Mikeno
New Member
Hi, I like to have a 12v pump with sufficient flow and pressure to clean the mud from the chain and anchor, what have you on board (trade, power, speed) and are you satisfied?
Sea water pump for cleaning mud
- Thread starter Mikeno
- Start date
david_bagshaw
Well-Known Member
We have a Stuart Turner centrifugal pump, which has been first class over 30 years. however a jabsco water puppy type of pump would be also ok. see link jabsco.
found the low voltage one stuart pump. Although ours is a 24 v the 12 v would be well up to the task
found the low voltage one stuart pump. Although ours is a 24 v the 12 v would be well up to the task
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An engine which motors astern with the dirty bits of the ground tackle in the water. Works a treat.
RupertW
Well-Known Member
That’s what we do too. - but we have such an overhang on the bow that I can usually clean the anchor in forwards too without it banging,
david_bagshaw
Well-Known Member
nothing beats a good hose for removing sticky mud from the chain and anchor, along with clearing the deck of mud and weedy bits after.
sailor211
Well-Known Member
Battery jet wash. Useful bit of kit. Same battery as your power tools.
Skipper_Christoph
Well-Known Member
If your are planning to operate the pump at deck level you have to keep in mind the maximum vertical lift for self priming.
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-Known Member
A bucket or two of seawater, applied vigorously?
duncan99210
Well-Known Member
If you search eBay for “12v 10lpm pump“ that’ll throw up loads of different pumps for about £50-60. I actually use a smaller capacity pump to deliver sea water to the galley sink and the anchor locker: pressure is fine (at about 50psi) but it’d be better if the flow rate was higher. I’d go for a diaphragm pump rather than centrifugal as they prime better and deliver a higher working pressure.
seumask
Well-Known Member
If your bow is not fashionably vertical you can also motor forwards or backwards with the anchor just in the water
tudorsailor
Well-Known Member
I had a Jabsco par max 5 installed last year. Yacht is 49 foot. The socket is on the deck and is flush, the switch is in the anchor locker. It works nicely. It certainly is not overpowered. I am glad I did not get a lesser power. In many of the anchorages in Greece the gloopy mud never came off with motoring but does (eventually) come free with the power wash. I wish I'd done this years ago.
TS
Ian_Edwards
Well-Known Member
We have a Jabsco pump fitted with a pressure switch. It's plumbed into a deck fitting which works as a stop valve until the hose is fitted. We use a short hose with a standard nozzle, which can be twisted to form a jet, or a spray or turned off.
It works really well and cleans the mud and clay off the spade anchor. The power is switched on the main panel, but the pump stops when the hose is disconnected or the flow stopped by the nozzle.
It's much, much easier to use than a bucket and brush.
It works really well and cleans the mud and clay off the spade anchor. The power is switched on the main panel, but the pump stops when the hose is disconnected or the flow stopped by the nozzle.
It's much, much easier to use than a bucket and brush.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
If you are going to install a sea water pump I suspect you will want to use it for at least 2 applications, deck wash and anchor/chain wash. The 2 applications are incompatible - unless (as has been mentioned) you can vary the discharge from the hose). For your anchor and chain you need a concentrated narrow jet and for deck wash (maybe the same) but also a bit of a spray. A spray is useless for the anchor and chain as most of the water is wasted (I know - you will have lots of seawater - but you want to clean between the links (or inside the links) and a concentrated high pressure jet is the ideal. You actually don't need much water to clean an anchor and chain - but you do need pressure.
The other factor is that you want to be able to clean the chain, of mud inside the links, as you retrieve - so you need decent pressure to do that or you retrieve a metre, clean the next metre - and it takes for ever. Don't for in your wildest imagination think you can hang the chain off the bow roller and clean it by simply motoring - unless the water is 10m deep!
If you are installing a seawater pump it might be nice to have a transom shower and water in the galley - but I don't think they are critical - if you satisfy the deck wash and, separately, anchor and chain other applications will fit within that spec.
So you need a decent trigger nozzle that can both spray and become a jet - that's not difficult (garden supply shop, your nearest hardware store (and a coiled pipe - to be long enough to reach the end of the yacht (or have outlets to which you can attach the curly pipe).
I wish I can tell you what specification (and even which pump) but we have a Flojet that does not achieve what I describe - hopefully someone will agree or reinforce my ideas - and offer a specification (for us both - and I'll also upgrade
.
I think I'm prioritising pressure rather than volume - but maybe higher pressure pumps are also high flow (confess I have not looked rigorously - its not a high priority).
Any time you are topping up with fresh water and think to wash the deck down - take the opportunity to wash the chain and locker and remove any accumulated salt and mud - your chain will love you for it. Just stick the hose in the locker and give it as long as you can. Whenever possible 'air' the locker (open the hatch and let air circulate). If you see 'white rust' (google it) - its your galvanising dissolving.
Jonathan
The other factor is that you want to be able to clean the chain, of mud inside the links, as you retrieve - so you need decent pressure to do that or you retrieve a metre, clean the next metre - and it takes for ever. Don't for in your wildest imagination think you can hang the chain off the bow roller and clean it by simply motoring - unless the water is 10m deep!
If you are installing a seawater pump it might be nice to have a transom shower and water in the galley - but I don't think they are critical - if you satisfy the deck wash and, separately, anchor and chain other applications will fit within that spec.
So you need a decent trigger nozzle that can both spray and become a jet - that's not difficult (garden supply shop, your nearest hardware store (and a coiled pipe - to be long enough to reach the end of the yacht (or have outlets to which you can attach the curly pipe).
I wish I can tell you what specification (and even which pump) but we have a Flojet that does not achieve what I describe - hopefully someone will agree or reinforce my ideas - and offer a specification (for us both - and I'll also upgrade
.I think I'm prioritising pressure rather than volume - but maybe higher pressure pumps are also high flow (confess I have not looked rigorously - its not a high priority).
Any time you are topping up with fresh water and think to wash the deck down - take the opportunity to wash the chain and locker and remove any accumulated salt and mud - your chain will love you for it. Just stick the hose in the locker and give it as long as you can. Whenever possible 'air' the locker (open the hatch and let air circulate). If you see 'white rust' (google it) - its your galvanising dissolving.
Jonathan
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
Depends how much of a hurry you are in, its muddy round here on the east coast
pulling some chain in, let the tide swish past and then doing some more gets the chain ’clean’ without any fuss
then motor with the anchor dangling does the trIck for me
pulling some chain in, let the tide swish past and then doing some more gets the chain ’clean’ without any fuss
then motor with the anchor dangling does the trIck for me
david_bagshaw
Well-Known Member
Many years ago I experimented with a spray, used a pressure washer to wash the incoming chain . Cleaned the chain well but the muddy mist went.....If you are going to install a sea water pump I suspect you will want to use it for at least 2 applications, deck wash and anchor/chain wash. The 2 applications are incompatible - unless (as has been mentioned) you can vary the discharge from the hose). For your anchor and chain you need a concentrated narrow jet and for deck wash (maybe the same) but also a bit of a spray. A spray is useless for the anchor and chain as most of the water is wasted (I know - you will have lots of seawater - but you want to clean between the links (or inside the links) and a concentrated high pressure jet is the ideal. You actually don't need much water to clean an anchor and chain - but you do need pressure.
The other factor is that you want to be able to clean the chain, of mud inside the links, as you retrieve - so you need decent pressure to do that or you retrieve a metre, clean the next metre - and it takes for ever. Don't for in your wildest imagination think you can hang the chain off the bow roller and clean it by simply motoring - unless the water is 10m deep!
If you are installing a seawater pump it might be nice to have a transom shower and water in the galley - but I don't think they are critical - if you satisfy the deck wash and, separately, anchor and chain other applications will fit within that spec.
So you need a decent trigger nozzle that can both spray and become a jet - that's not difficult (garden supply shop, your nearest hardware store (and a coiled pipe - to be long enough to reach the end of the yacht (or have outlets to which you can attach the curly pipe).
I wish I can tell you what specification (and even which pump) but we have a Flojet that does not achieve what I describe - hopefully someone will agree or reinforce my ideas - and offer a specification (for us both - and I'll also upgrade
I think I'm prioritising pressure rather than volume - but maybe higher pressure pumps are also high flow (confess I have not looked rigorously - its not a high priority).
Any time you are topping up with fresh water and think to wash the deck down - take the opportunity to wash the chain and locker and remove any accumulated salt and mud - your chain will love you for it. Just stick the hose in the locker and give it as long as you can. Whenever possible 'air' the locker (open the hatch and let air circulate). If you see 'white rust' (google it) - its your galvanising dissolving.
Jonathan
all over the boat! this was in the wester schelde so probably the area of operation of the original poster.
So my recommendation is a good powerful high volume flow, but not too much pressure. our set up has 2 delivery points , one in the hawse pipe, which looks nice big ship but is actually pretty useless in muddy anchorages, and a hand held 22mm deck hose, which is put into a larger pipe , split at the bottom , with a side hole so the chain can be placed through the side hole and out the far end , with water delivery from the top of the bigger hose.. This works incredibly well, in keeping the operator dryer in thesese northern latitudes, along with stopping muddy water having too much freedom to land on the top sides.
As to rinsing and ventilation. totally agree, itis essential.
Crazy-Diamond
Well-Known Member
I was considering fitting a sea water pump for the same purpose, cleaning the mud off my chain and anchor. There is no shortage of the stuff on the east coast. Although the idea was appealing, in practice I was concerned about adding yet another thing to the boat. More wiring, more holes, more things to go wrong.
I came across this solution, a plastic device, sadly no longer made, from an American company. I liked this idea, but it is not possible to buy them. So, I made my own, using a fake grass door mat, some gutter downpipe clips, and a long wooden handle. It works very well indeed. So well in fact, that the first few times I used it I assumed I had anchored in hitherto unknown sandy areas of the rivers Crouch and Roach, as the anchor and chain were spotless.
I can post pics if anyone is interested..........
I came across this solution, a plastic device, sadly no longer made, from an American company. I liked this idea, but it is not possible to buy them. So, I made my own, using a fake grass door mat, some gutter downpipe clips, and a long wooden handle. It works very well indeed. So well in fact, that the first few times I used it I assumed I had anchored in hitherto unknown sandy areas of the rivers Crouch and Roach, as the anchor and chain were spotless.
I can post pics if anyone is interested..........
tudorsailor
Well-Known Member
Not sure I can quite visualise your gizmo but it sounds an intriguing arrangement. Do you have any photos to show how you do this?
TS
stu9000
Well-Known Member
Thanks Crazy. I'd like to see pics
david_bagshaw
Well-Known Member
1get a 1 and 1/2 id unreinforced plastic pipe about 2 foot 6 foot long
2about 8 inches from one end of the pipe drill a hole about 1 inch dia.
3 now cut the pipe from the hole to the short end
4 cut the end of the slot into a V this makes it easy to push over the chain.
here is one I have made by folding a doc holder into a tube to give the ides.
the blue string is the chain, hose attached to the tube at the bottom of the picture.
Crazy-Diamond
Well-Known Member
Here are some pics of my homemade chain scrubber/cleaner in action (more pics below). Before starting to raise the chain (I have an electric windlass) the device is attached and run down to just below the water level. As the chain is raised I run it up and down, and can see the mud running off in the water. Because I like to keep everything as clean and dry as possible, I tend to pause when raising to allow water to run back down the chain before it comes over the roller. I also position a rag under the chain before the windlass to collect the odd drip.
This is the scrubbing end (next to a boat hook). There are two downpipe fittings screwed through the pole, each one with a small amount of the circumference cut out, and astro turn matting sikaflexed in place.
As you can see, the holes in these are opposing, which stops the chain popping out. Clipping the device on and off is not difficult. There is also a mini brush, designed to help getting mud off the anchor, this has proved less successful, and I may remove it as I am worried it will damage something!
The Essex mud is deep and thick. Previous experiences were of significant amounts of mud on deck, and in the chain locker, making for a dirty boat. Since using this I have almost completely eliminated the mud - there just isn't any. I actually thought I must have been anchoring in gravel when first using this, but the Crouch and Roach are mud, and the anchor had plenty of mud too. It just works, and is super simple, much more simple than my original plan of fitting a pump.
This is the scrubbing end (next to a boat hook). There are two downpipe fittings screwed through the pole, each one with a small amount of the circumference cut out, and astro turn matting sikaflexed in place.
As you can see, the holes in these are opposing, which stops the chain popping out. Clipping the device on and off is not difficult. There is also a mini brush, designed to help getting mud off the anchor, this has proved less successful, and I may remove it as I am worried it will damage something!
The Essex mud is deep and thick. Previous experiences were of significant amounts of mud on deck, and in the chain locker, making for a dirty boat. Since using this I have almost completely eliminated the mud - there just isn't any. I actually thought I must have been anchoring in gravel when first using this, but the Crouch and Roach are mud, and the anchor had plenty of mud too. It just works, and is super simple, much more simple than my original plan of fitting a pump.