more water out that can be replaced and then you end up pulling some air down from the sink drain. Just my take on that.

Rick486 · Jul 27, 2012

I installed my pump right alongside the forward head shower drain, and teed into the forward vanity drain for supply. The outlet goes from the pump through the lockers beneath the forward bunk to a chase for the windlass electrical feed. I then installed a nice SS faucet alongside the windlass in the anchor locker.
All works fine.

onecoolair · Jul 27, 2012

Nodak7 said:
Onecool, not certain that you want to tie into a sink drain. You could end up pulling more water out that can be replaced and then you end up pulling some air down from the sink drain. Just my take on that.

One could give it a try ...Some have done it that way, but if becomes a problem then, just relocate it to head pickup which should be very close by.
One will just have to do what best works for there situation.

Buck420 · Jul 27, 2012

Bowedtoothdoc said:
Is it ok to power it off of the windlass or do I need to run a dedicated line back to the pannel?

I've been powering mine off the windless breaker for about 12 years now, and,
so far, no problems

onecoolair · Jul 27, 2012

Bowedtoothdoc said:
Sounds good! Now I just need to figure where to mount the switch/fuse.

The wash down pump works just like your water preasure pump. So a Breaker would be better. Flip breaker on to use then flip it off when done..

Buck420 · Jul 27, 2012

Although onecoolair is correct, when you flip on the windless breaker, the washdown pump has power, along with the windless, and can be wired that way.
However, I did put in a switch to turn my washdown pump on and off because I wanted it to be isolated from the windless.

onecoolair · Jul 27, 2012

Buck420 said:
Although onecoolair is correct, when you flip on the windless breaker, the washdown pump has power, along with the windless, and can be wired that way.
However, I did put in a switch to turn my washdown pump on and off because I wanted it to be isolated from the windless.

Correction.....Lets be more clear....
Seperate on off breaker for wash down , Leave windless breaker alone. I believe each should to operated seperately and not depend on the other. I would put the breaker on/ off at or on the main breaker panel. There should be space. And run the proper size gauge wire to the pump. On my H356 there was extra knock out space to add a dedicated breaker feed off main panel. I would assume on the bigger H450 there would and should be same. My windless on/ off breaker is on main panel also. This controls power to the up/down switches and relay. Then below nav next to main battery 1/2/both/off switch is an extra main breaker it is wired directly to the "c" post on main battery switch. Very large gauge cables ! This kills power to windless all the way to bow. When windless overloads this is the one that trips first.

Buck420 · Jul 29, 2012

onecoolair said:
Correction.....Lets be more clear....
Seperate on off breaker for wash down , Leave windless breaker alone. I believe each should to operated seperately and not depend on the other. I would put the breaker on/ off at or on the main breaker panel. There should be space. And run the proper size gauge wire to the pump. On my H356 there was extra knock out space to add a dedicated breaker feed off main panel. I would assume on the bigger H450 there would and should be same. My windless on/ off breaker is on main panel also. This controls power to the up/down switches and relay. Then below nav next to main battery 1/2/both/off switch is an extra main breaker it is wired directly to the "c" post on main battery switch. Very large gauge cables ! This kills power to windless all the way to bow. When windless overloads this is the one that trips first.

420's, 450's, (etc) windless' are wired the same as you describe... ie, dedicated panel breaker for windless which switches large D/C breaker next to panel supplying DC power to windless via large gauge wire run up to the bow.
After discussing powering washing down pump w/ service guys at Norton Yacht Sales, I took power off from the windless lugs (up forward), routing wiring to the washdown pump thru an on/off switch (located on the wall of the fwd head). This saved snaking wiring from panel forward to washdown pump.
But, adding another dedicated panel breaker for washdown pump as you describe, may be a "more correct" way of wiring the it... not sure.
I am sure that I've has no problems with the way my washdown/windless has been wired for the past 12 years.

onecoolair · Jul 29, 2012

Buck420 said:
420's, 450's, (etc) windless' are wired the same as you describe... ie, dedicated panel breaker for windless which switches large D/C breaker next to panel supplying DC power to windless via large gauge wire run up to the bow.
After discussing powering washing down pump w/ service guys at Norton Yacht Sales, I took power off from the windless lugs (up forward), routing wiring to the washdown pump thru an on/off switch (located on the wall of the fwd head). This saved snaking wiring from panel forward to washdown pump.
But, adding another dedicated panel breaker for washdown pump as you describe, may be a "more correct" way of wiring the it... not sure.
I am sure that I've has no problems with the way my washdown/windless has been wired for the past 12 years.

Buck...If it works for you then great...you can sure set it up that way. The heavy gauge cables for windless motor should certainly be able to carey the current of a simple wash down pump motor just as long as people remember to put a breaker/fuse for wash down motor that can trip in the event the motor develops a short. This way it does not interfear with windless, shutting it down when you need it the most.
My problem for me is. The main breaker for windless is under nav station and next to main 1/2/both/off selector cut off switch. It stays off unless I know I am going to be needing to use windless. If I had my wash down pump the way you descibe which I use more often. Then I would always have to energize that heavy cable to windless motor. What if I forget and leave main windless motor cable powered up then wash down motor will always have power to it. And since on/off breaker for wash down pump is not at main nav panel were it can be readily monitored like all the other functions of the boat. Then the preasure regulator on motor malfunctions or some other sort of calamity. Then the ussaully connected hose hanging on the bow pulpit decides to bust and it starts spraying the nieghbor two boats over who was having a very nice nap, while I am not there. Don't laugh as happened.

Just some things for people to think about. Do I follow plan A B or C. ??