Marina fresh water supply

[amber jj]

How would I install the necessities to install a fresh water hook up from the marina water supply?I don't think it would be as easy as just teeing into a cold water line.Is there a check valve so you don't have to keep supplying the reservoir?We have a 2000 31 Albin with 70 gallon fresh water tank.A couple of ideas to get me on track would be great.Thanks Bob

[meridian]

Bob, I'm not sure how to get you started but with a 70 gal tank, you could just fill it up when needed. No worries about a failure with the dock hook-up that could flood the boat. In previous threads many suggest to shut off the watter supply at the dock any time you leave the boat.
Terry

[DougSea]

The "city water" feed, which should have it's own regulator and check valve built in, normally feeds into your potable water system downstream of the fresh water pump.

[amber jj]

Doug does the fresh water pump act as check valve,or does one have to be installed at this point?Thanks Bob

[DougSea]

I'm honestly not certain if my system has a check valve between the city water inlet tee and the pump. It makes sense to me that you'd want one. There's a decent diagram at West.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... er-Systems

While Terry is quite correct in his post about the 70 gallons being a good amount of water I can tell you that given the choice I'd rather consume city water than the stagnent science experiment in my tank! I keep it conditioned and treated but it's still never as fresh as the marina supply. Plus you'd be amazed how fast you can go through 70 gallons when you have a proper shower aboard!

[amber jj]

Thankyou so much I think this will make a good cool weather project this fall.Thanks again Bob & Val

[jbutzer]

Sorry for the late reply. IMHO the potential for a leak that floods the boat cannot be overstated. Make sure you have an easy, convenient way to shut the city water off each time you leave the boat.

Regarding regulating fluctuating city water pressure, which can cause 'the big burst', that is also an that the RV industry has dealt with successfully. In retailers that have a decent RV department, preset regulators that are set-up with garden hose fittings are available for $6.00. Not putting a redundant regulator in the hose feed from the marina would, again IMHO be a mistake.

Lastly, water from any source, while it may not be the 'science experiment' that we all have aboard, it can still be suspect as well. I use a filter assembly for YACHTA YACHTA and our RV from parts gathered at Home Depot for around $40. You would be as amazed as us at how much crud the filter picks-up from 'good' water sources.

[mike66]

I second that thought about filtration. I have a GE water filter in my line after the pump and dockside water supply. Works well, replacement filters at Lowe's or whereever once/year. I have a check valve installed upstream of my pump as noted in the previous post, and always shut off the water when we leave.

[JackK]

I have to agree whole heartedly with shutting off the dock water supply when leaving the boat.

A 35' Doral two slips down from mine sank a couple of years ago due to a hose connection failure on an automatic ice maker. Those were some expensive ice cubes !

Jack

[Serenity]

I installed a Jabsco water inlet on my 28 and used "whale" fittings and the blue hose to tap into the freh water side after the pump. The fillitings are all snap in and releasable. In my case, the fresh water line was 3 feet away under the cockpit sole. I use a water filter, (normally fixed mounted somewhere on the boat) as a portable unit at the dock or next to water inlet on the boat. Alot easier to replace the filter and store it underway. I certainly agree with Doug. the chemical reaction in my water tank probably looks a favorite to win at a science fair.

[RobS]

Before you go cutting a hole and mounting it, hold the garden hose in place where you think you might like it. The hose sticks straight out from the device and is a tripping hazard and can also be cracked if stepped down on. Mine is factory installed on the angled face of the port gunned step, not terrible but not great either. I would have mounted elsewhere or may even add another some where more out of the way some day.

[Serenity]

I use an a 90 degree angle adapter to connnect to the water supply. The dockside hose runs lateral to the port side and travels with the power cord to the dock. The hose in the picture is from the salt water washdown. I looked into the port step and I decided with my size 13 shoe or foot, whatever is uniform of the day, I would step on it or find a way to step on it.

[DougSea]

I've also installed a water filter at my slip. I use it for filling the water tank and washing the boat. I find the quality of the water (unfiltered) to be fine for the feed to my inlet, but I want to keep chlorine and any other contaminants out of my aluminum tank and the filtered water rinses off with fewer spots when I wash the boat.

MarinaWaterFilter.jpg

[RobS]

My detailer friend said that will help big time with the water spots on the blue hull. I guess you find that it does? Home Depot? Is it ABYC and USCG certified?

[DougSea]

... Is it ABYC and USCG certified?

I'm sure for an extra $500 or so...

In which case I'D be certifiable!