Vibration/Isolation Mounts for Fresh Water Pump(s)

Four Suns

Four Suns

Not a pot stirrer
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 4, 2006
10,533
Williamsburg, VA
Boat Info
2003 480 DB
Engines
QSM-11 Diesels
I was down at the boat today and I think after 6 years on this boat, I'm fed up with the fresh water pumps sounding like a jig saw cutting through the hull everytime they kick in... My pumps (there are two) are mounted on a piece of plywood which is screwed to the floor in the bilge. There are little rubber feet about 1/4" thick on the pumps but they don't do jack.

I'm thinking of building a plywood platform and then putting some isolation mounts between the original plywood and the new piece... something from here:

http://www.vibrationmounts.com/Store.asp?Page=Products2.htm

Has anyone done this? Am I the only one that hates that noise when the faucet is turned on?
 
You know, on the smaller boats, they already have an isolation mount system. I'm surprised the big guys don't use the same thing.

It's pretty simple, to. All they do is take two lengths of sanitation hose, about 6" longer than where the pumps' mounts are. Then, cut the ends of the hose at a 45* angle. This gives you room to screw the bottom of the hose into a piece of wood. The two pieces of hose get laid next to each other and the pump gets through-bolted to the top side of the hose.
 
Mine doesn't have any insulators - and it sounds like a jig saw too. I've got 4 rubber washers about 1/4" thick that I'm going to try next weekend.

I'll report if it helps - right now, if I just put my hand on it - it's quiet.
 
Lazy Daze said:
You know, on the smaller boats, they already have an isolation mount system. I'm surprised the big guys don't use the same thing.

It's pretty simple, to. All they do is take two lengths of sanitation hose, about 6" longer than where the pumps' mounts are. Then, cut the ends of the hose at a 45* angle. This gives you room to screw the bottom of the hose into a piece of wood. The two pieces of hose get laid next to each other and the pump gets through-bolted to the top side of the hose.
Click to expand...



The pump is set up this way on my 08. It seems to be very effective.
 
That's what I did YEARS ago on our other boat and our travel trailer. Works wonders! The sanitation hose is a simple elegant solution that works! I'd recommend using NEW hose however!
 
I was actually looking to match up the weight/load with the frequency of the pump to try and silence the damn things...

I have a copy of the introduction video of the 480DB made back in 1998. They talk about that hose thing... It was not implemented on my boat... sounds like southern engineering to me... My previous Sea Ray was loud as Pelosi in a men's club as well...
 
OK OK OK....

Maybe I'll try the sanitation hose thing first... I can get some of that at West Marine tomorrow...
 
Gary, if this works, please take some photos and post. I too am tired of the saw in the bilge.
 
Four Suns said:
OK OK OK....

Maybe I'll try the sanitation hose thing first... I can get some of that at West Marine tomorrow...
Click to expand...
With my engine hatch closed I barely hear my pump run on the white hose acting as a vibration dampener. It is simple enough to try - If you want I can take a pic tomorrow since my boat is in my yard.
 
Gary,

On my previous boat the water pump was mounted on two parallel pieces of clear vinyl hose (I think around 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" diameter). The hose was screwed on to the plywood. I wish I had a photo but the hose pieces were about 2" longer than the pump feet at either end. The ends were cut at a 45 degree angle to allow screws to fasten the bottom of the hose to the base beneath. The hose has to be of a large enough diameter to be able to absorb much of the vibration and hence the noise from the water pump. The pump was attached to the hose but there was enough working room inside the ends of the hose to bolt the pump to the hose.

Clear vinyl sanitation hose available at hardware stores. Low tech approach but fairly effective. Hope that helps.
James
 
I have mine on the white PVC too and it certainly isn't silent, but it's not terrible. I think something gooey to dampen the vibration would be good.
Here's a shot of mine (upper left) on my HW tank.
GrillInstall.jpg
 
Did you put your pumps on that or was that the way it came from Sea Ray?
 
Last edited:
Gary,

Experiment with clear vinyl tubing as well. It's a bit softer and perhaps more absorbent of vibration. It held up well for ten years for me.

Also the VSD pumps are a bit quieter aren't they? I think I saw on a previous post that you may have already swapped these in, in place of the standard ones??
 
I replaced the pumps but they are not variable speed pumps. I put in a bigger expansion tank and stuck with the dual pump setup and they have a slightly bigger GPH but I forget what it was... they are hooked in parallel... My wife waits until both showers are in use then starts the washing machine and decides to do dishes... The crew can empty a 120 gallon tank in 30 minutes.
 
Four Suns said:
I was down at the boat today and I think after 6 years on this boat, I'm fed up with the fresh water pumps sounding like a jig saw cutting through the hull everytime they kick in... My pumps (there are two) are mounted on a piece of plywood which is screwed to the floor in the bilge. There are little rubber feet about 1/4" thick on the pumps but they don't do jack.

I'm thinking of building a plywood platform and then putting some isolation mounts between the original plywood and the new piece... something from here:

http://www.vibrationmounts.com/Store.asp?Page=Products2.htm

Has anyone done this? Am I the only one that hates that noise when the faucet is turned on?
Click to expand...

I too hate this loud and intrusive noise (especially when I am trying to sleep). I would pay good money to have this noise eliminated!!!!!

Gary - Are you going to patent a system?
 
There's nothing really to patent here... It's just engineering 201 and picking the correct mount design for the weight and frequency of the system... I don't think it will be too hard to shut these things up.
 
My dealer went to extensive measures to try and eliminate the vibration on my 340. It has foam between water lines and is even wrapped in foam and I still have the vibration. The strangest thing happens on my pump though and that is when I loosen the clear plastic cover that holds the tiny mesh filter on my outlet side of the pump, it is remarkably quiet. What is happening is it is entrailing air so it dampens the vibration but causes the water faucets to spit like they are running out of water, so I have to tighten the plastic cover. I have a new pump in storage thinking I had a bad one but that isn't it. I will try anything so PLEASE post pictures. Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,246
Messages
1,429,172
Members
61,123
Latest member
Tim Duncan
Back
Top