Water system question. Regulator/check valve ‘88 Searay bridge

Tpow

Tpow

New Member
Feb 22, 2018
21
Groton, CT
Boat Info
1988 Searay 345 Sedan Bridge
Engines
454 Mercruisers 7.4L
Recently I’ve had an issue with my water regulator. Probably time to replace just making sure I’m fixing the right issue.

I have a manual valve hooked up to my main water housing connection in the cockpit. From there I have a quick disconnect to the dock hose. Recently Ive have noticed when I turn the valve on ( when I return back to the boat) to pressurize the water system, sometimes I hear a strong flow and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I hear a hard flow and then a thunk, to which I have little to zero water pressure through the system. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t. No issue with the dock water pressure. I’ve tested it.

I’ve also had to install my own check valve in the system because the dock water was inadvertently filling up my off shore water tank. It was an easy fix instead of searching for the check valve within the system. Now I’m reading that the regulator acts as a check valve as well. Can anyone verify that?

Any info would help. If it is time to replace the regulator, that’s an easy fix I just don’t know what type, if it matters and also the psi which it allows to go through the system.
 
Did you add the manual valve you talked about above to your shore water connection?

Shore water connection:
inlet.png
 
Yes I added the manual valve. Easier to turn on and off while on the boat instead of climbing off the swim platform and turning it off at the pedestal.
When I detach the manual valve from the housing connection on the boat, there is plenty of water flow through the valve.

That regulator is not exact but a similar part. Just wondering if there is a certain psi the regulator needs to be at. So I don’t blow out my water system.
 
Most of the descriptions for the regulators built into the inlet are set at 65 psi. So your boat internal plumbing won't see more then 65 psi.
 
Great. Thanks.
Do you know if that regulator acts as the check valve to the system as well?
 
Tpow said:
Great. Thanks.
Do you know if that regulator acts as the check valve to the system as well?
Click to expand...

Yes, I see in many of the descriptions say there is a check valve in the unit so water will not come out of the inlet when the 12v pump is activated .... NOT that it keeps water from entering your fresh water tank.

Now you say when you are hooked up to shore water that your fresh water tank fills up.

I know in looking at the water system schematics for my fresh water system there is nothing inline that says it acts as back flow valve. You would think it would be located on the fresh water pump if your boat was equipped. I would assume if water is back-feeding through your fresh water pump the diaphragm might not be sealing well. (just a guess)
 
That is my assumption as well. Instead of changing the water pump I put a ten dollar check valve just prior to the water pump. Fixed my issues. Was just curious if that regulator that allegedly failed acted as a check valve as well. Causing the full up of the tank.

So safe to say a 65 psi regulator will suit my boat.

Thanks for the help.
 
There are two check valves. The dock connector on the boat is a regulator and a check valve. The other check valve is built into the fresh water pump.

The dock check valve ensures that while running the fresh water pump, water is not pouring out of the dock connector.

The check valve on the fresh water pump ensures that when your running on dock water, its not feeding back into your fresh water tank, filling it up.

Two supplies for water (dock and tank) and each with their own check valve too prevent cross flow contamination.
 
Thank you clarification. All makes sense
 
Now I need to find a replacement regulator to fix my issue of the dock water supply feeding the system only when it wants too.
 
some of the older dockside water connection regulators can be removed / disassembled/ cleaned / and reassembled.
look close at the connection area, if there are two tiny holes on either side of where you connect the garden hose, this type can be cleaned. two tiny nails in the holes as pins and unscrew the insert from housing. be very carefull at the end of removal- there is a spring putting a little pressure forcing it out. keep everything in order, clean and reinsert.

If its already broke you have nothing to lose trying to clean them up and reassemble.
The worst is you wasted some dock time if you still have to replace in the end.
 
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