how to safely leave water hose hooked up to boat

[jim rosenthal]

I agree with putting a shutoff in the water line. Of course, you could just leave the deck fill cap loose and the water hose stuck in the tank, like mentioned above. At least if someone turns that on and forgets about it, it will just overflow the tank and come out the vents; because it is NOT under pressure, it has far less chance of flooding the interior of the boat because of a pipe that bursts or connection that becomes loose.

My FW tank holds 75 gallons. It does require filling rather often when I am staying on the boat, but the security of knowing that your boat is not going to fill with fresh water and sink is worth a lot to me. Having had a close call or two years back, I would just rather fill the tank. And, on the Series I 36C, it is not in a very convenient place. But it is still much safer.

 

[krush]

So where is all this water that they are going to be using (either tank or dock hookup) going to go? Are they going to pump the holding tanks too?

 

[jim rosenthal]

A good question. I think he is talking about showering etc. But if the head system is supplied by fresh water, there's that issue as well. Someone is going to have to pump the holding tanks. Or they'll have to wash up on shore. So to speak.

 

[captddis]

I only keep about 25Gal in the tank and use the dockside water when aboard. In addition to the internal regulator, I use a regulator at the dock connection set to areound 25 to 30 PSI. This regulator saves the hose and allows plenty of pressure for showers, vac uflush heads etc. The setting is a little less than the Galley Maid pump cut off.

I never worry about it! I do turn it off when leaving for more than a couple hours. How many of you turn off the water at their houses when going on the boat? I worry more about the house plumbing than the Hatt.

 

[krush]

Showers and sinks drain overboard? Figured that would be big no-no for the greenies

 

[Angela]

Showers and sinks drain overboard? Figured that would be big no-no for the greenies

Yes, all gray water drains overboard. That includes the sinks, showers, washer, dishwasher, and garbage disposal. I've never known a boat that didn't drain gray water overboard...not to say there aren't any...I've just never seen or heard of any.

 

[MikeP]

There are some areas where grey water is not permitted to be discharged. AFAIK, it is only lakes like Champlain, etc. You have to plug your grey water outlets to boat there - at least per the regulations. Whether they enforce it or not, I have no idea.

 

[Artzco]

The current definition of sewage and no discharge zones are outlined under EPA Regs that are implemented by the EPA and the Coast Guard and the makeup of sewage is clearly defined. They are in the link:
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/vwd/
Under this definition, graywater is prohibited only in commercial vessels on the Great Lakes. If anyone has a better source or definition, I would like to know. i was initially under the impression that NDZs included everything, but I've been guided by the info in this link. Also, the list by state should be consulted in the link to be certain of specifics

 

[34Hatt]

I only keep about 25Gal in the tank and use the dockside water when aboard. In addition to the internal regulator, I use a regulator at the dock connection set to areound 25 to 30 PSI. This regulator saves the hose and allows plenty of pressure for showers, vac uflush heads etc. The setting is a little less than the Galley Maid pump cut off.

I never worry about it! I do turn it off when leaving for more than a couple hours. How many of you turn off the water at their houses when going on the boat? I worry more about the house plumbing than the Hatt.

Exactly and a House doesn't have pumps.

If your bilge pump can't keep up well you have a BIG problem not to mention I sure do hope you have more than one!

When I added my new water tank I hooked it up so I can fill it of my regulator and the vent dumps into the bilge less hole in the boat and one less deck fitting. I have filled my tank up and forgot about it and my forward pump has NO PROBLEM keeping up it cycle's with more time being off then being on. If your pump can't well maybe its time to spend some money for a better pump or change the setup it makes a difference! Your fresh water hose is the smallest hose on board and if you're pumps can't keep up that one well I can see why many don't like leaving the dock and never leave sight of land

 

[jim rosenthal]

It all depends on how much security you want, or you're willing to do without. I've used the boat's FW system for years, including when I lived aboard, and it works fine if it's used all the time and kept up. I've seen enough boats fill up with dock water, and nearly sink, and I've heard of them that did, that I don't want to take chances. Some are comfortable with dock water coonnected. I'm not.

Gray water goes overboard in most places except as noted above.

Isn't it illegal to pump ballast overboard, too, in the GL? I think it is, but it still happens.

 

[captddis]

It all depends on how much security you want, or you're willing to do without. I've used the boat's FW system for years, including when I lived aboard, and it works fine if it's used all the time and kept up. I've seen enough boats fill up with dock water, and nearly sink, and I've heard of them that did, that I don't want to take chances. Some are comfortable with dock water coonnected. I'm not.

Gray water goes overboard in most places except as noted above.

Isn't it illegal to pump ballast overboard, too, in the GL? I think it is, but it still happens.

Better not leave the air cond running at night or when you are away from the boat!! Imagine the risk you are taking. That pump can pump thousands of gallons into the boat in no time!!!
In the 33+ years I have been working on boats, I have only seen one boat actually go down from dockside water flooding and that one was suspected of being sabotaged by the owner.
I have seen many boats sink from AC cooling water issues.

 

[MikeP]

Well, I have to admit that I'm one of those people who never leaves the ac operating when the boat is unattended. I even turn the a/c and seawater pump breakers off and close the seawater pump seacock!

OTOH, I don't carry a life raft!

 

[Angela]

Better not leave the air cond running at night or when you are away from the boat!! Imagine the risk you are taking. That pump can pump thousands of gallons into the boat in no time!!!

Actually, that's a pretty good analogy. Down here in the tropical environment, we run AC nearly all year long, round-the-clock, even the folks here who live out of state and only visit their boats on the weekends, or once a month still run the AC, or hardly ever at all. That may be a bit tough for the northern folks to swallow, but I think it's just something to which we are conditioned. I guess it is pretty scary when you think about it, but I won't live in misery and AC is an essential part of life here. If my boat were held together with wing nuts and wire ties, I might have more concern. I run the AC when I'm not on board, and perhaps that why the little garden hose attached to the boat when I am here doesn't bother me.

Granted I DO turn off the garden hose when I leave the boat (before I got a decent water pump and started using tank water to keep it fresh), but I do not turn off the 3,000 gallon-per-hour pump that's running all the time (that's 10 of my water tanks in just one hour!). It's just too hot and humid here to do that, and I have a kitty that lives on the boat - he needs AC, too, when I'm not here.

When there is a significant breach in the water system such as a hose having blown off whether you're connected to dockside water or tank water, trust me, you can hear it let go. And either way, you're going to go investigate. I just can't imagine how someone could not know there is a waterfall somewhere in the boat and do nothing about it while the water rises up around them, if it even were to get that high.

Everybody looks at this issue a different way. For me...I look at the AC pump and the garden hose...and I just don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Down there, in the tropics, Ang, all of it sweats on its own.....

 

[bobk]

I never worry about it! I do turn it off when leaving for more than a couple hours. How many of you turn off the water at their houses when going on the boat? I worry more about the house plumbing than the Hatt.

As one who spent about ten years of my working life investigating household water leaks (yes as a chemist), I can tell you I never leave my house overnight with the water on. Leaks in the washing machine hoses, icemaker tubes and dishwasher hook up are serious causes of damage. Even toilet plumbing parts.I sustained a leak in an icemaker tube which was caught in time to prevent damage, but at my condo, my upstairs neighbor had a leak in his that did $22,000 worth of damage TO MINE. And we have a rule that water must be shut off if the condo is unoccupied over night. I've seen ceilings come down and a serious expensive flood at a brand new hotel the day before it opened which occured when a toilet connection failed. My advice, is always to turn off your water when leaving.... boat or home.

Bobk

 

[Angela]

Down there, in the tropics, Ang, all of it sweats on its own.....

You got that right!! I should worry about flooding and sinking the boat with the volumes of condensation pouring off of the AC systems!

 

[captddis]

As one who spent about ten years of my working life investigating household water leaks (yes as a chemist), I can tell you I never leave my house overnight with the water on. Leaks in the washing machine hoses, icemaker tubes and dishwasher hook up are serious causes of damage. Even toilet plumbing parts.I sustained a leak in an icemaker tube which was caught in time to prevent damage, but at my condo, my upstairs neighbor had a leak in his that did $22,000 worth of damage TO MINE. And we have a rule that water must be shut off if the condo is unoccupied over night. I've seen ceilings come down and a serious expensive flood at a brand new hotel the day before it opened which occured when a toilet connection failed. My advice, is always to turn off your water when leaving.... boat or home.

Bobk

I do turn the house water off when we will be away and turn the dockside water off as well.

 

[lisaann]

get a manual sprinkler the ones that work off flow amount just turn the dial to reset

 

[bigbill]

lisaann, thats a great idea, except that sprinklers work off of time not flow. i have been trying to find one that will let X number of gallons through, and then cut off. then you can reset it when it shuts down. if you know of one, please reply here. thanks

 

[saltshaker]

When there is a significant breach in the water system such as a hose having blown off whether you're connected to dockside water or tank water, trust me, you can hear it let go. And either way, you're going to go investigate. I just can't imagine how someone could not know there is a waterfall somewhere in the boat and do nothing about it while the water rises up around them, if it even were to get that high.

It all depends on the boat. I had a water line let go on my 46C. I had a quiet FW pump and my entire ER had new soundproofing. The headboard for my bed is against the ER bulkhead. I never heard the water but I did hear the discharge from the bilge pump. Also if no one is on board or the people on board are inexperienced, a leak can be catastrophic.

That being said, I'm with Dave here. As long as your water system is in good order, let them use it and have them turn it off and on at the dock when they leave and return to the boat.