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On a motor yacht or sailing yacht,
four discrete plumbing systems are packed into the below decks
area.
- The Fresh water system supplies
fresh water for drinking, cooking and washing to a galley
sink. A hand pump on the sink or an electric water
pump draws the water from a tank, usually positioned in
the bow to counterbalance the weight of other heavy installations
farther aft. This tank is vented, allowing air to enter
as the water level changes; otherwise, a vacuum left by
departing water would make pumping difficult. The waste
water from the sink flows out of the boat by gravity; the
outlet is located just above the waterline so that dirty
water does not dribble any appreciable distance down the hull
- A second system, called the Marine Head (toilet) system, provides raw water for the toilet.
A pump beside the toilet draws water through a seacock
at the bottom of the hull and, depending on the age of the
boat, flushes it either overboard or, as is now common practice on bareboats used on yacht charters in the Whitsunday Islands that toilet waste is flushed into a vented holding tank
that is emptied when the bareboat leaves restricted anchorages.
- In the third system, another seacock admits raw sea
water to cool the engine. After the cooling water has
passed through the engine block, the system's pump, powered
by the engine itself, expels the water via the exhaust pipe
along with the engine's exhaust gases.
- The fourth - and the simplest - Bilge
Pump System pumps out any water that has collected in
the bilge. A strainer-covered hose end resting
in the deepest part of the hull sucks up the water through
a pump and discharges it overboard through an outlet near
the waterline.

A
seacock controls the flow or raw water into toilets or engine-cooling
systems by a rotating valve that opens when the handle is
vertical and closes when it is horizontal.
The fresh water system
All bareboats are fitted with
two or three fresh water tanks of varying capacities.
Generally, the water flow from these tanks is controlled through
diverter valves allowing you to use the tanks progressively.
To maintain boat trim, use any stern tanks first... using
the bow tank last keeps that weight of water forward, until
the stern tanks empty.
Helpful Hints to Conserve
Water
- Rinse used plates and cutlery in salt water.
- Rinse vegetables in salt water.
- Use a glass of water to clean your teeth.
- Soap yourself in the shower; turn on water only
to rinse.
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Pressure
system
Bareboats generally operate with a fully pressurised hot and
cold water system...for this system to operate you need to
turn on the fresh water pump which operates on 12v power.
If you hear this pump running and you are not using
water (all taps closed)...switch off the pump immediately...
before the pump and impeller are damaged, look for
the reason. You can review a long list... Refer to Fresh
water pump trouble-shooting chart.
- You are out of water in the tank you are using...turn
diverter valve to an unused water tank.
- You have a leak in the supply line from
the pump to the taps... after locating leak, repair
if possible after isolating that section.
- The pressure switch is faulty... report
to your charter operator.
Hot water cylinder
The hot water system on your bareboat almost always works through a heat exchange
connected into the main engine. The water automatically heats
when the engine has run for approximately 20 minutes. Water
will stay hot in the insulated hot water cylinder for a considerable
period. Best time to have a shower is during or directly after
the motor has run.
When connected to the 240 volt shore power at a Marina, the
water is heated (on some bareboats) by turning on the
'Water Heater' switch on the 240 volt switchboard.
Refilling fresh water tanks
In the Whitsundays, Abel Point Marina in Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour
are the only places you can be certain your fresh water tanks
can be refilled with water of good quality...so use sparingly.
Your fresh water hose is often attached to a sea water valve
and used to hose down the boat or anchor... because this hose
is used with sea water, flush fresh water through, before
you fill the fresh water tanks.
Filler caps are marked 'water', make certain you
only put water into these locations as this can have immediate
and expensive consequences if you mistake the 'Diesel fuel' filler
cap.
Shower
It is recommended that all crew on a bareboat yacht charter restrict themselves to a maximum
of 2 minutes of water time per person per day.
By wetting yourself down then turning off the water while
soaping, you will find you have ample water to rinse.
On most bareboats the shower and hand basin water drains into
a sump which operates on a float or pressure switch that automatically
pumps out the water.
Fresh water pump troubleshooting chart
| Pump fails
to start when tap is opened |
| Cause |
Remedy |
| No voltage to pump electrical connection |
- Check the battery
- Is the main switch on?
- Is the pump switch on?
- Check the fuse (Fuse trips when the battery gives too
low a voltage and the pump is started)
- Check the electric connection of the pump
- Clean oxide from the cable terminal
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| No water flow through tap |
- Check that the tap washer has not seized after tap has
remained unused for a long period of time.
- Check that the tap is not clogged
- Check that hose after pump is not kinked
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| Faulty pressure switch |
- Change pressure switch (contact charter company)
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| Faulty motor |
- Change motor, (contact charter company)
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| Pump starts
but does not pump water |
| Pump not receiving flow of water |
- Water tank empty. Switch off pump and fill tank.
- Clogged filter or bottom valve
- Kinks on hose between tank and pump
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| Pump sucks air |
- Check tightness of hose connections at pump, filter and
tank
- Check hose for possible damage
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| Pump not evacuating all air in system
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| Pump does not prime |
- If pump has been clogged or does not prime carefully flush
pump through with tap water at nominal pump flow. Note!
Flush in normal flow direction.
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| Defects in pump unit |
- Change complete pump assembly
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| Pump fails to
stop when tap is turned off |
| Pump not receiving flow of water |
- Empty tank. Switch off current to pump and fill tank with
water
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| Air in system |
- Allow water to flow for a while
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| Pump sucks air |
- Check tightness of hose connections at pump, filter tank
and taps
- Check hose for possible damage
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| Defective pressure switch |
- Change complete pressure switch
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| Pump starts
without tap being opened. Occasional cut-ins could be considered
normal but this would depend on the system arrangement |
| Leakage in system |
- Check dripping taps
- Check hose connections for leakage
- Too little air in expansion tank giving smaller margin
for leakage. Empty water out of expansion tank.
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| Leakage in pump check valve |
- Flush for a while with fully open taps to flush out any
impurities in pump check valve
- If problem is not remedied by point above, change complete
pump assembly
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