I am a new owner of a c34 and would like to add a domestic water hookup from the dockside water. Does anyone have experience in making this conversion?
I did a quick search and didn't turn up anything. Maybe someone else can. I seem to remember a discussion, but can't find it.
From the C36 forum, may be helpful.
http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198&highlight=dock+water
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorView?langId=-1&storeId=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Fresh-water-Systems
The advice in the C36 link is well taken. NEVER leave the pressurized water on if you leave the boat, even just to go up to shore to pick something up from your car. Like: NEVER.
If you spring a leak and run all the water in both tanks into the bilge, no problem, the water weight was already in the boat. If you spring a leak from shore water hook up you can sink the boat, you would be surprised how fast water will fill a space.
Ralph
Ciao Bella
You figure a standard 5/8 inch hose can deliver 17 gallons a minute and a rule 500 pump can suck out 8 gallons per minute.............................
Ralph
Quote from: tom475 on January 25, 2012, 07:40:48 AM
I am a new owner of a c34 and would like to add a domestic water hookup from the dockside water. Does anyone have experience in making this conversion?
Tom, one thing I forgot to ask: Why are you considering this?
Tom : Stu hit the nail on the head - is a pressure fresh water hook up really necessary ??, because it' can be dangerous !!
With about 78 gallons on board, you aught to get thru a couple of days before you have to refill the tanks!!
I'd like to echo all the previous remarks. We live aboard and that includes regular (Daily) showers for two, drinking, dish washing etc..... we fill tanks every 4 days. If we're out on the hook in the summer, usually can push that out to a week with less showering. We had a power boat sink here due to shore pressure system.
1 drop of water per second from a dripping hose equals 2,642 gallons a year. check your washers and fittings.
Quote from: Stu Jackson on January 25, 2012, 08:54:23 AM
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorView?langId=-1&storeId=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Fresh-water-Systems
The advice in the C36 link is well taken. NEVER leave the pressurized water on if you leave the boat, even just to go up to shore to pick something up from your car. Like: NEVER.
Here's better advice. NEVER CONNECT PRESSURIZED WATER TO YOUR BOAT!!! :D There is NO need. Fill the tanks and pump from them.
I still remember the screaming at 3:30 am when a guy two slips over at Wentworth Marina in New Castle NH woke up to knee deep water and his wife was hysterical. Internal plumbing failed, it is NOT designed for "street" pressure, and began to fill the boat. This boat even had a PRV (pressure reducing valve). The Rule bilge pump could not keep up, they usually won't, the fuse eventually blew and they were sinking and did not even know it. Luckily he got up to pee.... Boat sustained thousands of dollars in damage because they were simply too lazy to fill the tanks occasionally.
This is NOT and uncommon occurrence. Some marinas now specifically prohibit the physical connection of a boat to street water.
Quote from: SD Diver on January 25, 2012, 03:32:27 PM
You figure a standard 5/8 inch hose can deliver 17 gallons a minute and a rule 500 pump can suck out 8 gallons per minute.............................
Ralph
That's with NO head pressure or hose restrictions, perfect voltage and on a perfect day. These pumps rarely get anywhere even remotely close to the grossly misleading marketing capacity emblazoned on the pump body..
Most installed centrifugal pumps can BARELY pump 50% of their rated capacity after being installed in the average sailboat. Deep keel sumps are even worse than a Catalina 34. A 500GPH pump will do about 3-4 GPM, if you're lucky, and used smooth walled hose with minimal bends and restrictions. The garden hose at street pressure is no match for most bilge pumps...
I once had a customer install a Rule 2000 because he thought his diaphragm pump at 8GPM was too small. He was adamant that his new Rule would pump more. To test we simply dumped two 5 gallon buckets of water into his bilge. His PAR/Jabsco pump kicked the butt of the new Rule 2000. The Rule, at face value, claimed 33 GPM and was doing less than 5GPM, installed, due to static losses while the diaphragm pump was pumping damn close to it's rating.
Thanks everyone for the advice.
My Catalina 34 1988 has a garden hose hook-up next to the shore power recepticle, now was that stock?, or did someone put that in, I gotta tell ya we use it alot, we crack the faucet on the dock and after 5 years we never had any issue, of course we always shut it off when we are away, but not just to go to the car for something.
All of the warnings here are certainly of merit but I inspect and trust my system enough to use it during the day, off at night of course. Sometimes we are at dock for days and I like it that we have the capability to hook up shore water versus running the onboard pump and filling the tanks.
By the way Tom, congratulations on your new C34 and welcome to the forum. :thumb: As you can tell from the responses to your very first posting, you will find tons of informed advice here.
I can't believe that was stock, and not added by a previous owner. As noted above, it doesn't take long for a catastrophe to be well underway. With the number of connections in the pressurized water system, you have a lot of potential failure points. I'd say you've had 5 years of good luck.
I lived aboard for about 4 years back in the late 90's....never begrudged having to fill my tanks every few or several days.
Quote from: Bobg on January 26, 2012, 04:24:34 PM
My Catalina 34 1988 has a garden hose hook-up next to the shore power recepticle, now was that stock?, or did someone put that in, I gotta tell ya we use it alot, we crack the faucet on the dock and after 5 years we never had any issue, of course we always shut it off when we are away, but not just to go to the car for something.
All of the warnings here are certainly of merit but I inspect and trust my system enough to use it during the day, off at night of course. Sometimes we are at dock for days and I like it that we have the capability to hook up shore water versus running the onboard pump and filling the tanks.
You can get a manual sprinkler timer at any sprinkler shop that will shut off after so many gallons (50-300) or so many minuets (30-300)for about $12.00..install it at the faucet....just change it every 6 months as they can collect grunge from the water...
Hey all:
I want to put a dockside connection on my boat. I've had dockside connections on my last 3 boats spanning 23 years without problems. But, I do recognize the hazard, I believe I read once that more boats sink at the dock that anywhere else. Not sure if that's true but one must be careful.
Now, after all the good reasons listed as to why not, why do want to?
Our club has a well and about 10 years ago they finally came through with city water/sewer out by us. We kept the well for our docks and have city water for the clubhouse and water at our gas dock. We've noticed that well water (the only water available at the docks) seems to sour slightly after being kept in the boats tanks out of the ground. City water, treated, seems to stay better in the tanks. I sanitize my tanks each spring.
I do like the suggestion by Susan about the sprinkler meter. I've used them at home. We bring the water to the end of our dock and use a very short hose to the boat. I've also developed the habit of ALWAYS shutting off the valve when I leave the boat, even if it is to leave the club grounds to go out to eat while staying on the boat.
Just my 2ยข
Steve
visit us at: www.ocontoyachtclub.com (http://www.ocontoyachtclub.com)
Due to the constructive critisim on this board for the dock side water attachment on my boat. I quit using it. Sure seemed like a good idea at the time while I was blissfully ignorant though, but my friends on this board have convinced me.. Thanks guys
Seems to me that if you shut off the water anytime you leave the boat (just like you should close all your seacocks) then you should be OK. Just my $.02...
thats ironic....this is my next project. My reason is to get colder air from ac when at dockside. Much rather cool 72 degree water than 85. But wouldnt leave pressure on while away
Quote from: stevewitt1 on February 03, 2014, 06:59:39 PM
I believe I read once that more boats sink at the dock that anywhere else.
I'm sure it is true since the vast majority of boats spend anywhere from 70 to 100% of their time tied to a dock, most likely, that is where they will sink.
Just another input from a poster named "Magellanyacht" on cruisersforum
I just experienced an awful situation. I am restoring a Bruce Roberts Mauritius steel 44 pilot house. It has a dockside hook-up for pressurized water. Love it. Don't have to listen to water pump when at dock plus keeps tanks full. When I leave the boat I always (except once) close the valve on the boat side and also the valve on the water side. I've have used it for almost 2 years without a drip. I have two auto bilge pumps capable of 2000 GPH.
Three weeks ago I reached the top of the dock and realized I hadn't closed the valve. I was tired and figured it was OK since I had left it on 12 hours a day for a long time without a problem. Next morning the the water was 2 ft over the floorboards submerging half the engine. The inner hose had slipped off. Lucky I have V-Drive so engine is high but feared for my Lehman 2711e. Also was working on bilge pump so only one was working.
Two weeks later, after pulling everything off the boat including all cabinet and locker liners and using multiple heaters and blowers I am finally getting on top of it. Also ran gallons of oil through the engine and changed 6 filters twice. Engine seems fine now. I got lucky.
Stupid? Absolutely. I have run boats for over 50 years in the Caribe, Med, Northwest & Alaska.
Everyone has their opinion but, the bottom line is, that one mistake can sink a boat.
Don't say we didn't warn ya. :cry4`
Stu : Nice post!!
Guys : If you have ever done any long range cruising, you learn that you can't "save" water. In other words you need to use the water in a particular tank and then refill it with "fresh" water.
So why keep using dock water and let the water in at least one tank go "stale". Much better to to change tanks and refill - even at the dock!!
A thought
JTSO
Hundreds of thousands of yachts have been produced with pressure water hookups (mostly power). With all those still on the water that are poised to sink (that haven't already,) we shouldn't be worried about global warming and ocean rise. We'll be inundated.
Seriously? Gasoline and boats don't mix. Boats burn and tanks explode. Ban internal combustion engines on the water.
You can't fix stupid and when their's sinks, that's one less stupid on the water for the remainder of us.
There's safety systems and procedures and common sense solutions without yelling the sky's gonna fall.
Hit something and compromise the hull, and a bilge pump isn't gonna keep up. Solution? Stay at the dock.
JTSO
(mostly power)
Kinda answers the other part: You can't fix stupid
:D :D :D
gwp
Quotethats ironic....this is my next project. My reason is to get colder air from ac when at dockside. Much rather cool 72 degree water than 85. But wouldnt leave pressure on while away
I know I'm not the coldest can in the six-pack, but not the warmest either but you lost me with this statement. How would dockside water play into your a/c? Were your intentions to run dockside water through your A/C condenser exchanger? That would give you a lower head pressure on your compressor and my make your A/C a little more efficient but I think your Marina would not be interested in a constant potable water use for simple thermal exchange. If I'm reading you right.
Steve
visit us at: www.ocontoyachtclub.com (http://www.ocontoyachtclub.com) www.warbirdsix.com (http://www.warbirdsix.com)