Water tank filling

[Bobobolinsky]

I'm presently fitting the water system to my boat, I have the waterproof sealed inlet on the side deck. I don't want to vent the tank over the side, and don't want to leave the tank filling and find four inches of water in the bilges, after I have forgotten about it. My solution idea, is to fill through the vent line and vent through the filler, which goes overboard.
This also seems to have the additional advantage that I could leave a hose attached to it, close the inlet and pressurise the water system from the mains (my water system is at mains pressure) Anybody see any drawbacks to this?

 

[pampas]

and leave your deck filler cover off to vent !!!!

 

[NormanS]

I'm presently fitting the water system to my boat, I have the waterproof sealed inlet on the side deck. I don't want to vent the tank over the side, and don't want to leave the tank filling and find four inches of water in the bilges, after I have forgotten about it. My solution idea, is to fill through the vent line and vent through the filler, which goes overboard.
This also seems to have the additional advantage that I could leave a hose attached to it, close the inlet and pressurise the water system from the mains (my water system is at mains pressure) Anybody see any drawbacks to this?

You seem to have found a solution to a problem which doesn't exist. As those on Dragon's Den would say, "I'm out".

 

[Bobobolinsky]

No, if the tank is under pressure, does it need a vent?

 

[Bobobolinsky]

You seem to have found a solution to a problem which doesn't exist. As those on Dragon's Den would say, "I'm out".

It does exist for me as I filled water tanks on someone elses boat and filled the bilges after I went for breakfast

I did have another boat which was pressurised from the mains.
Note that I live aboard.

 

[crisjones]

I would not reccomend pressurising the tank to mains water pressure - most tanks are not designed to be pressurised - you could end up with an awful lot of water in the boat if the tank splits!!!

If you want to have the boat system pressurised by the mains then you need a connection point downstream of the pressure pump. We do this quite often when in a marina for a long time. However you need to be aware that alot of mains supplies are at a much higher pressure than the boat pump normally supplies so you are likely to discover leaks you did not know existed or pressure releif valve on hot water cylinder might operate.

Provided the mains pressure is less than about 40psi then it should be OK to connect direct to the boat, anything above this would be a bit risky.

 

[NormanS]

It does exist for me as I filled water tanks on someone elses boat and filled the bilges after I went for breakfast

I did have another boat which was pressurised from the mains.
Note that I live aboard.

Normal tanks have a breather, above the level of the filler, which in the event of over filling, will not flood the boat.

Normal tanks are filled until they overflow out of the deck filler.

If your boat is fixed to the shore, and never going anywhere, you can have a permanent water supply at mains pressure.

What is your problem?

 

[rogerthebodger]

My 2 water tanks vent through 2 faucets positioned over the galley sink so when I am filling and they get full any overfill will go down the sink then out into the sea and it is easy to see when the tank is full.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

I like that one Roger

 

[sailorman]

Normal tanks have a breather, above the level of the filler, which in the event of over filling, will not flood the boat.

Normal tanks are filled until they overflow out of the deck filler.

If your boat is fixed to the shore, and never going anywhere, you can have a permanent water supply at mains pressure.

What is your problem?

out tank is midships & a breather high up into the anchor well

 

[Jamesuk]

When the tank is full bit comes through the freshwater sink pump outlet. As for pressuring the main tank never heard of it on boats but piping can be connected to an expansion tank after the pump right?

 

[saltylegs]

I would not reccomend pressurising the tank to mains water pressure - most tanks are not designed to be pressurised - you could end up with an awful lot of water in the boat if the tank splits!!!

Or you could fit a water governor on the end of the shore supply that could amtch the supply pressure you use on board, I think I got one a couple of years ago from plumb center.

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...1151&catalogId=10001&page=Fresh-water-Systems

scroll down there's a diagram, too.

 

[VicS]

My own boat has a non vented flexible pillow tank so I just fill until it overflows from the filler. ( the galley pump is a little lower so some water does go into the sink and to waste from there)

The boat I used to crew has a vent pipe clipped up high in the heads but water tends to splash out from there and soak the toilet roll so we just unclipped it and poked out of the heads porthole ( vent pipe that is not toilet roll).

Conveniently the filler is near the heads port hole.