Jet wash using sea water - thoughts?

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peter2407

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Would like to get my boat onto a scrubbing grid for a scrub, AF and sorting anodes. Question - assuming I have power (I have a 2 KVa petrol genny), can I use sea water by just dropping a hose with some kind of float to keep the intake just below the surface ****? Then take the jet was home and rinse through with fresh water?
 
Doesn't it depend on the jet washer though? I think mine needs a water supply at a positive pressure (i.e. from a tap). I've not tried, but I don't think the pump will "suck".
 
The yard where we keep Ariam uses a petrol pressure washer to keep the duck **** etc off the pontoons. They just have a four foot length of intake hose that dangles over the side into the sea. The machine is an old and decrepit looking thing, but it hasn't rusted through from the inside yet.

It has a fender and a coil of rope sitting on top of the pump - obvious idea being that if it runs off the edge of the pontoon (it's on wheels) the fender will float to the surface and it can be hauled out again. I wonder if it's ever been used? Perhaps they added it after losing the machine the first time, and having to wait till low tide to recover it? :)

Avocet said:
Doesn't it depend on the jet washer though? I think mine needs a water supply at a positive pressure (i.e. from a tap). I've not tried, but I don't think the pump will "suck".
Click to expand...

The adverts say that "all Kärcher pressure washers can run off a water butt", which I take to mean that they will self-prime and don't need positive pressure on the inlet.

Pete
 
prv said:
.... they will self-prime and don't need positive pressure on the inlet. ...
Click to expand...

Certainly the model I have self primes. Where it cuts out is when there is very low water pressure, say at the end of the long water pipe/hose on a pontoon, then the suction head is insufficient to pull through more water and the unit trips. So a short length of suction hose hanging into the sea would be far better than a long coil used for the same purpose as the pressure washer pump may not be able to overcome the pressure loss in the hose.
 
I've seen Karcher advertise theirs work from water-butts so I don't doubt the sea wouldn't be a major issue. I'd definitely want to flush it through after use though. Salt is a nasty ol business for anything other than floating or chips. :D
 
Our small Karcher has a hard job picking up from anywhere at same head of pressure (very little flow) but works fine when fed through deck wash pump. Petrol driven one I have at home sucks up OK so, it does depend on the model.
 
As well as the suction bit the washer needs to have non-rusting components in the line; but I suspect for occasional use and copious fresh water flushing afterwards it would be ok.
 
peter2407 said:
Would like to get my boat onto a scrubbing grid for a scrub, AF and sorting anodes. Question - assuming I have power (I have a 2 KVa petrol genny), can I use sea water by just dropping a hose with some kind of float to keep the intake just below the surface ****? Then take the jet was home and rinse through with fresh water?
Click to expand...

What about debris/seaweed/etc floating around?
Might need a pre 'filter' to keep inlet free.
 
Kaarcher offer a pick-up hose with filte attached to the end for just such a purpose, so their machines will suck up the supply. Probably a good idea to check for areas of weed that would stop the flow.

Rob.
 
Well I just finished the antifoiling. 3 years since it was last done and only a green slime and a couple of bits of easily dislodged weed (hemples cruising performance). Power hose worked fine. I put the pipe into a large trug and had a servant keep it toped up with good sea water ( keeping out sand and weed). No probs and a new blue bottom. Will give the hose a good rinse with fresh and hopefully it will keep going for another year.
 
Perhaps a quick rinse through with a gallon of fresh water and corrosion inhibitor at the end of the flushing job, post seawater use, would prolong the life of the internals. Just an idea.
 
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