Deck wash pump?

[Kukri]

This winter's job is engine replacement...

At the same time I want to re-route the galley sink waste from a 3/4" Blakes seacock changing it to a 1 1/2" waste via diverter valve to the below deck bilge pump, which is the set up I had on the last boat.

That gives me a 3/4" Blake seacock doing nothing, so I want to use that as a seawater inlet for a deck wash pump to clean the anchor chain, etc., with. I was wondering about a clutched pump belted off the engine - or should I just go for an electric pump?

 

[rob2]

Ideally a deck was pump would be similar in performance to a pressure washer! I suspect that most 12V electric pumps would not achieve much pressureeven if they pump a suitable volume of water. A clutched pump from the engine is probably more expensive and there are always mounting problems, but should give you both flow and pressure if correctly specified. Bear in mind that when the clutch is energized your compass may well start spinning!

Rob.

 

[pvb]

I was wondering about a clutched pump belted off the engine - or should I just go for an electric pump?

Engine-driven pumps are difficult and expensive to achieve. Probably cheaper in the long run to get a decent pressure-controlled electric deckwash kit. Jabsco do a couple which would suit.

https://www.jabscoshop.com/marine/p...essure-controlled-washdown-diaphragm-pump.htm
https://www.jabscoshop.com/marine/p...essure-controlled-washdown-diaphragm-pump.htm

 

[NormanS]

On my previous (big) boat, I had an engine driven clutched pump. On my present boat I have an electric pump. Yes, the clutched pump gave more output, but it was washing 5/8" chain and a huge deck. The present electric pump is fine for my 10mm chain and much more modest deck. How big is your boat?

 

[rudolph_hart]

On my previous (big) boat, I had an engine driven clutched pump. On my present boat I have an electric pump. Yes, the clutched pump gave more output, but it was washing 5/8" chain and a huge deck. The present electric pump is fine for my 10mm chain and much more modest deck. How big is your boat?

+1. Use a Jabsco ParMax 4, which has been cleaning East Coast mud off my anchor, 8mm chain & 35 feet of decks quite nicely for almost 10 years.

 

[Goldie]

Present boat has a 12v deck wash pump. It's 'ok', but no better than that (more powerful versions might be available). Our last boat had a Jabsco engine driven pump which was fantastic. By using diverter valves, it was possible to select water in from either its inlet seacock or the bilge and with another diverted valve, water out to either deck hose or a bilge pump outlet. Default was to leave it in bilge in/bilge out mode in case we ever needed to pump bilges in a hurry and then change it to raw in/ hose out for deck wash duties. With an extension hose we could reach any part of the boat for washing or fire fighting. Within reason, the bigger the ratio between engine pulley an pump pulley the better. That pump could certainly shift some water!

 

[pvb]

Our last boat had a Jabsco engine driven pump which was fantastic. By using diverter valves, it was possible to select water in from either its inlet seacock or the bilge and with another diverted valve, water out to either deck hose or a bilge pump outlet. Default was to leave it in bilge in/bilge out mode in case we ever needed to pump bilges in a hurry and then change it to raw in/ hose out for deck wash duties.

Did it work with a handheld on/off nozzle? In other words, could it cope with the outlet on the hose being closed? Or did the water flow all the time?

 

[NormanS]

Mine which was obviously very similar, in being able to pump from three different sources, and deliver either overboard or to deck-wash, was originally a gear pump, and latterly a Jabsco. Both were positive displacement pumps, so no on/off trigger. When clutched in, they must deliver.

 

[maby]

Did it work with a handheld on/off nozzle? In other words, could it cope with the outlet on the hose being closed? Or did the water flow all the time?

If it's a proper deck wash pump, I would expect it to cope with being stalled. Ours has a rocker switch inside the cockpit locker and one day in the summer, sitting in the cockpit, I became aware of a buzzing sound. When I checked, something in the locker was pressed against the switch and the pump was running - I reckon it had probably been on and stalled for at least a week, quite possibly two. It still works fine.

 

[Ric]

Is it possible to have an engine-driven pump on a sailing yacht that can serve (with appropriate diverter valves) as an emergency bilge pump, a deck wash pump, and to provision a watermaker? Or are pressures and flow rates incompatible?

 

[duncan99210]

No idea about engine driven pumps but just looking at the cost of the VP brackets stopped that idea in its tracks. I have an electric pump that provides water for both the sea water tap in the galley and a deck wash down point. It's a cheapo diaphragm pump which turn itself off when the tap is shut suing a pressure switch like the fresh water pump. Cost about £30 off eBay. The only thing I'd change would be for a larger capacity pump but there's no room in the locker for one, so that's it.

 

[NormanS]

If it's a proper deck wash pump, I would expect it to cope with being stalled. Ours has a rocker switch inside the cockpit locker and one day in the summer, sitting in the cockpit, I became aware of a buzzing sound. When I checked, something in the locker was pressed against the switch and the pump was running - I reckon it had probably been on and stalled for at least a week, quite possibly two. It still works fine.

It depends on the type of pump. If it was an electrically driven positive displacement pump, unless it has a pressure relief valve, it should have tripped the circuit. If it was a turbine pump, it could run for ever against a closed head valve.

If it was "stalled" as you have stated, it should definitely have tripped the circuit. It doesn't seem very clever to have an exposed switch in a locker, where something can inadvertently energise the circuit. Are you sure that you have "a proper deck wash pump"?

 

[fisherman]

My belt driven jabsco has an electric clutch, It will chuck water about thirty feet from the hose end. Bear in mind that if the engine, belt or electrics fail so does the pump, but it shifts enough to cope with a big leak or other emergency. It draws water from either bilge or the sea cock via a manifold. Cost, for 1.5in, maybe £600.

 

[Fendant]

I am using a upper end ParMax with a outlet in the copy and a long spiral hose. Very happy with it.

 

[chinita]

Is it possible to have an engine-driven pump on a sailing yacht that can serve (with appropriate diverter valves) as an emergency bilge pump, a deck wash pump, and to provision a watermaker? Or are pressures and flow rates incompatible?

Ideally you want an engine driven bilge pump which pumps the water from the bilge to the deck wash. That way you can ensure your anchor chain is nice and clean before you sink when the engine runs out of fuel.

I would think so anyway, but I don't really know.

 

[Goldie]

Did it work with a handheld on/off nozzle? In other words, could it cope with the outlet on the hose being closed? Or did the water flow all the time?

it was switched (electro magnetic clutch) so no, I never closed the nozzle.

 

[Kukri]

The question I should have asked was,

"Will an electric deck wash pump deliver enough of a jet of water to clean Thames Estuary mud, or other heavy clay, off a 12mm chain as it comes inboard and before it reaches the windlass gypsy?

If yes, which model?

 

[sailorman]

The question I should have asked was,

"Will an electric deck wash pump deliver enough of a jet of water to clean Thames Estuary mud, or other heavy clay, off a 12mm chain as it comes inboard and before it reaches the windlass gypsy?

If yes, which model?

contact micheal_w he has an electric one on his Oyster Heritage 37, no doubt he would offer a demo

 

[pvb]

The question I should have asked was,

"Will an electric deck wash pump deliver enough of a jet of water to clean Thames Estuary mud, or other heavy clay, off a 12mm chain as it comes inboard and before it reaches the windlass gypsy?

If yes, which model?

Look at the spec of the first one I suggested in post 3. It delivers up to 5 gallons a minute, max 70psi pressure. Should shift even East Coast mud!

 

[Kukri]

Look at the spec of the first one I suggested in post 3. It delivers up to 5 gallons a minute, max 70psi pressure. Should shift even East Coast mud!

Thank you, and I must apologise for not reading your post more carefully. As you say, it's just the job!