CD30B - Washdown Location?

[Bob Ohler]

For all you CD30B owners out there... Do any of you have an anchor washdown pump installed? Where did you locate the pump... in the port bow locker? Did you run plumbing to an on-deck fitting? What did you do for a source for the sea water washdown? Where did you run the electrical wire and where did you locate the necessary switch for the pump?

I currently have a washdown with the pump located in locker under the sink in the head. I draw water via a "tee" from the sink drain. I then run the wash down hose and nozzle through the overhead hatch in the head and out to the deck when I am weighing anchor. It is not a perfect set-up, but I have avoided a new hole in the deck and a new through-hull. However, I am considering moving the pump to the port bow locker with a permanent hose fitting mounted on deck.

Thank you in advance for your ideas.

[Duncan]

...I have avoided a new hole in the deck and a new through-hull...

I was going to suggest using a separate hose you could drop over the side, but I see Don Casey got there first:

Fitting the pump with an intake hose you can drop over the side when you want to use the pump is another alternative.
Installing a Deckwash Pump, by Don Casey

Further specifications and design work would obviously be involved, but I suppose it might be worth considering.

But I think you might end up finding that teeing it off the head intake would be less challenging, and at least it avoids another through-hull.

[Russell]

I currently have a washdown with the pump located in locker under the sink in the head. I draw water via a "tee" from the sink drain. I then run the wash down hose and nozzle through the overhead hatch in the head and out to the deck when I am weighing anchor. It is not a perfect set-up, but I have avoided a new hole in the deck and a new through-hull. However, I am considering moving the pump to the port bow locker with a permanent hose fitting mounted on deck.

Leave the pump where you have it, run a hose from its location up to the bow locker to connect to your deck fitting. Though sink drain may not be ideal, head intake would be better (unless you have a valve on the sink drain, otherwise I would worry about the pump drawing air in from the sink). I dont think you want the actual pump in the locker, to far above the waterline IMO, your pump instructions likely inform you to mount it as close to or below the waterline as possible.

FWIW, mine is in under the counter in the head as well, with a Y valve I switch off the head intake when I need to use the washdown. Then tubing going from that location up to the anchor locker to meet the thrudeck fitting. I think this is a very typical installation.

[Bob Ohler]

I avoid the problem of the pump sucking air by using a very snug-fitting rubber stopper in the sink when it is "washdown time."

Obviously, a Y valve is another option, but I am not sure if I have room for this.

Thanks!

rbo

[Dean Abramson]

I would like to install a washdown system also. I plan to put the pump under the head sink on our CD31.

I would like to configure it exactly as shown in Don Casey's article at:
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/25.htm
as mentioned by Duncan above.

Does anyone out there see any pitfalls in Casey's scheme? I have no real experience with check valves. Would the check valve in the toilet hose wear out prematurely if it is treated to regular pressure (from the washdown pump) on it's "back" side? I like Casey's scheme, because it entails no turning of valves before/after using.

Also, the instructions for the pump I bought says not to install it below the waterline. I cannot understand why they say that. My intended location is below the waterline. I cannot envision a problem with this, and my sense is that Don Casey would have warned us it this was something to avoid.

Any thoughts on this? All would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dean

[wstringer]

A point of caution if you "T" from the head intake and have a Lavac toilet: make sure the entire intake hose to the pump is well below the siphon break in the head intake hose. Otherwise when you have finished with your washdown, any backflow from the deck fitting to the pump can fill the head intake, put positive pressure on the siphon break, and set up a siphon which will fill the boat.

[Bob Ohler]

Dean, that is a great link that you posted in your last message. Anyone considering the installation of a washdown pump would be well-served to print this schematic.

rbo

[Dean Abramson]

Actually, Duncan gets the credit for that.

[2tocruise]

Dean,

I think that the instructions may refer to "below the waterline" as being constantly submersed in water, not inside the boat but below the waterline level. I know a lot of marine products define things as being for "under the waterline use" as opposed to on deck or below (interior) use.

Question:
Has anyone set up a wash down pump as a portable unit?

I was thinking of mounting the pump on a board with an intake hose over the side (ala Don Casey). That way I can store it in a locker and bring it on deck when needed for anchoring, washing, etc. If you have:

- How did you deal with the wiring? (Plug on deck, plug in below, direct to battery connections, etc).

- Does the pump provide enough pressure to wash off mud when having top lift the water up to deck level first?

Bottom line is that my current procedure for hauling in the anchor (strip down to my shorts, get covered in muck, and dump buckets of water on me, on deck, and on the chain until it goes away) isn't going to be as much fun in a few weeks when the water temp starts dropping. So I need an alternative.

In a related topic my new favorite anchorage on the Chesapeake is Whitehall Bay since it is has a sand bottom.

[Bob Ohler]

Good Old Boat has an article in the new issue which has good information for anyone considering this project.

rbo