Dockside Water

I've always said that when leaving the boat for more than an hour, you should first turn off the dockside water source, then disconnect the hose from the dockside faucet or supply water valve.

If you simply turn off the faucet, someone may come by and turn it back on, thinking they're doing you a favor.

But if you disconnect the hose, they aren't likely to go to the trouble to re-connect it, then turn the water back on.

As far as how to connect your onboard plumbing, have a look at Raritan's recommendations at the bottom of page #2:

http://www.raritaneng.com/pdf_files/water_heater/L206v0911.pdf

Note the inside shutoff valve and the check valve near where the water enters the boat.
 
Vic, and someone could put a hole in your head thinking they are doing you a favor also. About the only people that have done us a favor are those that close a hatch when it is raining, redo a dock line due to wind, or those that call us with a concern.
No one, has ever turned on our dockside water. I'll go so far as to say anyone that did was malicious. With that, having an internal means to shut off the water would be a good thing.
Anyway, one should also shut off their water pump when leaving the boat as well. Same same IMHO because a mess of fresh water in the wrong place because of a burst hose can be a problem as well. It may not sink the boat but it can be a PITA.
 
quote:
Originally posted by dl2525

I will tell you a real world story that just happened this past August 2011.

My slip neighbor had his family on board and they were getting ready to shower. I saw him step off onto the dock and he started hooking up the dockside water to his boat. I explained to him the same things that people commented about on this thread - ie connection fails on the boat it could sink, etc. I already knew that our dockside water had high water pressure. Nevertheless, he hooks up the water and the family begins to shower one by one. At this point I had gone back to my boat and he called me back over. He explained his wife was showering and then she lost water pressure. When she got out of the shower, the floor in the salon was wet. He asked me what the problem was? I said I'm guessing you blew apart one of the connections. He's not mechanical, so I told him I'd look at it later. When I removed the fridge to look at the connections behind it, sure enough the connection had just blown apart. Imagine if he wasn't on the boat and that happened? Yes, I know 'most' turn off the water if they leave the dock, but what if you forget?

Personally I would not bother with the dockside connection. I have never used mine. Not once.

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Once again, shows the need to have a pressure regulator in line somewhere. My boat has one on board, but in a belt and suspenders move, I have one on the dock end of our water hose. And yes, both pumps are turned off too. Since we use and anchor the boat a lot, the tank gets cycled pretty frequently, plus lately a few times each winter when the dock water gets turned off due to low temps.

I view the plumbing system like the electrical system: inadequate design and lack of maintenance of either can destroy your boat. Frankly the electrical system is more dangerous, so I'm curious, who turns off the shore power when they are away from the boat? When we lived on a mooring, obviously SP was never on, but we were only away from the boat a night or two at a time and in a temperate climate.
 
We usually leave it on. The boat is properly wired, and protected with breakers. It's our house. Do people shut off their household power when they leave the house?
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

We usually leave it on. The boat is properly wired, and protected with breakers. It's our house. Do people shut off their household power when they leave the house?

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Exactly. Our approach too. BTW Dan, how's everything? Where are you and what are you doing?
 
Hey Mon, in da Bahamas. Power it go off and on, an da inverder she kick in and she keep da beer col. Wader? We makin dat wida reberze ozmo, and she drinkin' ok. Walkin beaches an hangin' 'round wid all da buds from over da years.
 
For most folks, the "house" can't SINK. But for that reason I fill my tanks when needed and use the internal system. Keeps everything nice and fresh.
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

Vic, and someone could put a hole in your head thinking they are doing you a favor.........

No one, has ever turned on our dockside water. I'll go so far as to say anyone that did was malicious. .......
Click to expand...

Here's how it happens - Guy pulls in next to you and wants to wash his boat. He turns the valve on but nothing happens (that's because he turned yours on by mistake). Now he turns the other valve on, washes his boat, turns it off (or not), and goes home. Meanwhile, the valve you left off is now on.

What are the odds? Do you want to chance it?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

And as I said, dockside water hook ups are just one of many good reasons that every boat should have a high water alarm.
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A high water alarm is fine, but it only helps if someone hears it and knows what to do when he or she does hear it.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

And as I said, dockside water hook ups are just one of many good reasons that every boat should have a high water alarm.
Click to expand...

A high water alarm is fine, but it only helps if someone hears it and knows what to do when he or she does hear it.

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True. But if you don't have one no one will ever hear it. :-)

Most boats don't sink quickly in their slip. So there tends to be lots of time for some one to notice the alarm.

It's a simple matter of notifing the dock master, security guards and the boat owners around you that you have one and what to do if they hear it. I have also seen people who hang signs on their boat when they are gone letting people know what to do in case the alarm goes off.
 
If it's loud enough someone WILL notice and either do something or call you, just to shut the critter up. I have an auto-alarm siren on mine, but unlike an auto alarm it does NOT shut off automatically, it goes till it's manually shut off.

Then there are devices that will automatically call your phone...
 
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