DOCKSIDE WATER INLET

raynyc5

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
RO Number
27831
Messages
10
I Have a 2005 300 Searay Sundancer. I would like to use the Dockside water inlet to provide water for the boats fresh water system. The manual states "Make sure the WATER SYSTEM BREAKER is off". Does that mean I should turn off the "WATER PUMP" breaker on the cabin DC Panel "and" the "HEAD SYSTEM" breaker or just the WATER PUMP BREAKER. Thanks for any guidance on this. Appreciate it.
Ray.
 
just the Water Pump breaker. The Head System breaker runs the vacuum pump on your Vacu-Flush head and needs to be "on" if you are using the head.
 
With dockside water you have external pressure forcing water through the system. I'm not sure if it hooks in before or after the pump. It does bypass the water tank. The pump creates its own pressure using water from you storage tank.

Some points to take to heart from those here who have BTDT or seen it happen.

--Make sure the pressure regulator on backside of the dockside water inlet is working.
--Make absolutely sure you shut off the water when you leave the boat. More boats sink at the dock than anywhere else.
--If you are using dockside water, the water in your tank will go stale and it will eventually stink. I just had to do went a complete system flush because of this. It's not hard. It's just a pain in the arse and takes a couple of days.
--Use an inline water filter to precluse crap from getting into your lines and faucets. You can get them from an RV store for about $25 or less. Your fresh water pump has one built in. Many marinas pay little attention to their water systems.

HTH

Good luck!
 
Thanks much!! Appreciate your responses. Now its clear. thanks again. I will consider getting filters. Sounds like a great idea.
 
I'd think long and hard about connecting like that. Downside risk (somehow filling your bilge and sinking), IMO, far outweighs convenience. Plus using your fresh water tank, then refilling on a regular basis keeps the water just that...fresh.

V/R
 
FWIW, I suspect the household-size sediment filters might be slightly less expensive that purpose-built "RV" or "marine" filters. Check GE SmartWater filters from Home Depot, or Pentek "Big Blue" filters from on-line (or same as Culligan installs). Needs a simple conversion from pipe to garden hose fittings, also available at Home Depot, etc. Pentek DGD-2501 filter elements are two-part filters; the external section traps 25-micron (or bigger) stuff, and the internal section traps 1-micron (or bigger) stuff. The blue (and even solid white GE) canisters have the advantage of being sufficiently opaque so you don't inadvertently grow algea in there, as could happen with a clear canister.

-Chris
 
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