AC fresh water pump suggestions

[Mike36c]

I currently have a single Paragon Sr. dc pump (works fine but noisy) and would like to upgrade to a dual AC/DC pump setup as we’re on AC/gen 80% of the time. I don’t have a huge demand (one head, shower, galley, w/d, washdowns) so which AC pump would you all recommend that is quiet and reliable? The mounting location is dry and happy.

 

[GJH]

I got great service from a Flotec (rebranded as Craftsman) shallow well pump. Looked like the one pictured here:

http://www.razmarinepumps.com/raz-marine-water-pumps.shtml

 

[krush]

Why not just go DC only variable speed? When generator is running, battery is being charged.

I use Remco Aquajet variable speed DC on all my stuff and love them. Put the first one in the RV 4 years ago and it's been great. I use the smallest one to save water, but they make larger sizes https://www.rvupgradestore.com/RV-W...g=Y&sort=5&cat=199&show=28&page=1&brand=Remco

For me, the well pump units just take up too much space and flow too much water....it'll suck the tank dry in no time. Add flexible lines before/after the pump to dampen pulsations and you won't hear it. Put two in parallel if worried about failure....but they easy to change out because they have quick connect fittings on the pump.

 

[carolinacoast]

I have a 32V galley maid as a backup and a 110V shallow well as a primary. family of 5 so failure is not an option.
mechanical switches with low pressure cutout to save impellers when tanks run dry. stuff happens and this improves the odds that systems stay online.

 

[carolinacoast]

Other pumps are cheaper, but Grainger honored a 3 month expired warranty on one of these for free. We were cruising out of state when it failed.

I'm a fan.

https://www.grainger.com/product/4HEY5?cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!166594570256!!!g!82166076237!&ef_id=Wclh9gAABUz1pwVd:20171116234058:s&kwid=productads-adid^166594570256-device^c-plaid^82166076237-sku^4HEY5-adType^PLA

 

[carolinacoast]

correction . mine is 1/2hp.

 

[Pascal]

I would never have a boat with only one pump. You loose it and it s game over... probably the most critical item on board... you can live without AC, without generator but not without water

I also use a flojet shallow well pump and it works great. For DC the average diaphragm pump works fine as a back up although they only last a set number of hours so if you use the boat a lot be ready for failures

I don't like the variable speed DC pumps. Tried them and they ve all failed prematurely. And finding 32v versions

The best 120v pump is probably the headhunter Mach 5. Very quiet but about $1000

As to flow, a pump can only put out as much water as your fixtures will flow

 

[krush]

Just get a harbor freight SS combo pump. They all are made in China anyway, just get the cheap one: https://www.harborfreight.com/1-hp-...th-pressure-control-switch-950-gph-63407.html

I have an old one that is cast iron that's been going strong 10 years left outside.

 

[Mike36c]

Thanks guys for tips. I was going to junk the Groco Paragon Sr. dc pump till I priced it, holy cow I’ve paid less for cars! So I’ve decided to keep it and supplement with a primary ac powered pump. Seems a 1/2 hp would do the trick for my needs and I already have an accumulator. I’ve read some bad reviews on Home Depot stock and Gould’s seems it might be overkill. I know it’s prolly all Chinese but anyone try Flowtec? And I’ll look into Grainger.

 

[Mike36c]

And George regarding your Flowtec experience, did you find the pump leaking due to the plastic construction?

 

[scottinsydney]

I don't understand the benefit of an AC water pump. I swapped out our AC pump and replaced it with a 12 volt DC pump that runs at any time and does not rely on genset or shore power. Why did Hatteras put in AC water pumps? What benefits do I not understand?

 

[Boatsb]

I don't understand the benefit of an AC water pump. I swapped out our AC pump and replaced it with a 12 volt DC pump that runs at any time and does not rely on genset or shore power. Why did Hatteras put in AC water pumps? What benefits do I not understand?

Dock queens are always plugged in.

 

[luckydave215]

Dock queens are always plugged in.

On the larger boats all the primary equipment is AC and the backups are DC. Any time the boat isn't plugged in the gen or inverter are running, the boats are designed that way.
Back to the original question:
I had a Grainger well pump for quite a few years and it cranked out the pressure and never failed. But the cast iron housing gradually rusted enough to partially clog the shower valves. After cleaning out the valves I replace it with the big Headhunter - works great, all plastic/stainless and it's quieter too.
It costs about a boat buck though.......

 

[jim rosenthal]

I've had good luck with Groco pumps, although they are not the Paragon series- I have an SPO 80, I think. Their backup has been good and they are made in USA. They are also a local outfit here.

 

[Pascal]

I don't understand the benefit of an AC water pump. I swapped out our AC pump and replaced it with a 12 volt DC pump that runs at any time and does not rely on genset or shore power. Why did Hatteras put in AC water pumps? What benefits do I not understand?

Afaik hatteras didnt install AC pumps on any of the older and smaller boats, they used the galleymaid 32 v. Its a good pump, overbuilt like all galleymaid stuff but pretty much outdated. On the newer boats, i m oretty sure they do like all larger biat builder and use a mach 5 with DC back up

Benefit of AC pumo is thst they will last longer which is important for full time cruisers, live abiard and larger boats where the pump runs a lot. Most DC pumps used rubber diaphragms, impellers, etc. with limited service life. When i tried a shurflo variable speed years ago, it failed after a of years. I talked to one of their engineeers at the miami boat show who exokained that the diaphragm was designed to last a set number of hours. It may last 10 years for a light use week end boater but only a year or two in other use.

Pumps like th mach 5 or the shallow well pumps uses solid impellers that do not wear, although some cheaper shallow well use steel which rust and fail after 5 to 10 years.

It all depends on how you use the boat. If you soend a lot of time aboard with say 6 people or more, use a lot of water to rinse t the boat, etc... a DC pump wont keep up.

Even our older motoryachts were pretty much set up to run on generator. Newer boats even more so due to the lack of ventilation so having an Ac pump plus a DC back up is way to go

 

[Mike36c]

Thx everyone, the headhunter pump looks nice and there’s one on fleabay for $850. Expensive but it prolly won’t quit 200 miles out in the islands

 

[Pascal]

And if they quit out of warranty you can trade it for a new one for half price

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have run one of these for an Ac pump for several years, but I paid much less.

http://store.waterpumpsupply.com/pebycaststje.html

The dc pump is the standard OEM Galleymaid.

 

[Pete]

Afaik hatteras didnt install AC pumps on any of the older and smaller boats, they used the galleymaid 32 v. Its a good pump, overbuilt like all galleymaid stuff but pretty much outdated. On the newer boats, i m oretty sure they do like all larger biat builder and use a mach 5 with DC back up

Benefit of AC pumo is thst they will last longer which is important for full time cruisers, live abiard and larger boats where the pump runs a lot. Most DC pumps used rubber diaphragms, impellers, etc. with limited service life. When i tried a shurflo variable speed years ago, it failed after a of years. I talked to one of their engineeers at the miami boat show who exokained that the diaphragm was designed to last a set number of hours. It may last 10 years for a light use week end boater but only a year or two in other use.

Pumps like th mach 5 or the shallow well pumps uses solid impellers that do not wear, although some cheaper shallow well use steel which rust and fail after 5 to 10 years.

It all depends on how you use the boat. If you soend a lot of time aboard with say 6 people or more, use a lot of water to rinse t the boat, etc... a DC pump wont keep up.

Even our older motoryachts were pretty much set up to run on generator. Newer boats even more so due to the lack of ventilation so having an Ac pump plus a DC back up is way to go

Probably an exception to the general case but the 48 and larger LRC's did come with both AC and DC fresh water pumps as standard equipment. I removed the AC pump years ago and use the shore water direct hookup when not underway, eliminating the constant refill of the tank. Also went to a Groco Paragon Senior PSR DC pump which has been and continues to be great. Quite smooth flow with good pressure.

Pete

 

[Mike36c]

Ok, after going over suggestions here I spent some time at the boat yard talking to techs, they all agreed this was the best bang for buck it has a great service history. I’m bidding on a fleabay open box new unit now. Thanks again everyone.