Check those hose clamps and watch the pressure!!

P

PeteMrrs

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We launched our boat for the season a few weeks ago, and everything was working just as expected.

Yesterday was the first time we were able to spend the night on-board. We hooked up to the dock side water like we have for years, and went on about our day.

We were enjoying a good nights sleep, only to be awakened by the sound of the shower sump turning on and then off over and over and over. I got up to see what was going on and found our forward bilge filled with water to the top and over-flowing into the shower sump.

A long story short. When I turned on the water the pressure blew apart a hose connection in the head between the vanity and the outer port side hull. Water had been flowing un-impeeded into the hull for about 12 hours and had reached a depth of 10 inches. [:-snorkel] Thank God it was a simple fix and other than a lot of water to clean up and dry out no major damage occurred.

BTW, all of the water accumulated because of a bad float switch in the forward bilge. So please don't take anything for granted.
 
I hear ya, I never leave the water on during the night or away, just for that reason.
 
same here... i use the tank, never connect to dock water even though i have copper plumbing, not flimsy plastic stuff.

it also pays to check float switches on a regular basis! :-)
 
using the tank and skipping the dockside connection gives you the added benefit of constantly flushing the tank with freshwater.

Paul
 
I don't get the same pressure for my morning shower from the tank that I do from the city water.
I will try it again, plus the other concern about the tank is if you run out of water during your shower or at any time and neglect to turn your hot water off, it will run dry which will burn out the element. I usually try and remember to turn off the city water before leaving the boat for extended times and also I turn off hot water heater when not in needed as well.
 
That's exactly why I use one of those dial water devices from the home stores. I set it to 100 gallons. That lasts the full w/e. Should I forget to turn off the water, it'll only pump up to the preset amount into the bilge should something pop. I still turn off the water when we are away for more than an hour or so.
Had the exact thing happen. Just installed a new FW flush head. I guess with the hammering from the flush valve, a hose blew under the sink. No harm, no foul but it did make a mess till I heard the hissing. I'm going to put an expansion tank in the system to stop the hammering.
During 9/11, a fellow had a houseboat he lived on. Got stuck in AZ due to no flying. Long story short, boat sunk at the dock one night. He left the water on.
 
Where do you get this device, how much and whats it called?
Sounds like a good thing to have!
 
quote:
it will run dry which will burn out the element
Click to expand...


No it won't. The electric element will only burn out if the element not covered with water. In our boat systems the pump pushes water into the water heater tank, and this pressure pushes heated water out. When the pump runs out of water, it stops pushing water into the tank, but the tank is still full, and remains full of water.
 
It's called a sprinkler water timer if I remember correctly. Got it at L*wes for about $12. just make sure it uses gallons vs. time to shutoff.

quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

Where do you get this device, how much and whats it called?
Sounds like a good thing to have!

Click to expand...
 
More boats sink at the dock from that cause than any other. The shore water line should always be turned off - and disconnected from the dock connection - whenever you go to sleep or leave the boat for more than an hour. The reason for disconnecting it, is that oftentimes more than one boat's shore hoses are connected to the same bank of dock faucets. If a dockmate should notice that your water line is turned off, he might turn it back on, thinking he's doing you a favor - that maybe some kids turned it off, as a prank. But if the hose is actually disconnected, most people won't go to the bother of re-connecting it, and then turning the water back on.
 
I got one on ebay, made by a company called gilmour.
Can be set for gallons.
 
Actually, the water tank would taste better, Pete!
 
Rick;

Thanks for the correction. It would have been H*LL to have 10" of holding tank in the bilge.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

More boats sink at the dock from that cause than any other. The shore water line should always be turned off - and disconnected from the dock connection - whenever you go to sleep or leave the boat for more than an hour. The reason for disconnecting it, is that oftentimes more than one boat's shore hoses are connected to the same bank of dock faucets. If a dockmate should notice that your water line is turned off, he might turn it back on, thinking he's doing you a favor - that maybe some kids turned it off, as a prank. But if the hose is actually disconnected, most people won't go to the bother of re-connecting it, and then turning the water back on.

Click to expand...


That's the best advice.
 
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