Salt water wash down

[Denis]

This question is for John or anyone else with an Albin 28 of my era.
Does your salt water wash-down operate? Mine has never worked and after having installed a new pump, cleaned the strainer, checked the hoses, opened the through hull to make sure there is water and back primed the pump, I still can't get it to work. The previous owner said he was never able to get it to work either. The pump runs and the polarity is good but no water, any suggestions. HELP

[RobS]

If it were not a new pump I would say the pump is spinning but the impelller is damaged and it's not pushing water although you hear it spinning. This should not be the case if it's new. Not much you haven't covered except maybe the faucet? Did you disconnect the hose at the outlet side of the pump and see if it's pushing water out?

[jcollins]

Hi Denis,
When I first got my boat the hose was disconnected at the faucet. Other than that I have to tap the pump to get it started but it works after that.
I'm guessing it's just old and time to be replaced. It's been on the "spring" list for two years.

[Denis]

I did not remove the faucet to check it, but I did conect a double ended hose and pushed water through it backwords, no blockages and no leaks. I suppose I will try another new pump. The funny thing is I will probably never use it but I hate having something on board that doesn't work. Thanks.

[jcollins]

I use mine when fishing. Which isn't often. Those guys "up north" put me to shame.

[AlanD]

Mine is used all the time for fishing, no issues with it.

[RicM]

I would disconnect the hose out of the pump and flick the switch on and see if you get water out. If so try to get water to flow the right way through the faucet. There could be a faulty (backwards) checkvalve you can;t see. Assume nothing.

[Denis]

RicM, I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

[Carl]

Are you sure your through hull valve is opening? Disconnect the hose on the faucet side of the pump and see if it picks up.

[Denis]

Yes, I took off a hose on the through hull and water poured in.

[Mariner]

Ok, well it sounds like you've checked all the mechanical stuff. But have you checked the electrical? Are you sure you're getting power to the pump? I would troubleshoot from that end back to the breaker and see what you come up with.

[Russell]

Denis, on my boat the salt water pump also supplies the bait well. Do you know if water is going to the bait well? If it is wide open there may not be enough pressure to make it to the faucet.

[Denis]

I checked the electrical, I get plenty of power and the polarity is good. The pump runs just fine, just does not pump water.
I have a separate through hull and pump for the bait well and that works just fine.
I still think I have some sort of priming problem, I can see the water in the bottom of the strainer but it does not move when the pump is turned on. The only way I can have some sort of movement is if I loosen the hose on the outlet side of the strainer. This is such a simple problem, I wish the fix was as simple.

[Carl]

Simple, replace the pump. Sounds like its done. It should not take you 15 minutes to swap it out. I had problems with my fresh water pump this spring picking up. Swaped it out in just a few minutes and it is working just fine.

[Mariner]

Get yourself a bucket of water and disconnect the hose from the seacock and put it in the bucket. You might even try a new hose, with the outlet of the pump routed directly into the bilge. If it doesn't pump water, it's a bad pump. It is quite possible that the motor runs fine, but that the vanes in the pump itself are damaged, and won't pump water.