Raw Water Washdown

D

Donald Tyson

Member
I have the type of wash down that sources from a through hull fitting to a sureflo style pump screwed onto the transom. From there it goes to the forward side of the engine well where there is a switch and a quick hose connection. It seems that the connection is an air hose connector as it doesn't fit the type I just bought at Home Depot...well made and with a rubber ring seal. It iw tolerance tightly enough that garden hose plastic quick connects will not likely fit it.
We want this to work. My initial thoughts were to bypass it all in favor of freshwater wash. But I will rarely be in salt and it seems a waste. I am not going to use one of those curly hoses. I bought a 25' puncture proof/layflat RV hoses and it fits nicely on top too the starboard fuel tank. Anyone uncomfortable if I replace the fancy air hose connector with a simple garden hose connector?
 
How many of you are using your raw water wash downs? Maybe I shouldn't be when in salt but frankly I always used saltwater to wash down my Carolina Skiff to good effect. I didn't have $500 reels to worry about and there were no fittings aboard that were corrosive. This 22 ain't no Carolina Skiff.
I would think that using it in the cockpit on the 22 would be acceptable. Especially when in fresh water (about half the time).
Talk to me....
 
Don,

Every underwater thru-hole in a boat with a valve (made by humans in Bangladesh who are not nearly as concerned about their work as you are about yours) is a valve that might someday fail.

If/when it does, you and your crew are in a disaster.

The TC255 only has that one, and the first thing we did after purchase was to plug off the underwater intake, replace the piping to be above water level at all angles of heel, double ACB clamp the hose at the high end, and get two Rule Gold 5 year warranty 1,500 GPH bilge pumps plus a portable spare that runs off a Weego battery for anywhere in the boat that needs dewatering fast.

Get a collapsible freshwater bucket to flush down the deck (and as an emergency bail bucket…we have two, and used them both once after 19 inches of rain in 8 hours overnight and a failed bilge pump came strikingly close to sinking the boat).

https://www.amazon.com/Collapsible-Mult ... th=1&psc=1

Don’t tolerate through hull holes in your boat unless they are absolutely, positively necessary for safety of life at sea, such as making ice cream.

Just Another County Heard From, YMMV,

John
 
I use the raw water wash down all the time and also have it plumbed to the galley sink for dishes and whatnot. It has a ball valve directly on the thruhull and we make sure to close the valve when away from the boat but otherwise leave it open for use.
 
Well built and maintained thru hull fittings are very safe in boats and installed in all of long distance cruising boats.

The quick disconnect on the marine hoses is unique, so that none of the "Aeroquip" or garden hose fittings will fit. I have usually changed them to be the garden hose fittings. I have not had all that good "luck" with the flat hoses, but your experience may vary.

One problem is that the C Dory is not self bailing. That is water coming into the cockpit does not drain out via scuppers above the waterline. We have used raw water wash down for anchors, and when fishing and bloody decks.
 
My last large boat was a 238DLV Carolina skiff with no real systems. It's amazing how spoiled we were. The entire boat sole was filled with foam. So we were often to carefree to even put the plug in and only once had seawater make it onto the cockpit sole and that was because three grown men were standing at the transom netting each other's bluefish. At that time we had no idea how spoiled that boat made us.
I'll have to make sure to keep that valve closed at all times when not washing down the deck. The idea of plumbing to the fresh water tank to use as a wash down is also starting to sound attractive. Furthermore I think We will soon acquire one or two of those collapsable buckets.
As far as Johns comments about sinking...one year we had a record rainfall in Barnegat Bay. 13" in one hour. Our boat at the time (Mac 25) had a small cockpit and the drains were big and sufficient. But numerous sportfishers in the marina, which had battery issues sank.
 
Problem with fresh water, is the limited supply, plus having to run new plumbing. I have often kept the hand pump for fresh water, and then added a very small fresh water pump with a momentary on switch on the 22's. If you have a larger boat, high pressure water system, larger tanks and water maker, then a different story.
 
Yes fresh water sometimes comes at a cost. I'm learning about this for the first time. never really knew anything about the care of boats until I met this group and am greatful.
I just got a pump sprayer and am ordering the Salt Away. I got the raw water wash down system working.
I have a nice but temporary Bimini coming soon...

Nxt weekend we are planning to splash it in the Sassafrass or Bohemia.
 
I don't yet have a cdory, but in my boat I've a through hull for a raw water washdown, gets used in saltwater all the time, but I also make sure to flush it same as the motors.

I use salt water all the time to wash down the cockpit. I've 2 1500 rules within 2' of the through hull and washdown pump. One rule has a float switch, the other has a sensor, both have manual switches. Only issue I have with the pump is that it leaks a bit now after 8 years. There used to be a switch in the cockpit, handy but a source of corrosion and problems, I changed to a helm switch. I used to have a low quality spiral hose on it, changed it in 2019 to a drain flat hose that is long enough I can reach the bow even. This is great by the way when on the lake.

Only issues I've had is forgetting to close the valve. Hate to say that this has happened a few times, I'm forever glad for the strong hose between valve and pump. The other issue was that the moron dealership I boat the boat at used a brass valve without a locking handle. It now has a emerson stainless steel ball valve with lockable handle clip. No more corrosion 🥴

Anyway, raw water washdowns, great (provided water quality is great too) thru hulls are fine solong as you monitor/maintain and remember where they are.
 
I don't yet have a cdory, but in my boat I've a through hull for a raw water washdown, gets used in saltwater all the time, but I also make sure to flush it same as the motors.

I use salt water all the time to wash down the cockpit. I've 2 1500 rules within 2' of the through hull and washdown pump. One rule has a float switch, the other has a sensor, both have manual switches. Only issue I have with the pump is that it leaks a bit now after 8 years. There used to be a switch in the cockpit, handy but a source of corrosion and problems, I changed to a helm switch. I used to have a low quality spiral hose on it, changed it in 2019 to a drain flat hose that is long enough I can reach the bow even. This is great by the way when on the lake.

Only issues I've had is forgetting to close the valve. Hate to say that this has happened a few times, I'm forever glad for the strong hose between valve and pump. The other issue was that the moron dealership I boat the boat at used a brass valve without a locking handle. It now has a emerson stainless steel ball valve with lockable handle clip. No more corrosion 🥴

Anyway, raw water washdowns, great (provided water quality is great too) thru hulls are fine solong as you monitor/maintain and remember where they are.
 
Punkin,
I believe that you believe what you say for after all you said it twice, lol. Now let's see if I can summarize. You use your wash down salt or fresh. and you feel as long as you remember to close your valve and inspect your hoses you don't mind the idea of a through hull.
Now let's see if I can remember to do the same.
My boat has a bronze valve for the through hull. Not brass w/chrome plaiting but bronze. The one I had on My 1959 Pearson triton worked until the day I sold it in 2003.
Thanks for the comments.
 
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