check valve ideas?

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:24 am

Looking at my thru hull menagerie, trying to elimate some, I'm thinking of tapping off the engine's raw water intake for my galley sink salt water pump. I know I'll need some sort of check valve on the sink line... any suggestions as to a good way to go?
Thanks!

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:46 am

Peter - on my trimaran I did just that. I had a whale foot pump on the saltwater line, but I also had a strainer that the cooling water first entered inboard of the seacock. I tee'd off the top of that strainer, and did not have any check valve in the line. Never had a problem. I suppose the foot pump could have been acting as a check valve but I really don't think so.

Of course on my Meridian I eliminated ALL the openings below the water line. Hard to do that with an inboard though. grin

Post by **Tim** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:16 am

I also simply installed a tee fitting in the engine raw water line for my sink's saltwater supply. No check valve is necessary.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:53 pm

Thanks, guys.
My concern was the possibility of the engine water pump sucking air through the galley faucet. I'll install a clear line up to the galley so I can watch for bubbles. I like the idea of tee'ing right off the strainet outlet.

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:09 pm

It must be cool to sail in water clean enough to use in the galley!

Post by **Tim** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:28 am

With a good pump installed in the galley, there should be no avenue for sucking air. In any event, this has not proved to be an issue whatsoever in my case. I have a Whale diaphragm foot pump installed for the salt water in the galley.

FWIW, don't connect that clear unreinforced hose directly to any through hull, including through a tee fitting--it's just too weak to feel comfortable with when it's a direct avenue overboard. At least use the fiber-reinforced type of water hose for this application. Note also that the clear water hose, when exposed to light, tends to allow more stuff to potentially grow in the lines, so the white-colored reinforced water hose is often a better choice for all potable water lines.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:02 am

It must be cool to sail in water clean enough to use in the galley!

I think denial is more of a factor than cleanliness. Not everyone in the harbor is using their holding tanks after all...

On a windless day a couple of miles offshore near the Canadian border I amused myself by dropping a clear glass over the side and then scrutinizing the captured water. Once my eyes adjusted to the smaller scale I realized the water was absolutely packed with small swimming things and floaty bits. Some of it was pretty creepy looking.

Using salt water sure stretches the fresh water supply though so I will continue to use it. I just try not to think about it too much.

Good thread question by the way. I was just thinking about putting in a check valve last week. I had never heard of it being done but I hadn't heard of it NOT being done either. Just one of those little details that never seems to come up in conversation.

-Britton

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:04 pm

Tim- I suspect I'm using that same pump. Had two of them aboard the tri and installed one in Tehani for fresh water. Excellent product and easily rebuildable.

I absolutely ABHOR hand pumps!!! Really silly trying to wash your hands isn't it- grin. And I refuse to have electric water aboard the boat.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:15 am

My salt water pump is the original "Albin Marin" model ... a single-action pump. The fresh water pump beside it is a Whale and squirts on the upstroke and downstroke. I'm thinking of swapping the two around to minimize fresh water use.

I don't suck up any salt water around the Victoria area as the whole town dumps it barely treated waste right into the ocean, claiming the tidal action "takes care of it". But when further up the west coast of Vancouver Island the water looks pretty clear and inviting.

Britton: I know what you mean about all the 'floaties'. Sometimes I lie on the bow and watch the water ahead of the boat ... definatelly full of little critters! But hey ... it's great for washing off the remains of a meal before imersing the dishes in the nice sudsy hot fresh stuff.

Tim: Thanks for the tips on hoses. My originals were all non-reinforced plastic, some of them blackened inside :-(
I've replaced them with the reinforced type, but didn't know about the white stuff. All my hoses are in covered areas, but I'll keep an eye out for growth anyway.
For the galley salt water hose I'll use the same good stuff used for the engine raw water cooling ... pricey but worth it!

Post by **Tim** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:13 am

bcooke wrote:Once my eyes adjusted to the smaller scale I realized the water was absolutely packed with small swimming things and floaty bits. Some of it was pretty creepy looking.

Just think of it as extra protein.

We just use the salt water for washing dishes; it's a real fresh water-saver.