Marine Water System - Is this fitting for shore water (in) or deck wash down (out)?

[VerBoatin]

Ladies and Gentleman,
I have a question on a 34' Wellcraft 3400 Gran Sport. I am trying to determine if I have a water leak (which I suspect) or if the pump automatic shutoff switch on the water pump is bad. The pump runs fine but does not automatically shutoff after running for a long time. I've let it run for about 5 to 10 minutes...but it will not turn off on its own. Pressure builds in the water system but I get water and air coming out of a fitting that is located on the starboard - aft deck area near the floor. The believe the fitting has a male end, as if the female end of a hose would be mated to it, but the previous owner put an "on-off" valve on the fitting. (Please see the attached photograph with a red arrow pointing to the fitting and location. ) Is the fitting depicted in the photograph a water line "out" (for deck wash, etc) or is it a waterline "in" for hooking up shore water via a hose? I get the impression it is a water line out in that it bubbles out water and air when the water pump is on and leaks water onto the deck. Any and all assistance appreciated! Thanks mucho! VB

 

[woodsyfeller]

Re: Marine Water System - Is this fitting for shore water (in) or deck wash down (out

If the fitting is male on the boat its meant to have a hose attached and used for a washdown.
One to be aware of there is 3/4 "hose thread and there is 3/4 "IPS (Iron Pipe Size) thread and for the most part they dont seal very well when screwed together ,unless you use tons of teflon tape and sealer, that may be why the shut off valve leaks at this connection.

If your trying to find a leak fill your water storage tank, turn on the pump and go to every fixture ,(one at a time) open it until just water comes out and it stops spiting air.Shut it off and go to next fixture and remove all the air in the lines.

When air is present in water lines it will become compressed and take a pump longer to pressure up the lines.

Depending on the type of pump you have.The pump will either continuously pump till the pressure equalizes the output of the pump or the pump will shut down if there is a pressure switch that turns the pump on and off depending on presures in the line.

 

[VerBoatin]

Re: Marine Water System - Is this fitting for shore water (in) or deck wash down (out

Hi WF,
Thanks VERY much for your posting and advice. Allow me to clarify that the fitting on the deck (that was in the photo) is a female fitting, so I believe the male end of the hose is designed to be screwed into the deck fitting and thereby provide fresh washer from the dock source (?). Having said this, I might have a bad fitting there that needs to be replaced because the fitting leaks when the on board pump is pressurizing the system. If the fitting is leaking or not though, there should be some requirement for a shut-off valve on this particular fitting, am I right on this point? That is to say, there would need to be some way to stop the water from being pumped out by the on-board water pump when it is turned on...even though the fitting is designed for a hose connection to pump water into the system from the dock source? OK, so on your advice for checking the system, I will check each faucet and fitting and bleed off the extra air, etc. Excuse my ignorance but I don't even know if the water pump is the type that will simply run continuously (even when the system pressure equalizes) or if the pump has a pressure switch designed to shut the pump off at a certain threshold. I will get the make/model of pump and investigate on-line to see which type of water pump I'm dealing with. Perhaps it isn't even designed to shut itself off. Once I get the leak established/fixed, if the pump is not the type that shuts itself off, I will buy one. I also plan to install an accumulator. However, the pump may be designed to shut itself off but because of the leak, isn't functioning as designed. Again, I'll establish the type of pump I have installed and what it is designed to do, then find the leak, etc. I'll provide some feedback as I move through this process and perhaps (if you don't mind) you could provide additional advice when more information is available. Again, many thanks for your help! VB