Freshwater Pump on the 25

D

digitalguy

New member
One of the main reasons my wife and I decided on the C-Dory 25 was the stand-up private head. We're both approaching 60 years of age and were ready to put the porta potti days behind us. The first freshwater pump lasted about 10 months. Since it was the only problem we had with the boat since buying it, I figured we just got a bad pump. I replaced it with the same make and model in the same location. The 2nd freshwater pump failed about a year later. So I decided to do some research on the C-Brats site and see if anyone else was having similar problems. And there it was: The freshwater pump on the 25 is mounted in the worst place possible - the lowest part of the bilge. There were many posts from 25 owners about the problem and their ideas to solve it. C-Brats Rock! Since our C-Dory dealer in Charleston became a victim of the Great Recession, I depend heavily on you guys.

I have chosen to install a higher quality freshwater pump with a 3 year warranty on a box 4" above the bilge. It's still not the best location, but it will keep it out of the water. Other brats have moved it inside the cabin, but that is a modification that I wasn't willing to tackle right now. I'm also keeping a spare freshwater pump on board with electrical quick connects, so I can change it out in about a half hour if needed.

My wife's happiness and that little freshwater pump are now the 2 most important things in my life.


Curtis White
Tully B
 
Hi Curtis,

I moved our pump higher in the bilge and bought a better pump than that supplied by the factory. Prior to that, we went through 2 fresh water pumps in 2 years. Still going strong on the current pump/position. When I looked up the number of the pump that the factory installed, it said, "Not for marine use." :roll: I'm quite a ways from the boat right now, so I can't check out the part # of the current pump. It had the same hose connections as the original, so it was a pretty quick change out. Getting the pump UP out of the bilge water will make a difference, as well.

While I absolutely love our 25, there wasn't a lot of thought put into making the boat ergonomic/user friendly... the water pump switch on the helm panel instead of near where the faucets are; the "toilet sprayer" shower; the kitchen faucet that requires two hands to turn on hot and cold; all the dumbass water connections that didn't match up; the long seat bottom and short back on the aft dinette seat. I had several conversations with the factory folks (a couple owners ago) regarding ways to make the boat even better as a cruiser that would take almost no extra labor during the build process... like talking to a rock.

There is SO MUCH good about the boat; just a bit more thought to comfort and convenience would make it even better. One motorcoach brand that we owned had a factory coach just for employees to take out and use... it was a great employee benefit, but an even better "test platform." Owner input is the BEST product development if a manufacturer is smart enough to listen and implement. Obviously, some of the changes that the Brats have done to their boats over the years were adopted by the builder(s) (ala the "Barber chair")... and that research and development is FREE to the manufacturer.

Enjoy that great boat!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim,

Your previous posts on the freshwater pump were a factor in my decision. The pump I bought was the Jabsco VSD 3.7gpm. It's larger and heavier than the original and it cost about twice as much (here's hoping you sometime DO get what you pay for). I mounted the pump to the bottom part of a plastic toolbox, then screwed the toolbox to the bilge. I put 2 photos in the TULLY B album that show the installation. I let the smooth curve of the hoses dictate the exact position. In one of the photos you can see a cut out beneath the battery tray. That's where the original pump was tucked away.

My wife and I are looking forward to a couple of years of worry-free flushing.

Curtis White
Tully B
 
For some reason, at one point the factory was usuing a Jabsco pump that said right on it that it was not for use in a marine application. It sounds like you had that pump, and replaced it with the same pump.

The better quality pump, and mounting it higher should help.
 
Hi Curtis;
The 2005 CD25 was delivered with a: FLOJET, model 4405-143.
This is the 12VDC @ ~3.9 amps model.

It is a "Quad II Diaphragm" automatic water system pump with an internal bypass valve.

The contact info I have from the service/installation folder (2003) is:
U.S.A.
Flojet
20 Icon
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610-3000
Tel: (949) 859-4945

Hope this adds to your tool box.

Art
 
The 2002 thru 2004 (some 05?) had the fresh water tank under the bunk forward and the water pump by the waterheater under the dinette aft seat.
The large holding tank, and macerator pump was under the cockpit floor. This was changed in 2005 (I believe) on, and the fresh water pump was put near where the macerator pump (which also often failed) was located.

I would bring the pump in from the cold and wet environment, and put it under the hanging locker or there abouts. The diaphragm pumps should pull this prime with no problem. I don't know about the most recent Jabsco pumps--but the older ones had a lot of problems. I have had better luck with Flojet or Shurflo pumps. In any case, put quick disconnects on the pump, and you can change out the unit in a few minutes.
 
Bob,
My CD25, Sea Angel, CD025075H405, has the configuration as you described it with Flojet located beside the hot water heater, etc.. I think mine was one of the first out of the molds after CD's move in June-July 2004. The stating of model years can get confusing, to me. I believe the co. started their model years on 1 July.??

Art
 
Art, your boat would have been started in July 04, so I believe that you are correct about the model year starting July 1--My Tom Cat was started in May, and the July boats were the next year's model. But changes were made sometime during the 05 model year--and I don't know when.
 
Well, I'm not sure when they made the change, but Journey On is a '05 model, wherein they filled the stern in and had a removable cockpit floor; changes easy to spot. Started about May, delivered July 4. It has the H2O tank up front.

But isn't that somewhat immaterial: you've either got the tank up front or aft and I assume that's easy to see. I also assume that change goes along with the change in the toilet, which allowed the H20 tank to be moved.

The question is: what can be done to give the pump longer life. Adding a filter and moving the location to a dry spot seems the answer. Though I'm not impressed with the suction of the stock pump, since I have problems priming it even with the tank water level above the pump inlet. I think it has trouble with the air in the lines. Anyway, I pressurize the water tank to start it pumping.

Boris
 
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