Washdown System Installation

[meerkat]

Saw a cool washdown system at the Mid-America Boat Show. I see I can get a kit for about $150 in the internet.

Has anyone installed one of these? I have a livewell/baitwell and am wondering if I can connect the washdown pump into the plumbing for the livewell/baitwell so I do not have to cut another hole through the transom.

Do the kits come with a quick-connect for the hose so I can store the hose out of the way till needed.

Any other installation suggestions such as location of pump & hose, pressure/capacity, hose storage, etc would be most welcome.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Washdown System Installation

The best bit of advice I can give you from experience is to drill the hole and install a second intake and seacock for the washdown pump. Bait well pumps are notorious for freezing up and cracking in cold weather. I want the ability to completely isolate the bait pump, i.e. winterize and close off seacock, prior to cold weather operation. I guess you could tee the intake then add a shut-off valve between the tee and the bait pump but that?s just one more thing to worry about. A guy ?turtled? a 22? Grady White a couple of weeks ago when his bait pump cracked and flooded so things like that do happen.


Do yourself a favor and bag the recoiling hose. The ID is too small for the flows involved which creates a large pressure drop between the pump and the nozzle. Get yourself a ?? garden hose instead.

FWIW: Go with a scoop type intake on the lwashdown. Don't have to worry about priming issues.

 

[meerkat]

Re: Washdown System Installation

Dingbat - thanks for the advice. I never thought about the seacock for the baitwell - mine does not have one! I have the boat in pieces right now so I will install one no matter what I do with the washdown system.

I seldom (if ever) use the baitwell or livewell so I might just put in a T with a shut-off the the baitwell/livewell plumbing.

On the coiled hose - again you make a good point. It is going to be stored most of the time so a good quality (as in flexible) garden hose on a quick connect would work a whole lot better.

Thanks - I learn something new every day!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Washdown System Installation

My boat shares the through hull and seacock for the washdown and livewell. Not ideal, but if you don't already have a seacock for your livewell you should add one. If you don't use the livewell much, why not just install a diverter valve on the outlet of your existing pump and connect it to a washdown petcock so you can use the same pump for both?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Washdown System Installation

If you don't use the livewell much, why not just install a diverter valve on the outlet of your existing pump and connect it to a washdown petcock so you can use the same pump for both?

A wash down and a live well have two very different flow and pressure requirements.

When using one pump you have to decided what's more important. Dead bait and a good, high pressure, wash down system or nice lively bait and a useless dribble hose for a wash down.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Washdown System Installation

A wash down and a live well have two very different flow and pressure requirements.

Depends on the pump and how it's plumbed. I use a Pro Baitmaster for both chores. I can keep 50 pogies alive all day and wash down the kingfish blood with decent pressure anywhere in the boat ...