Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

[Bumperlt12]

By anything, I mean everything outside of driving it. We've never had a boat with shore power, or a toilet, or a shower, or hot water, or anything a 16' bowrider wouldn't have.

Haven't tested the shore power yet, I plan to soon. Right now I'm just trying to figure the toilet out.

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/img/TWK175?size=450&index=2

This is the only picture on the net that i could find, I'm 95% sure that this is the same one we have. Back left, it has a pushable thing. Back right, a cap that can be removed.

I poored water in then middle pee/poo hole and then pushed the 'button' thing a bunch and nothing happened.

There's a keyed switch in front of the sink, I don't know what it's for, and i can't remember what is says, I think the word dumping is used though.

There is a fresh water pump, but like everything else I don't know exactly what it does. i filled the boat up with water and turned the pump on for a few seconds. I can hear and see it working, but what is it doing? Both sinks work well without it on.

How do I use the hot water, I know the shore power needs to be hooked up and the breaker on, but then what?

Near the front of the engine, there is a valve that allows water through the hull, where does it go? The water line goes out of sight.

I know this may be common sense to yall experienced folk.. so please go easy.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

What you dont know can screw things up. I would find someone that will come to you and show you how to operate everything. The cost will save you much more and make the boating more enjoyable.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

Hmmmm. I can see a rather large USCG / DPR fine in the near future if the "dumping feature" is used anywhere near land and not connected to a sanitary pump out station.

Please get someone to show / teach you about the boat before there is a major mishap or someone gets hurt. I suppose if you list your questions, they will get answered. Perhaps search the net / forums (especially the Sea Ray Forums) to see if someone has a manual for the boat, but a '91 may be pretty hard to come by. There are a bazillion Sea Rays out there and sure someone has 1st hand knowledge of your model.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

This should help you out for a start. Head over to Club Sea Ray. There are lots of 220 owners that can help.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

Maybe the person who sold it to you would be willing to answer your questions and provide some instruction/demonstration of the boats features.

 

[Bumperlt12]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

He was very unhelpful. The guy acted like I was some sort of burden when we bought it.

I've spend a lot of the day reading and researching. I still cant find answers for these two things:

How do I use the hot water, I know the shore power needs to be hooked up and the breaker on, but then what? Common sense tells me this: Plug in shore power, turn hot water breaker on, wait a bit for the element to heat up the wee little tank, and then good to go. Or, is it an insta-hot kind of set up and there is no tank? the boat isn't at my house otherwise i could look closer.

Near the front of the engine, there is a valve that allows water through the hull, where does it go? The water line goes out of sight.

 

[emoney]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

Depends on what type water heater you have, as you could be right, or it could be instant-on. Post a pic of your unit and let's go from there. Also, look for a water valve near the base of it because if it is a tank type, I'd think it would be closed when not at shore since it only works on shore power.

As for the valve, you need to post a picture of that as well. When you say water line, is it a drain line or a feed line? Is it running into a central bilge pump as in a drain for the cockpit sole? Pictures are worth 1,000 words.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

Chances are you have a standard 6 gal water heater like this one. It's probably in the engine compartment given the size of the boat.
The valve in front of the engine is likely the seacock for the head. The head uses sea water to flush.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

The OP could also have a heat exchanger model, which is important to know since it provides hot water while underway and on the hook.

I agree with the others, having an experienced person there to identify the amenities in question and demonstrate their use is really the best advice.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

Let me see if I can help.

The dump feature should be avoided. It sounds like you have a head verse a ports potti. Is there a holding tank under the toilet, or in the bilge somewhere? The thru hull with the hose you say disappears very well could be the raw water feed to your toilet. The handle on the side being pumped back and forth should do just that, pump raw water from the river/ocean into the toilet. The button or another lever should work to open the valve under the toilet to flush it to the holding tank. From that tank it is either pumped thru to a pump out, or macerated (chopped up) and flushed out the bottom. This could also be the thru hull you see, if your toilet is fed elsewhere.

The heater should function as you described. Turn it on and then when it's up to temp hit the hot water and see if it's hot. Some boats use the heat exchanger as well as the heater.

The water pump works only when you lose pressure. If your water flows well you don't need the pump running. As the pressure drops, kick the pump back on and you will have it back.

 

[dpoff]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

Whatever you do, make sure that the hot water heater has water in it before you flip the breaker on or else you`ll burn up the element.

 

[Bumperlt12]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

I appreciate the help. I loked closer at some things after doing a lot of reading and here's what i came up with.

The raw water inlet near the engine goes to a macerator (sp?) mounted under the sink. Theres a larger tube coming from the back of the porta potti, into the macerator, then up to the "waste" port, so it can be pumped (I assume). The keyed switch activates the macerator.

The hot water is indeed a small tank, haven't had a chance to test it yet though.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Ok, I need to be schooled. New boat.. dunno how to operate anything

This may help out too. http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/1C1_24_74DEIPNVO2F.pdf