Washdown connector?

[tekmunki]

I have a hose connector of some sort sitting on the top of my port side gunnel- I also have a single switch labeled "Livewells & Washdown".

I may be 100% mistaken on what this is, I assumes as much that it was "the washdown".

This switch does turn on both of my livewells which start flowing water, however I see no water coming out of the port connector when I remove the screw cap from it. Being they are all on the same switch - I would assume they use the same pump, could it be plugged or is there a procedure for "turning this on" that I am missing? I even tried turning off the valves on both livewells then flipping the switch- no water came out of the hose connector.


How on earth does one go about troubleshooting this?


Boat is a 2000 Polar Dynasty 2100 BB 21' Center Console (recently purchased used)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Washdown connector?

First I assume it is not on the gunwale (top of the side of the boat) but on the side?

One pump runs the livewell fill and the salt-water washdown. This is important: look in the hatch at the rear of the boat (typically) and you will see a short pipe sticking up from the bottom of the hull, then a seacock (valve) then a pump and a T connector, sending it to the live well and to the fitting you describe.

Why is this important? because you have a hole in the bottom of the boat that will sink you. Your bilge pump, also in there, can't keep up. You do not want to be learning about this while you are going down. For one thing, that seacock is likely stuck open and needs to be freed so you can close it. Consider replacing it if it's plastic.

If you don't use the system, close the seacock for safety. Some keep it closed unless actually using it.

Back to operations: the pump doesn't put out a lot of pressure. Close the fill valve on the livewell if only using the washdown.

On my boat, similar to yours, I got one of those coiled garden hoses, cut it in half, and store it on the boat. I also put a garden-hose valve on the fitting you describe (it is more watertight than the cap), and then a 4' piece of hose. This is enough to wash down the back deck, wash bait off my hands (I put it under the cleat) and convenient.

If you leave the valves or cap open, even with the pump off, you will get water pushed through the system while running. Come to think of it, these guys with mysterious water intrusion may have this going on.

Note: some boats have the through-hull on the bottom of the transom, below the waterline, and the system only works when the boat is at rest.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Washdown connector?

The switch operates the same pump. When the boat is in the water and you are trying to keep bait alive, flipping the switch pumps raw water into the livewell. Once you have fished and are trying to remove blood/scales/etc from the boat, you put a coiled hose & nozzle on it and flip the switch on again. It's a raw water washdown. Same switch. Same pump. Different purpose.

Your pic is too blurry to determine what that port may be. Try a clearer one. Overflow? Vent?

 

[tekmunki]

Re: Washdown connector?

First I assume it is not on the gunwale (top of the side of the boat) but on the side?

One pump runs the livewell fill and the salt-water washdown. This is important: look in the hatch at the rear of the boat (typically) and you will see a short pipe sticking up from the bottom of the hull, then a seacock (valve) then a pump and a T connector, sending it to the live well and to the fitting you describe.

Why is this important? because you have a hole in the bottom of the boat that will sink you. Your bilge pump, also in there, can't keep up. You do not want to be learning about this while you are going down. For one thing, that seacock is likely stuck open and needs to be freed so you can close it. Consider replacing it if it's plastic.

If you don't use the system, close the seacock for safety. Some keep it closed unless actually using it.

Back to operations: the pump doesn't put out a lot of pressure. Close the fill valve on the livewell if only using the washdown.

On my boat, similar to yours, I got one of those coiled garden hoses, cut it in half, and store it on the boat. I also put a garden-hose valve on the fitting you describe (it is more watertight than the cap), and then a 4' piece of hose. This is enough to wash down the back deck, wash bait off my hands (I put it under the cleat) and convenient.

If you leave the valves or cap open, even with the pump off, you will get water pushed through the system while running. Come to think of it, these guys with mysterious water intrusion may have this going on.

Note: some boats have the through-hull on the bottom of the transom, below the waterline, and the system only works when the boat is at rest.

It is on the top side- the pic is a bit misleading, it is sitting on the upper-curved side of the side of the gunwale, water side. Had i shifted the camera a 1/2" up, you'd see into the boat, it's right on the top/side of the port gunwale.

I have 2 hatches on the rear of the boat, one on each side. I opened both and saw no T connectors, valves, etc. I did however, see a hose running up to "near" where the connector was- however, it's fitting had worn and was broken off, the hose was just sitting in the bottom of the hull where it had fallen off.

Next time I'm on water, I'll see if water is coming out of there when I turn off both live-well valves. I would like to find this "shut off" switch in case of emergencies-


Is there any easier way to test the livewell/washdown system without actually being on water?

 

[seabob4]

Re: Washdown connector?

Is there any easier way to test the livewell/washdown system without actually being on water?

Yes, get one of these...

From Moeller...