water line obstruction

[tbilyeu]

I just opened my boat this past weekend. We have a 2014 OC 45. I could get no fresh water from the pump which ran perfectly. I traced the problem to a check valve/pressure reducer located after the water inlet from the tank and just in front of the pump. It was full of a putty like material; almost like spackling compound. I assume this is from the plastic tank. I was able to flush it out with a lot of water. The water tank was winterized with pink potable antifreeze. Any ideas where this came from and more importantly how to prevent it from happening again?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If Beneteaus didn't have screen filters as standard equipment on water tanks, you might want to install one. That would prevent recurrence and the glass bowl would be easily inspected/cleaned as necessary.

 

[Gunni]

I’m trying to figure out why there would be a check valve / pressure reducer on the supply side of your tank water. As Don notes this is typically where you see a screen filter to catch any tank gunk before it can get to your water system valves and taps. Be aware that antifreeze is a bio-nutrient and dumping it into your water tank is an invitation to a colony of critters. Better to drain your tank, blow/vac out the lines and leave the connections to your pump open where they can drain. It is a little more work in the fall, but a lot easier to get your water system commissioned in the spring. Pull all your water system tap aerators out and flush your water system until you know you have the bugs flushed. Leave water line screen filters in place to catch them.

 

[arf145]

Totally with Gunni on the drain and blow out method of freshwater winterization. Before doing it that way I'd spend half the season trying to kill the stuff growing in the water system.