Washdown pump install on a 44/426

[captainpat]

Looking to add an anchor washdown pump to my Hunter 426/44 aft. I would like to get installation details from anyone who has accomplished this modification. My thinking is to tee off of the forward head intake for water supply. I need some input for the rest of the installation: where to mount the pump; how to run the hoses and electric; etc. Any suggestions would be very helpful.

 

[Lee Coller]

I just installed a washdown pump on my 44DS. I teed into the forward vanity drain (my heads are fresh water). My main problem was figuring out how to reduce the hose size from 1 1/4" to 3/4" for the wash down pump.

I installed the washdown pump under the v-berth just inside the front access door on the port side and ran the hose under the v-berth and into the area under the anchor locker. I drilled a hole on the far starboard side of the anchor locker next to the windlass. Note that the fiberglass is 2" thick there.

For electrical, I ran the wires inside the same conduit the windlass electric ran.

 

[Rick486]

I just installed a washdown pump on my 44DS. I teed into the forward vanity drain (my heads are fresh water). My main problem was figuring out how to reduce the hose size from 1 1/4" to 3/4" for the wash down pump.

I installed the washdown pump under the v-berth just inside the front access door on the port side and ran the hose under the v-berth and into the area under the anchor locker. I drilled a hole on the far starboard side of the anchor locker next to the windlass. Note that the fiberglass is 2" thick there.

For electrical, I ran the wires inside the same conduit the windlass electric ran.

I also installed the washdown pump in my 44DS in a very similar way to Lee's. The only real difference is that I installed the pump just next to the forward shower sump after teeing into the vanity drain. As Lee describes, I drilled a hole through the 2" thick section near the windlass and installed a nice SS shutoff for the hose. Works fine.

 

[captainpat]

Thanks guys. Teeing off of the vanity drain works. In my case I thought that, since I do not have fresh water heads, taking the water supply off of the head intake would also provide a way to help keep that line clear of stagnant sea water, which is a problem with that head. If I understand you correctly, the windless "shelf" is 2" thick fiberglass? I would not have thought it was that thick. I'm wondering if there is a windless back-up plate molded into the fiberglass as with the stanchions. What is the hole distance right or left of the windless that is a good measurement to miss any back-up plate that may be there? Also, how do you get access to the underside of that "shelf"? I would imagine from the V-berth? I haven't checked yet, but my assumption is that the windless lines run up from under the v-berth and should be accessible to run the water and electric lines.

 

[Marc14857]

Gentlmen

I've been thinking about the same mod on my 44AC. The part that is confusing me is the tee into the vanity drain. Are you using that as the supply to the pump i.e. reverse flow from the thru hull to the pump?

Marc

 

[captainpat]

Marc; Teeing off the vanity drain is apparently possible because it is below the water line.

 

[Schatzi]

I installed one when I converted my stern head to fresh water. Then used the rear head seacock for the washdown. Mounted the motor under the floor between the shower and the galley counter with the strainer near the seacock. Ran the wires to the electrical panel (short run) with new breaker and label to match existing. I then ran 3/4 hose along the center line of the boat to the windlass area. I then mounted a 1/4 turn hose bib on the top left side of the stern wall of the anchor locker. Be careful here as the backing is not flat so you might want to drill a pilot hole first. When complete, I put a 6" piece of PVC on the port side of the anchor locker to store the coiled hose. It works great for clearing the Chesapeake mud on my Fortress! Of course you have to add it to your winterizing list.