stearn & strbrd tank valves.

[Gene Regan]

Call me dumb but ,,,,,
   Why do we have shut off valves for both tanks? I can understand why we would need a valve somewhere close to the bilge that served to drain the tanks for cleaning and emptying purposes, but wht bother having to switch one to the other. I usually just leave both on any way. Perhaps the purpose is so that when one is empty youll know to fill but beyond that ????
   Replaced both mine last weekend and used ball type as reccomended install was fine took 1.0 hr after run to home depot. Tubing for those who wonder about size is 5/8 id reinforced hose. A 1/2 " valve works nicely with threaded nipples to hoses on either side.Also installed t's to system with hose extending to bilge for draining.  Would be nice to go sailing now but stiil a few projects remain. Enjoy the season everyone

[Stu Jackson]

WATER TANK VALVES

Gene

My understanding is that the valves can isolate the tanks so that if one goes bad the other can remain uncontaminated.  While the chances of that are slim, we keep them separated with the valves.  When one goes empty, we know it's time to refill, but we still have the other one.  I keep switching between the stern 43 gallon tank and the starboard 28 gallon tank as lead/lag.

Stu

[Ray & Sandy Erps]

I had a plastic wire tie fail on our mooring system, allowing a clevis pin to back out resulting in our boat on the beach last year.  When we arrived at low tide, we found a great deal of water inside the boat which was lying on its port side.  I panicked, thinking it was salt water that got inside somehow.  It ended up being fresh water from the rear tank that siphoned through the foot pump, into the sink, filling up the sink, as the thru hull was closed, then running out into the cabin.  Got the boat put away on the next high tide and now we close the water valves too, when we leave the boat unattended.  Prior to that, we ran off the rear tank, when it went empty, we knew how much water was remaining in the reserve tank.

[PAUL T.]

Gene.... I keep my aft tank empty, why keep 344 pounds of water sitting in the back of the boat unless you're cruising and have no choice.....Just my two cents......PAUL.

[Brad Costan]

I have 2 white valves located back under the sink....I figured they were for the tanks, but it's nearly impossible to get back under there to figure out which one is for which tank....I can barely reach them to turn them.

Does anyone know which valve controls which tank ?   They are side by side, but one sits outboard of the other by a few inches.

[Jim Price]

Starbord valve is aft tank; Port valve is forward tank on '91 boats

[Stu Jackson]

Different on my '86, port valve (to centerline of boat) is the starboard tank, the aft tank is the starboard outboard valve.

It's really not that hard to trace with a flashlight if you take the drawers out.

Then mark only one on the plywood base under the drawers.  (That's only if you can remember what the second one is for!:))

Stu

[Gene Regan]

Good Morning,

    Thank you all for your replies it sure is great to get all the input. Ball valves are the way to go and having them set up in such a way as they dump into the bilge when you need to empty is great.
SAIL ON SAIL ON SAILORS

[Stu Jackson]

I just couldn't resist

What, why would I call anyone DUMB?

Stu

:)

[Gene Regan]

Sorry Stu,

  Perhaps something that better describes me ,
Hmmmm lets see.......
  Brave,   Irrestible,  TO sexy for my boat,      HOT ! ! !  Provacative,   Great Cook,    Charming,    Motivating,   Looks Great in trunks,  Oh !!! and did I forget Shy????

Sail on Sail on Sailor