fresh water issues

[KanH]

After years of neglect by the previous owner, I am in the process of restoring the fresh water system in my 30+. The goal, as illogical as it sounds, is to someday use the system and not just keep taking it along for a sail. >>
I’ve already replaced most of the mechanical elements, water heater, pump and accumulator tank. I now turn to the actual water tank and hoses.

Removal of the tank looks relatively simple but the tubing seems more challenging.>>
With the stiffness of the tubing and the many blind turns they take, it looks like a difficult removal and replacing project. Has anyone had any luck and/or advice in pulling and replacing them?

I am wondering if it might be easier to run new tubing and leaving the older ones in place.>>
Also, in following the path of the tubing I found this connector/splitter. The grey tube comes from the tank, the white one goes to the pump but the blackened tube disappears under the cabin sole where I am unable to follow. I cannot tell what purpose the blackened hose functions as. The only thing I can think of is that it might serve as a safety valve that spills water to the bilge but I am only guessing. >>
Any insight will be greatly appreciated, especially what the name and function of the connector/splitter.


>>

[toddster]

Good luck with that. I basically build a new system last fall. What I found maddening was that for such a simple system, I could not find any system of tubing and connectors for which all of the pieces that I needed were available, without going up to a needlessly large diameter tubing. I ended up just going with braided hose and barbed connectors and hose clamps, which I have some misgivings about, especially for the hot water.

That IS a pretty odd-looking fitting. If it's between the tank and the pump, my only thoughts are that it might be a shore-connection or perhaps lead to a deck fill. Perhaps with an incorporated check valve. There should be a check valve between the pump and the water heater.

[Frank Langer]

Do you have only one water tank, or also the optional one installed under the V-berth? If you have two tanks, it makes the system a little more complex.

Also, do you have a separate vent hose coming out of the water tank--if not, then my guess is that the dark hose in your picture is the vent hose. On our E30+ the water tank vent hose eventually discharges through a small spout in the head sink.

If it would help you, I could describe the system on our E30+.

Frank

[e38 owner]

This may be old info but a few years ago I worked on our water system
I found the tubing (clear now and the quest fittings at local rv dealer
The gray tubing is no longer available.
I think whale also makes fittings that may work with the tubing
I should be at the boat in a few weeks. I would be happy to look at the size etc of the tubing I purchased.
I worked on the water system at the same time I was replacing the cabin sole and cushions
Thus because the boat was almost all taken part it wasn't that much of an additional project.
If the plumbing was like mine I would quess that for the non grey hoses one goes to the hand sink pump and one goes to or from the electric water pump.

[KanH]

I think that e 38 owner might be on to something. I didnt take into accout the foot pump when tracing lines.

maybe next year i might pull the sole like toddster did.

[Loren Beach]

I think that e 38 owner might be on to something. I didnt take into accout the foot pump when tracing lines.

maybe next year i might pull the sole like toddster did.

When we first removed all of our sole sections (removed plugs and then the screws) we were pleased to be able to get at water plumbing, bilge hoses, and pump wiring. There's a looooong and "award winning" thread on this site about this restoration/upgrade.
So, I would indeed advise to pull up the sole... easiest way by far to refinish it, too.

LB

[toddster]

I think that e 38 owner might be on to something. I didnt take into accout the foot pump when tracing lines.

maybe next year i might pull the sole like toddster did.

Yes, I guess that does seem like the most likely culprit. I re-routed my foot pump to draw from a tee in the raw-water intake. Don't know how that will work out... at the time I was thinking it would be more economical to draw raw water for scrubbing pans and such. (For those too lazy to dip a bucket over the side...) But it would be easy to put back on the tank feed.

[Loren Beach]

Yes, I guess that does seem like the most likely culprit. I re-routed my foot pump to draw from a tee in the raw-water intake. Don't know how that will work out... at the time I was thinking it would be more economical to draw raw water for scrubbing pans and such. (For those too lazy to dip a bucket over the side...) But it would be easy to put back on the tank feed.

Due to the probability of comtamination in the drinking water taps / lines, I would never combine those products in the same line.

Note that by the 80's, Ericson was generally installing a raw water galley sink tap on most of their boats, but with a separate intake and separate foot pump. Waaaaay too much liability to have it any other way.

LB

[toddster]

Due to the probability of comtamination in the drinking water taps / lines, I would never combine those products in the same line.

Note that by the 80's, Ericson was generally installing a raw water galley sink tap on most of their boats, but with a separate intake and separate foot pump. Waaaaay too much liability to have it any other way.

LB

No, it is completely separate from the fresh water tank. Just drops into the same sink.

[Loren Beach]

No, it is completely separate from the fresh water tank. Just drops into the same sink.

Sorry if I misunderstood your description!

(Visions of glowing Hanford-leaked water in your boubon and branch water libation....)

[toddster]

Sorry if I misunderstood your description!

(Visions of glowing Hanford-leaked water in your boubon and branch water libation....)

Well, that is a separate issue. I worked at Hanford for 12 years. Now I actually require a daily tincture of cesium-137 to maintain my mutant metabolism. Fortunately, there is probably enough in some of the excellent Red Mountain Merlots.

[mherrcat]

I have the optional water tank under the V-berth on my 30+. There is a line that connects that tank to the main tank under the starboard settee with a shutoff valve just before the main tank. Regarding the clear and black hoses in your picture, most likely one goes to the electric water pump and one goes to the foot pump.

[clp]

That fitting is a bulkhead mounted elbow/90. It was probably just used in place of a regular 90 because that's what was handy. That Tee is a functioning Tee, that runs somewhere else, and it does run somewhere, not a drain, or pressure bleed-off.

[KanH]

Thanks again for all your input. The mystery hose without question is to the foot pump. My plan is to go ahead and replace the tank and shock treat/clean the existing hoses. Since I plan to filter my water while adding it, I now also plan to add an internal water filter to the newly identified foot pump hose to use that for minor consumption; cooking, washing etc…>>
BTW, Ronco still has molds for most all the tanks they produced and will be happy to make me a new one. I spoke to a man named Scott there who correctly guessed that I had an Ericson by the tank model number. The man know his business.>>

[Loren Beach]

Thanks again for all your input. The mystery hose without question is to the foot pump. My plan is to go ahead and replace the tank and shock treat/clean the existing hoses. Since I plan to filter my water while adding it, I now also plan to add an internal water filter to the newly identified foot pump hose to use that for minor consumption; cooking, washing etc…>>
BTW, Ronco still has molds for most all the tanks they produced and will be happy to make me a new one. I spoke to a man named Scott there who correctly guessed that I had an Ericson by the tank model number. The man know his business.>>

be sure to have any new tank built with a clean-out port (or 2). We pump both our tanks dry when we put the boat to bed late each fall. Then I reach in with a turkey baster to capture the last half inch of water or so.
Next I reach in with a clean rag(s) dosed with bleach and mop up and wipe down 'til each tank is dry inside.
I leave the tank ports open for ventilation thru the winter.

When we refill in March or so, the water stays fresh and drinkable all season - albeit with a couple of clean-outs done during the cruising season as well.

No filtering needed, tastes great right from the tap.

My .02 worth......

LB