Raw wash system not working

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drjohn71a

New member
Since new, I have not been able to get the raw water wash system to pump water. No dealer, so no one to ask about it. Can't find a way to prime it.

OK, I can see the pump, the strainer, the raw water intake fitting, the hose outlet, switch - the whole enchalada. The pump goes on when the switch is turned on, but I cannot get water to come out. I tried priming the pump thru the hose, but it is so small that little or nothing gets down to the pump. The pump is about 10 inches above the floor level under the aft dinette cabinet. The strainer is about 8 inches below that, mounted sideways, so no way to prime that that I can see.

Any ideas on what can be done to make this system work?

John
 
Check to make sure that the valve is open. There should be a valve where the pick-up come through the hull. I have forgotten to open the valve on mine a time or two. :roll:
 
I just worked on my washdown last night, as it was not pumping out water. Mine is plumbed into the freshwater tank instead, but is probably the same pump(shurflo blaster). I had some plastic shavings that found their way into the pump itself since it has no strainer or filter( I will be putting one on now). Anyway, after dissassembling and cleaning, I just took the outlet hose off the pump itself and sucked the water into the body of the pump, put the outlet back on and was back in business. I 'm not sure if I had to prime the pump or not, but I did it since I was down there. Some pumps are self priming. On my old boat I forgot to open the seacocks a time or two as well. Good luck.

Sark
 
Thanks, Roger and Sark.... Now I sit here red-faced wondering if there is any way to delete an embarassing thread.......arrrgghhh....

Truth is, I have not taken the floor out of the cabinet yet to locate that thru-hull..... soooooooo it is probably closed.

Dang... Oh well...

Thanks again you guys!

John
 
Be careful not to sprain your wrist unscrewing that access port as I did. It is a PITA because of its awkward location and I am considering having it replaced with a hatch (i.e., with the twist T-handles.)

Warren
 
Gosh, Warren,

I don't know just exactly started this embarrassing thread... 'Guess a virus took control of my computer... er.... um....

But thanks for the advice!

John
 
Dr John,
thanks for the great laugh! This was my first thought--but then I thought that is too obvious. However, unless you have had boats with thru hulls before, it would not be at all obvious....Also be sure and double hose clamp this hose at the valve hose barb!.
 
I'm actually having the same issue with my Tomcat...I turn on the pump and no water. When I squeeze the nozzle a short blast of air comes out. Neither the boatyard mechanic or I could find any valve so we too wondered if it was somehow plumbed to the fresh water tank. (It didn't occur to me to try the washdown pump when I was testing the fresh water system assuming it was plumbed for raw water intake).

I guess the only thing I can do is test it when I have it home to see if I can get water.
 
Dr John,
My face is red for a whole different reason. SleepyC washdown pump works, but we have not had reason to use it, However, the switch is right where one would lean when standing in the cockpit, and occasionally gets leaned on and turned on. "Then we get water all over under the OB well. I have got to get down there and find that open hose, and I have got to get a cover over that switch. Good luck with getting your water running :wink:
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
The pumps are self priming. Debris can disable the diaphragm. Definately the valve, which is on the thru hull fitting needs to be open! You can always trace out the hoses. No way could the washdown pump be mistakenly plumbed to the fresh water tank....or is there?...It would take quite an effort. But the newer boats have the fresh water tank on the port side, so more possiable than on the older boats which have the water tank on the Stb side.
 
The intake valve for the raw water washdown pump is below the floor, under the removable panel on the floor of the port, aft dinette, cabinet. If it is puffing air a bit, the valve is closed.

John
 
thanks, Warren...

Just got a newer, faster, USB Broadband card that works on the lake! Yay! pretty fast. Also, a busy Winter and Spring.

Good to touch base again,

John
 
By the way, the system works great. I used it this past weekend for the first time. You need to be careful about stowing gear inside the port/stern cabinet though. There is a thin plastic bowl that holds the raw water filter right there on the bottom and it would not be too hard to crack it.
 
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