TWL: AC Washdown Pump
I would like to install on my boat a different washdown pump for cleaning
the gooey mud that I get on my anchor chain when anchoring in San Francisco
Bay. That stuff is really tenacious. We currently have a Shurflo 2088-534
344 washdown system with the special nozzle they provided. It is properly
plumbed with the correct size of hose that they recommend. We anchored,
spent the night and then decided to bring the anchor in.
The chain came up nicely with our new Maxwell HWC 2000 hydraulic windlass.
Knowing there would be mud, I was ready with a big cup of coffee (for me-not
the anchor) my hose and washdown system in hand. The chain came up and so
did the mud. So I started spraying with the tightest stream I could get . It
was helping - but just helping. I was taking it very slowly and it was still
going to deposit a lot of mud in the anchor locker that would then drain
into our forward bilge - If it did not plug the limber holes first. The
Admiral allowed as to the fact that she could p--- faster than the pump. I
broke out my mechanical Gunk Buster and used it along with the pump. It took
1 hours, but I got the chain pretty clean.
A friend of mine is urging me to duplicate his system. For washdown he uses
a Senior Paragon pump (I think most of us might experience angina pains when
you see the cost of the pump).
So I had a different idea. I have a seldom-used resource called a generator.
I have no problems firing it up to power an AC washdown pump.
My question to all is, can this be done and can I buy an AC (marinized?)
pump with the following specifications?
SPECIFICATIONS
-
AC pump that can be run buy an Onan 8.5 kW generator
-
Needs about a 2-foot head capability (I hate the idea of mounting it
below the waterline, but I can if necessary.) If it can be self-priming and
draw a head of at least two feet it can be mounted in a place that should
never see water on it unless we are sinking. -
Can use " water hose (I have 100-0340 " - 1999 Trident - Flex hose) up
to the faucet fitting. -
The ability to control the flow with a nozzle would be extremely
desirable, but I can live without it
Cheers!
P.S., Please feel free to add to the specifications.
Bob & Debbie Huddleston Krogen 42
AB6NI KC6SKY "The Deborah C."
HuddlestonB_D@msn.com
At 11:53 AM 10/29/2000 -0800, Bob & Debbie Huddleston wrote:
I would like to install on my boat a different washdown pump
<<< snip>>>
So I had a different idea. I have a seldom-used resource called a generator.
I have no problems firing it up to power an AC washdown pump.
My question to all is, can this be done and can I buy an AC (marinized?)
pump with the following specifications?
Arild writes
Why don't you simply buy one of the electric high pressure washers
available from many places.
Even if it isn't "marinized" ii will last a good while and will no doubt
do much better with a high pressure spray than a regular wash down pump
with limited pressure. An 8 Kw Onan will drive it easily.
Cheers
Why not take a look at a well jet pump. They give enough water to run a
house at over 35 psi, can draft water up to 20 ft without special fittings,
your genset will easily run a small one, some are built of
nylon/marlon/"plastic", a pressure switch can be easily attached, they don't
cost an arm and a leg, and Sears used to carry them.
Stan Kurowski
M/V Beaver Rock ( http://members.home.net/skurowski/ )
Anacortes, WA
Stan-----------I read your post and got a brain storm, not a Nor' Easter I
hope. Every one tell me why this wouldn't work.
A jet pump installed below the water line replacing the raw water pump on
the generator and replacing the $400 pump on my 3 AC units plus salt water
for any other use right down to fighting a fire or washing anchor chain,
salt rinse water at the galley and with a Y valve would also be an
emergency bilge pump. The pump will run every time the generator runs. The
jet pump is a centrifical pump so no impellers to change and it is designed
for long running hours and is not nearly as expensive as the pumps it will
replace.
It is easy to carry a spare and to change out.
Tell me if I'm dreaming gang.
.
Captain Al Pilvinis
"M/V Driftwood"--Prairie 47
2630 N.E. 41st Street
Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064-8064
Voice 954-941-2556 Fax 954 788-2666
Email yourcaptain@earthlink.net
Website http://home.earthlink.net/~yourcaptain
yourcaptain@earthlink.net writes:
Tell me if I'm dreaming gang
Used to work for Sears and fix these babies after years and years of
running on the farm. Some of the better models were made of bronze
and should stand up to anything the ocean has to throw at them. Try
it and report back in a year or so.
Al:
An interesting concept - after my generator just ate another impeller. A
couple of observations. Technically the "jet" part of the pump is used to
lift, or push, water beyond the limits of the pump's available suction. In
this application you are after a simple well pump - although the same pump with
the jet outlet plugged can do the job. To avoid unnecessary cycling, you
really need a pressure tank downstream from the pump. Wiring needs to be
through your 110v panel so you can use your AC units on shore power but in that
operational mode you need to shut off the flow through your generator. For
that matter, you may need a way to control flow through your AC units as you
would not want full flow through them when they are not operating. I guess
solenoid shut off valves could be fitted to each AC unit and to the Genset.
Flow through the generator might need to be restricted as volume and pressure
could be excessive - I assume that it is physically possible to force too much
water through the heat exchanger and exhaust. A centrifugal pump still has an
impeller but, as another response indicated, a quality pump might be impervious
to sea water. The suggestion is indeed interesting but I don't know if it is
practical. I will be interested to see other comments.
Wesley Eldred
Little Bitt, 37' LNVT
So Burlington, VT
Captain Al Pilvinis wrote:
A jet pump installed below the water line replacing the raw water pump on
the generator and replacing the $400 pump on my 3 AC units plus salt water
for any other use
Wesley-----------install a filter between the raw water pump and the
Xchanger and you will never have to chase impeller parts again, infact
those clear plastic filters will tell you if the impeller is breaking up
and its time for a change.
.
Captain Al Pilvinis
"M/V Driftwood"--Prairie 47
2630 N.E. 41st Street
Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064-8064
Voice 954-941-2556 Fax 954 788-2666
Email yourcaptain@earthlink.net
Website http://home.earthlink.net/~yourcaptain