| Boat plumbing is easy considering there are no pipes. | | | | boats spending long periods away from water |
| The pipes in a yacht are replaced by flexible hoses | | | | supplies. |
| which is easier to use. | | | | Some water systems have an accumulator. Large |
| Here are a few guidelines for your on-board water | | | | accumulators have pressurized bladders in them, but |
| system. | | | | most small ones are just empty tanks tied into the line |
| Tanks are best mounted low in the boat as it will | | | | downstream of the pump. When the pump runs, it tries |
| be simple to add extra tanks given the space available. | | | | to fill the tank from the bottom, compressing the air |
| You can choose either a rigid polyethylene tank or | | | | trapped inside the tank. The pressure from the tank |
| flexible tank. | | | | allows small amounts of water to be drawn without |
| Make sure that the vent of the tank is not higher | | | | the necessity of the pump running, thus reducing pump |
| than the fill to avoid overflow and use Teflon tapes on | | | | cycling. |
| all threaded fittings. Avoid over tightening the fittings in | | | | To operate a water heater you will need a |
| plastic tanks and always secure hoses with stainless | | | | pressurized water system. Only metal fittings must be |
| steel hose clamps. | | | | used to plumb water heater. |
| The hose that supplies drinking water should be | | | | Head sinks must be plumbed to drain into the bowl |
| non toxic, non-contaminating, taste free and approved | | | | of the toilet to avoid flooding. To avoid bilge odor and |
| by FDA. The common choice for water hose is PVC | | | | unnecessary jamming, shower pans should include a |
| reinforced with polyester braid. The hoses that will be | | | | discharge pump which can be automatic or connected |
| used for draining purposes should be stronger than | | | | to a switch. The through - hull discharge outlet should |
| vinyl hose. For this, the best option is reinforced rubber | | | | always be above the water. |
| hose. Make sure to double clamp all the hoses that are | | | | If you are installing a deck wash pump, use a Y- or |
| connected through hull fittings. | | | | T-connector to tie into an existing inlet line to keep the |
| Boats can have either an electric pump or manual | | | | hose from collapsing use tough rubber suction.The |
| pump. It is advantageous to use manual pumps as | | | | intake line should have a strainer to filter off debris. |
| they reduce water wastage which can be boon for | | | | |