Washdown Install

[clone1963]

I'm wanting to install a raw water wash down in my deck boat. I have pretty much decided to use an existing seacock instead of putting another hole in my boat. The seacock that is there now has a short hose running to a live well pump. Instead of getting a new dual port live well pump, can I just "T" off of the hose in between the seacock and the live well pump and then into my new washdown pump?

[amirm]

You are probably better off asking this question in one of the other sections. Us electrical guys are probably less qualified to answer such things .Taking a shot at answering your question, I would suspect this may not work. The pump would attemp to suck through both the underwater seacock and the other pump which would not be good.Now, if you are going to use one or the other but not both at once, then some kind of valve that shuts one or the other may solve the problem.Amir

[18rabbit]

Yes, it will work if the hose diameter of the existing seacock is sufficient to meet the demands of the washdown pump, i.e. if the input hose dia on the pump is the same as (or smaller than) the output from the seacock you should be ok. You will want to install a common a/b valve somewhere after the standard open/close ball valve on the seacock. The a/b value allows to flip the handle to send the water down hose ‘a’ (livewell) or ‘b’ (washdown). Or you could replace the existing ball valve with a 3-way ball valve that is a/closed/b, but you would need to access that valve (and it had better be directly on the seacock!) every time you wanted to change water directions.Look in industrial supply sources (Granger, or MSC Indstrl Supply) for bronze ball valves made by Apollo, Conbraco, and Nibco. Those are the same ball valves sold in marine supply places at jacked up prices.

[clone1963]

18rabbit,Why won't just an ordinary "T" work without a valve?

[18rabbit]

As Amir said in his post above mine, it could suck the water out if your livewell, or if the well is empty, it could suck air thru that hose.

[clone1963]

Is this valve something I can get from Home Depot or some place local? Is it a brass valve or plastic?

[18rabbit]

Brass turns green. Bronze is the norm. Bronze ball valves are very common with use in several industries including boats. As mentioned above, see indutrial supply sources. What you need is something like this: http://www.conbraco.com/products/bal...n=A&category=5 ItÂ’s just a 3-way version of a std bronze ball valve that is (SHOULD) be on every seacock. Price at MSC Direct is$15.81 for 1/2-inch ports$21.80 for 3/4-inch ports$28.84 for 1-inch ports.You will also need 3 common NPT-to-hose barbs to connect your hoses unless you plumb the critter with rigid pipe.Btw, I think I forgot to welcome you to the board...welcome!!!