Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
I never use the shore connection for FW. I just refill and use the onboard pump as most do down here, at least at our marina. Since I have 2 pumps at 4GPM (per hour would be pretty slow :grin I have flow at almost 8GPM and 55 psi. It is a real nice system along with the pressure tank.
If you are saying the dockside water is regulated to 35PSI, then someone replaced that with what I assume the wrong regulator. Mine is 50PSI I think although we don't use it I had to replace it a month ago because it was leaking.
Reasons we only use fresh water tank on board:
1) You can easily determine if you have a leak. If no one is using water and water pump cycles, guess what? You have a leak. You don't know where but you have one. This is how I found my water pressure regulator has a slow leak. My pumps kept cycling and it took me 2hours to find the leak, but I found it and now it is gone.
2) Boat won't sink if I burst a line. I hold 70 gallons of water and the only thing that will happen is I will transfer that 70 gallons someplace else. Water will not continuously run and flood the boat. These pumps will also not burn out if run dry, not that type of pump.
I've learned that FW pump is something I'd like to have a backup for. It really sucks when one goes dead and you have to wait 2-3 days for replacement.
3) I am continuously cycling water thru the water tank and it is clean. We have an ice maker and use ice for drinks and it is clean water for ice and anything else you want. We only use it to gray water and ice but if we had to, you could drink it no problems.
Good catch on the flow (GPM)....:lol: :thumbsup:
I'd say that 95% of the time we use on board FW tank for reasons you stated above.
I'm looking at the WM site and see only one 4GPM pump: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--freshwater-system-pump-4gpm--14153266
After seeing that larger DBs have two pumps, I also thought of doing the same. However, the AMPs draw kind of pulled me away from the idea. My 5GPM pump draws 13Amps, WM 4GPM draws 12amps. IMO, 24AMPs just to have water running is waaaay too much, especially considering that we spend a lot of time on the hook.
The other thing I've noticed that WM pump is very different. It's half the price, which of course is very attractive. But, my understanding is that the new SHURFLO Aqua King II Supreme is replacement for what they used to call "Smart Sensor" extreme series, which is in $300 range. I wonder if this WM pump is sufficient at the rate of 4GPM and quite. On the other hand it's kind of silly to have $160 pump as primary and $300 pump as a backup.