2002 Sundancer - How to Turn Water system on

rrascher

rrascher

Member
Apr 2, 2007
30
Sandy Springs, GA
Boat Info
380 Sundancer 2002
Engines
8.1S
I have a 2002 Sundancer 260 and am looking to turn the water on. I turned the one faucet (hot) on and the pink winterizing fluid came out and then it stopped. I filled the fresh water tank and nothing happens. I can hook-up a hose to the regulated water and then everything works. The manuel says there is a fuse for the water system but I dont see one, alll fuse rockers are in the on position and I do not get any water without the hose connected..... any suggestions?

Thanks,
Ray
 
Can you hear the pump running at all? If the pump is running you probably need to bleed air out of the system. I know this sounds a bit silly, but I have actually found it easiest to remove a sprayer from one of the hoses (such as in the head) and while the pump is running, suck on the hose (like you would if you were siphoning something). This little extra "boost" is all it takes to break the air lock. I always had a problem getting my 240SD fresh water system to work in the spring, and this little trick always worked for me.

If the pump is not running, have you tried using a multi meter to check for voltage at the pump itself? If you are getting voltage, then a blown fuse is probably the problem and you will have to locate it. If you are getting power, then the pump itself is probably bad and will have to be replaced.
 
Also, in addition to Dave's recommendation, depending on who winterized her, they may have turned off the valves on the water manifold, or at the water heater. Check to see if they're open.
 
I will also add since this boat may be new to you. Is the water pump turned on? It's on the dash and has a symbol of a rectangle with a wavy line running across it. SeaRay has some interesting symbols.
 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.. I am ashamed to say it was the switch in the dashboard... I just picked up the boat this past weekend so I am still familiarizing myself with everything.

Ray
 
Don't be ashamed - you should see some of my questions :grin:
This board is great for this kind of info :smt038
 
Ray.....that's how we learn so don't be ashamed. I have made a lot of mistakes like that myself. This board is here to help in any way we can. It's interesting that your 260 has the switch on the dashboard because mine doesn't so I would never even have thought of that myself and would probably be scratching my head also trying to figure out why the system wasn't working.
 
Dave S said:
Ray.....that's how we learn so don't be ashamed. I have made a lot of mistakes like that myself. This board is here to help in any way we can. It's interesting that your 260 has the switch on the dashboard because mine doesn't so I would never even have thought of that myself and would probably be scratching my head also trying to figure out why the system wasn't working.
Click to expand...
Your 260 has it too Dave it's just that you haven't found it yet. Besides your method is MUCH easier.... taking off sprayers and sucking the water lines to get them to work.:wink: Just having fun. :grin:
 
Nothing to be ashamed of, and there are really no dumb questions when it comes to learning how to operate your boat efficiently and safely. I spent two hours screwing around with the water system manifold on my 420DA when I took delivery last year, only to discover I had an airlock at my hot water heater. And don't even get me started on the autopilot/fluxgate compass fiasco from last year...SRO veterans will remember that vent, uh, I mean post.
We are all here to help each other out.
regards
Skip
 
this past weekend, i had the family loaded up, read to go out for the weekend.

i started up the engines, let them up, and untied, and away we go. except when i engage the starboard throttle, nothing happens. the engine is on, but the throttle is not responsive.

i retie, curse, start drinking, look at some stuff in the bilge, and get the owners manual. of course, the family is po'd - dad should learn how to run the damn boat before we haul all this stuff out there.

about 2 hours of cursing, drinking and manual reading later, i go back up to the bridge. everything is off on the helm, except one switch. i flip that one off, and figure i'll try one more time.

well, it all works great now. so, how could that switch have made any difference? a re we ok for the weekend?

i look at the switch - engine synchronizer! i never even tried the port throttle, which evidently controls them both when the synch is engaged. i hit the starboard first at start up, and when didn't move, i shut it all down.

after all that, i tell the fam i diagnosed the problem, and we're good to go. they think i'm a mechanical genius. :wink:

happens to all of us, especially with a new (to you) boat with some extra gadgets you haven't had before.
 
one more thing - i didn't see mentioned - turn the pump off if you are hooked to shore water. pressure in the shore water system will pressurized and supply water to your boat. supposedly, if you run the water pump while it connected to shore water, the inbound water pressure from shore can be too great, and burn up the pump.

others may know more about that.
 
While on the subject of water systems, two things I have heard or seen:

1) Some people always run water from the built in tank, even when at the dock. The idea that the water inlet could break and start flooding water into the bilge.

2) Never leave the shore hose connected when leaving the boat. Some people leave it connected and turn off the valve, but a friend recommends actually disconnecting the hose so someone doesn't turn the valve on by mistake and create a problem if there's a leak.

I don't practice #1, but I do #2.

Esteban
 
I never use the fresh water hook up on my boat nor do I intend to. There is plenty of capacity in the tank itself so I just keep it filled and that is my source. Using the fresh water hook up can pose a big problem if something goes wrong. Just my 2 cents.
 
I have never used ours either.
With a tank and pump, very little can go wrong.
With street pressure, whatever it is, it is usually much higher than the 20 - 30 or so psi ( I am guessing ) that the pump maintains, and will fluctuate with other people's useage at the dock.
The pump psi is constant.
I also shut it off when we leave the boat for any extended period of time.
Just my 2 cents...
 
I very seldom hook up to shore power. Running from the FW Tank insures that I "cycle" the supply and that the supply stays fresh.

Ylwjacket: I've forgotten about the Engine Sync button a few times myself. Generally after a long run. You get ready to start working the throttles to pull in to a slip and panic sets in....more so with the accusync type of synchronizers, because the throtle levers stay about the same. With the Glendinning, the Starboard lever is thrown full ahead, so I hope I won't "forget" the button much anymore....
 
i can tell you i won't be pushing the synch button unless i need it again.

as for water, i generally only hook up to shore water for 2 reasons:
- if we are at a beach-type marina (there are a few marinas around here within walking distance of nice beaches), and I know we will be having frequent showers, so i want unlimited water supply.
- if i just don't feel like filling up the water tank, for some reason or another.

generally, i run off tank water too, like dom says, to flush it regularly so it doesn't get too stale.

but, remember to shut off your pump if you do shore water.
 
I tend to run off the tank for the same reasons: adequate capacity (for our uses), and to keep it "fresh". Hook it up to "city water" a few times a season just to make sure it all still works. NEVER leave the boat hooked up to city water with the water left on when the boat is unattended. Knew someone who sunk his Luhrs at the marina that way. Bad news!
 
Getting back to Jackets synch button issue,would I have that in my '04 280DA? If so if I ever "synch" it how can I quickly disengage it.
I do not have a water tank meter, how can I tell whether I need to refill the water tank?
Thanks for the inout.
Chris
 
I'm sure that you don't have an engine synch. Usually, those are on larger boats.

As far as the water indicator, I would think you would have one. I had one on my 290. I would think if you have the tank, you have an indicator.

Usually, that and a holding tank indicator are provided on the electrical breaker panel in the cabin. It might have a rocker switch that you have to push to see the level. Usually, it's empty, 1/2, or full.
 
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