Watermaker install questions
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:08 pm
I'm looking to install a Schenker watermaker on my 2000 PDQ 36. The pump for the watermaker needs to be below the waterline. Everything else can be above.
I will also be installing a freshwater head, so the head intake thruhull will be available and is of the right size, so I'd like to use that as the watermaker intake, if possible.
The main concern I have is finding a way to mount the pump so that it will be reliably below the waterline.
Can anyone comment on the following installation ideas:
Option 1. Put the pump as low as possible in the lazarette abaft the shower. Run the intake hose from the seacock through the bulkead. This is my preferred solution, if it will work. I can put the watermaker in the starboard aft lazarette under the bench. Hose runs are short (except from the watermaker to the tank). Freshwater is already available in the pump lazarette for the watermaker's rinse cycle. Plenty of room for installing and accessing filters. Electrical wire conduits are available. Salt discharge just goes through a scupper. A leaky high-pressure hose won't sink the boat.
Option 2. Put the pump in one of the forward closets (where instrument transducers usually go). Probably in the port hull. Maybe re-use an instrument thruhull. In this case, the watermaker would go under one of the settees in the saloon. The main challenge here is running hoses and wires to/from the pump. Can I run them through the bilge? Is there access for them to go from the bilge up to the space underneath the settee? Is there another route that makes more sense?
Option 3. Put the pump underneath the floor in one of the hull hallways. This would probably require a new thruhull, also under the floor. The main problem I see is that, underneath the wood floor in the hallways is a solid sheet of fiberglass, which does not afford access to the actuall hull. Is it safe to cut an opening in this sheet of fiberglass in order to gain access to the hull? Is it structural, or are there stringers underneath to hold the hull in shape?
Or if anyone has a better idea, I'd love to hear it!
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Best,
Rob
I will also be installing a freshwater head, so the head intake thruhull will be available and is of the right size, so I'd like to use that as the watermaker intake, if possible.
The main concern I have is finding a way to mount the pump so that it will be reliably below the waterline.
Can anyone comment on the following installation ideas:
Option 1. Put the pump as low as possible in the lazarette abaft the shower. Run the intake hose from the seacock through the bulkead. This is my preferred solution, if it will work. I can put the watermaker in the starboard aft lazarette under the bench. Hose runs are short (except from the watermaker to the tank). Freshwater is already available in the pump lazarette for the watermaker's rinse cycle. Plenty of room for installing and accessing filters. Electrical wire conduits are available. Salt discharge just goes through a scupper. A leaky high-pressure hose won't sink the boat.
Option 2. Put the pump in one of the forward closets (where instrument transducers usually go). Probably in the port hull. Maybe re-use an instrument thruhull. In this case, the watermaker would go under one of the settees in the saloon. The main challenge here is running hoses and wires to/from the pump. Can I run them through the bilge? Is there access for them to go from the bilge up to the space underneath the settee? Is there another route that makes more sense?
Option 3. Put the pump underneath the floor in one of the hull hallways. This would probably require a new thruhull, also under the floor. The main problem I see is that, underneath the wood floor in the hallways is a solid sheet of fiberglass, which does not afford access to the actuall hull. Is it safe to cut an opening in this sheet of fiberglass in order to gain access to the hull? Is it structural, or are there stringers underneath to hold the hull in shape?
Or if anyone has a better idea, I'd love to hear it!
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Best,
Rob