Fresh water pump replacement on 42 DS

[robertf]

Good evening ALL: Just purchased a 2009 42DS. Fresh water system worked for two weekends then quit. The fresh water strainer cap was split in two and the pump was sucking air. Replaced the strainer unit but the pump didn't prime. I have a new pump to install but don't know what connection is made on the positive and negative leads. I forgot to check that detail before leaving the marina which is 2 hrs. away. Can anyone tell me if a connector is needed and if so, what type?

Thanks, Robert

[aussieodyssey]

Robert

Sorry can't help with the connections but have you tried opening a tap sometimes you get an air lock and it won't let the pump prime .

Greg

[robertf]

Thanks Greg. I tried that w/ no luck. I'm visiting our boat tomorrow and will try pumping water into the strainer in hopes of "jump starting" a prime.

.

Robert

[windward54]

If it was installed like the pump on my boat, the wires were just crimped in using a butt connector.

[robertf]

Thanks!

Robert

[zofiasailing]

We have experienced a similar situation with a cracked strainer cap. In fact, like you, when this first happened we purchased both a replacement strainer unit and pump as we were unsure which was at fault. 4 years on, we still have the spare pump but went through half a dozen new strainer cap units before we got sick of the caps cracking all the time. Using reticulation fittings we have bypassed this strainer altogether. We never had any issue with needing to 'prime' the system after replacing the new strainer units. Double check that you've clipped the unit in ok and check that you actually have water in the tank/ switch to the other tank. Any trapped air should be released when running a tap for a minute or so.
hope this doesn't spoil your weekend!
Cheers Eva and Brian
Zofia - 2007 SO DS

[robertf]

Thanks zofiasailing & all.

Tried to prime the pump but no luck.  Switch was bad.  New pump installed and just had a nice 5 days on the water.

robert

[earnric]

So does anyone have a suggested replacement for the fresh water pump on a 42DS? Should I go with 


4GPM
5GPM

??
Is there a benefit of going a bit bigger than what's there now?

Rick

[ianf]

I recently had to replace the fresh water pump on my 42DS as it was leaking. I found a pump which was an exact fit but only later realised that, although it worked fine, it wasn't capable of generating enough pressure to run the raised shower head. When I compared the rated pump pressure cut off point with the original pump I found it was much lower so had to order the exact pump with the higher rating.

The problem wasn't pump capacity but pump pressure. Unfortunately I can't remember what the pressure cut off values were and I'm not near the boat.

I have also had to replace the strainer because of a crack in the cover. It seems the slightest air leak will prevent the pump from priming

[Mistroma]

Mar 3, 2022 9:31:08 GMT ianf said:

I recently had to replace the fresh water pump on my 42DS as it was leaking. I found a pump which was an exact fit but only later realised that, although it worked fine, it wasn't capable of generating enough pressure to run the raised shower head. When I compared the rated pump pressure cut off point with the original pump I found it was much lower so had to order the exact pump with the higher rating.

The problem wasn't pump capacity but pump pressure. Unfortunately I can't remember what the pressure cut off values were and I'm not near the boat.

I have also had to replace the strainer because of a crack in the cover. It seems the slightest air leak will prevent the pump from priming

The cap on my strainer was cracked when I checked last year. Not too bad as it had been in constant use for 10 years. I usually remove it and clean the filter mesh every 6 weeks or so when spending 6 months living on board. I didn't sail in 2020 or 2021 but managed to visit for a quick check. A friend bought the last remaining spare in the local chandlery and I should have it fitted next month. It's a complete unit, not just the cap.

[NZL50505]

I suggest min of 35psi or better still 40psi fresh water pump to provide showers with enough pressure.

But beware at 40psi you will go through water quickly in the galley if you have an enthusiastic well-intentioned visitor doing the washing up without a sense of boat water rationing!

[doxie]

Worth remembering to be careful when screwing on the filter cap.  The thread is very fine so it's easy to crossthread it without it being obvious.  It looks OK but it's not air tight so air is sucked into the system.  It took me a long time and several filter caps  to work that out!

Bob.
SO36i

[earnric]

Mar 3, 2022 21:29:37 GMT NZL50505 said:

I suggest min of 35psi or better still 40psi fresh water pump to provide showers with enough pressure.

But beware at 40psi you will go through water quickly in the galley if you have an enthusiastic well-intentioned visitor doing the washing up without a sense of boat water rationing!

Ok cool... 40psi. I'll look for one like that and be sure to warn our guests!

Thanks,

[NZL50505]

40psi should give you good pressure in both the showers below and the cockpit shower too.

If not, you’ve probably got either a kinked hose (very easy to happen with those combined taps / shower heads with the retractable hose). Or a clogged filter / aerator that some of the cockpit shower have built inside the shower head itself.

[earnric]

Mar 4, 2022 21:40:32 GMT NZL50505 said:

40psi should give you good pressure in both the showers below and the cockpit shower too.

If not, you’ve probably got either a kinked hose (very easy to happen with those combined taps / shower heads with the retractable hose). Or a clogged filter / aerator that some of the cockpit shower have built inside the shower head itself.

Yea, I disassembled those shower heads end of last year... cleaned them out. I need to do the strainers under the sinks and near the pump!

Any advice on cleaning the water tanks before filling for the season? I can't really get my arm all the way in them to wipe them down... I guess just a quick chlorine rinse?

R

[earnric]

Mar 4, 2022 21:40:32 GMT NZL50505 said:

40psi should give you good pressure in both the showers below and the cockpit shower too.

If not, you’ve probably got either a kinked hose (very easy to happen with those combined taps / shower heads with the retractable hose). Or a clogged filter / aerator that some of the cockpit shower have built inside the shower head itself.

Hi @nzl50505

I forgot to point out... 

I just installed a single-stage water filter under the galley sink. Will at 3GPH, 40PSI pump be able to get water through it? Do I have to go bigger now?



This is under the sink ... 

Thanks!

[NZL50505]

I wouldn’t go bigger than 40psi otherwise the rest of your water system / connectors / hoses might not handle higher pressure well.

[earnric]

Got it... 

Thx!

[Kai Rani]

HI i put a single carbon filter on the cold water side of the galley it works really well cuts out plastic bottles for dinking ( plastic waste) and its easy to notice the flow difference between the hot and cold so you have a clue when the filter is becoming restricted.

i choose carbon for taste and its not hard on the pump  
Jeremy