Name this tube & what it does....
- Thread starter Dream
- Start date
That is the sight tube for your water tank. I have a mark on mine at the 10gallon level. The vent is just by the fill port on the port side of the boat. Sometimes this tube will get growth in it. I have changed mine once when it got too cloudy to see water and flush it with straight bleach at the beginning of each season. It is not too hard to change, (just make sure the tank is empty :lol: :lol: )
potter water
New member
A cheap and utilitarian way to see water level in the tank. Needs to be treated as others have said. I like this kind of engineering on C
D's. Simple is best on boats.
D's. Simple is best on boats.
I had a sight tube in the same location (you can see the water level in your freshwater tank by looking at it). Just as an option: I removed the sight tube from my water tank and plugged the opening. It seemed like a good place for mold to accumulate. I was going to cut a viewing slit in the bench side so I could see the level, however then my tank sprung a leak and I decided to get a new/different one, so that's been put on hold. However, I won't put an open sight tube on the new tank for the same reason. I'm not saying it's horrible and everyone should take it out, but just letting you know what I did.
UncleRichie
New member
I had the same problem take coat hanger straighten out and rap small bit of rag and crimp end to hold it dip rag end end in bleach and run down tube ,repeat . I have to do this every couple of years it helps if you cover the end of the tube so air and junk doesn't gets in , It can't be tight just to keep stuff out. Tried to take tube off first time ,takes a act of god to get at clamp holding it on. I try to do this when tank is low and drain as much water out when through .
Richard
Richard
We had a water tank sight tube on Naknek, and it worked fine ... as mentioned "simple is good." As Barry mentioned, we marked the tube at five gallon intervals. Handy.
On Dessert 1st (CC23) there is no sight tube so I cut-in one inch holes (5ea) so we could see the water level. That was easy but it didn't really work that well. The enclosed tank is dark and it's difficult to see the water level. I ended up covering the five holes.
Best,
C&M
On Dessert 1st (CC23) there is no sight tube so I cut-in one inch holes (5ea) so we could see the water level. That was easy but it didn't really work that well. The enclosed tank is dark and it's difficult to see the water level. I ended up covering the five holes.
Best,
C&M
YUPers, Water tank fill level indicator - not digital :lol: and no electricity required 
Chuck has an easy cleaning method mentioned above. Bleach and several patches.
THEN, put some loosely wrapped gauze in the end and cap lightly. Keeps bugs, bees, spidies and dirt out. It must be able to breath though so don't cap it tight.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Chuck has an easy cleaning method mentioned above. Bleach and several patches.
THEN, put some loosely wrapped gauze in the end and cap lightly. Keeps bugs, bees, spidies and dirt out. It must be able to breath though so don't cap it tight.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Thank you all soooo much!!
You all are so helpful. I love how quickly I get responses to my questions & that you never make me feel dumb for asking them.
I'm not only a new-to-me C-D owner - I'm also - a never-owned-a-boat-before-must-be-out-of-my-mind owner.
I had a forever-life-changing event almost 7 years ago and since then have been doing as many of my some-day-I'd-like-to's....one of which was having my own boat.
Last July I saw, fell in love with, thought about for 1 day and bought before common sense interfered...a boat that hadn't been off her trailer in over 3 years...without really looking at her.
Because of numerous health issues I was only able to go out on her twice last October for just an hour or so both times....and again....I didn't really look closely at her.
Then she was wrapped for the winter.
Fast forward to getting her unwrapped, delivered to our driveway and for the first time I REALLY looked at her and discovered mold.
I have a SEVERE/LIFE THREATENING allergy to mold!
And so, donned in mask, gloves; etc., started my mission to rid her of EVERY trace of mold that I could find.
In doing so - I have basically taken apart everything non-mechanical inside the cabin.
Sounds like and is a lot of work but it has really helped me, along with you all, in getting to know her and how she works. So, again, THANK YOU!
Now as for your responses - if I'm understanding correctly - I can flush out the water holding tank with water and bleach, remove the tube with the mold in it and leave it out IF we don't use the tank AT ALL...which for me is probably the safest thing to do.
For the time being all our trips will be just for the day so we'll be bringing bottled water each time and washing our dishes and such at home.
Obviously if we start going for overnights I'll have to replace the tube; etc.
Do you recommend I do anything else?
You all are so helpful. I love how quickly I get responses to my questions & that you never make me feel dumb for asking them.
I'm not only a new-to-me C-D owner - I'm also - a never-owned-a-boat-before-must-be-out-of-my-mind owner.
I had a forever-life-changing event almost 7 years ago and since then have been doing as many of my some-day-I'd-like-to's....one of which was having my own boat.
Last July I saw, fell in love with, thought about for 1 day and bought before common sense interfered...a boat that hadn't been off her trailer in over 3 years...without really looking at her.
Because of numerous health issues I was only able to go out on her twice last October for just an hour or so both times....and again....I didn't really look closely at her.
Then she was wrapped for the winter.
Fast forward to getting her unwrapped, delivered to our driveway and for the first time I REALLY looked at her and discovered mold.
I have a SEVERE/LIFE THREATENING allergy to mold!
And so, donned in mask, gloves; etc., started my mission to rid her of EVERY trace of mold that I could find.
In doing so - I have basically taken apart everything non-mechanical inside the cabin.
Sounds like and is a lot of work but it has really helped me, along with you all, in getting to know her and how she works. So, again, THANK YOU!
Now as for your responses - if I'm understanding correctly - I can flush out the water holding tank with water and bleach, remove the tube with the mold in it and leave it out IF we don't use the tank AT ALL...which for me is probably the safest thing to do.
For the time being all our trips will be just for the day so we'll be bringing bottled water each time and washing our dishes and such at home.
Obviously if we start going for overnights I'll have to replace the tube; etc.
Do you recommend I do anything else?
If you are not planning to use the tank often, you might consider something like I rigged up*. It's modular, inexpensive, portable, easily replaceable (if it comes to that), and works just like a "real" system when you are at the sink. Doesn't preclude reinstalling the original system parts. I made a few posts about it in my Sunbeam~22 Cruiser thread... I'll see if I can find the page it starts on, and then there are a few more entries including one with some "review" after I used it for a number of weeks.
Okay, found it. Starts a little over halfway down this page, and continues onto the next page:
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... c&start=90
*I did this because my original tank sprung a leak, I removed it, and I hadn't finalized my plans for a new tank/size/location/shape; yet I wanted to take the boat out for a month+ long trip.
Okay, found it. Starts a little over halfway down this page, and continues onto the next page:
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... c&start=90
*I did this because my original tank sprung a leak, I removed it, and I hadn't finalized my plans for a new tank/size/location/shape; yet I wanted to take the boat out for a month+ long trip.
Dream,
A couple of comments about the mold situation. Do you know that the Sunbrella upholstery covers will zip off (for the most part), and you can wash them in a machine, with mild bleach solution, and a soap such as Woolite. There is a 303 fabric spray which will then make them waterproof again. This will allow getting rid of any mold spores in the actual fabric. If mold is in the foam, that would have to be replaced.
A good cleaning with bleach, should help with any mold in the water tank--and you can go with a fairly concentrated solution there. If there is any "crud" in the tank, you can put ice cubes in the tank, and then take the boat for a spin--the cubes will act as a mild abrasive material to help clean anything on the tank walls. It is a good idea to vary the water level as you do this.
Unfortunately many municipal water systems will have some degree of algae contamination. Something to keep in mind. Usually the chlorine will be enough to suppress or kill the algae. This is one reason, we do not pre-filter, and remove any residual chlorine when filling water tanks--and we do add small amounts of chlorox to the water tank, if there is any question about the water source (as in many remote areas).
Of course your safety is most important--and there are many alternatives for the drinking water. We re-use the water bottles, and often freeze them to use as a coolant in the ice chest. (thicker bottles are better, and gallon bottles are excellent also). We also always use a Brita filter on the tank water, if we drink it--and that helps to remove the chlorine taste. However, one needs to regularly clean the pitcher, and replace the filters. There are better filters for removal of bacteria, spores, and parasites than this pitcher type of filter.
So great you can live out some of your dreams!
A couple of comments about the mold situation. Do you know that the Sunbrella upholstery covers will zip off (for the most part), and you can wash them in a machine, with mild bleach solution, and a soap such as Woolite. There is a 303 fabric spray which will then make them waterproof again. This will allow getting rid of any mold spores in the actual fabric. If mold is in the foam, that would have to be replaced.
A good cleaning with bleach, should help with any mold in the water tank--and you can go with a fairly concentrated solution there. If there is any "crud" in the tank, you can put ice cubes in the tank, and then take the boat for a spin--the cubes will act as a mild abrasive material to help clean anything on the tank walls. It is a good idea to vary the water level as you do this.
Unfortunately many municipal water systems will have some degree of algae contamination. Something to keep in mind. Usually the chlorine will be enough to suppress or kill the algae. This is one reason, we do not pre-filter, and remove any residual chlorine when filling water tanks--and we do add small amounts of chlorox to the water tank, if there is any question about the water source (as in many remote areas).
Of course your safety is most important--and there are many alternatives for the drinking water. We re-use the water bottles, and often freeze them to use as a coolant in the ice chest. (thicker bottles are better, and gallon bottles are excellent also). We also always use a Brita filter on the tank water, if we drink it--and that helps to remove the chlorine taste. However, one needs to regularly clean the pitcher, and replace the filters. There are better filters for removal of bacteria, spores, and parasites than this pitcher type of filter.
So great you can live out some of your dreams!