S/V Moondance Needs A FW System Replacement
We have been putting off installing a new fresh water (FW) system onboard Moondance. We already have several large concurrent renovation projects, and we don’t want any more chaos in our lives. Unfortunately, the failure of an existing copper pipe requires an immediate FW system replacement. I say the replacement for four reasons:
- A copper tube for the cold water is leaking inside the insulated back wall of the icebox. The copper tubing is not accessible for repair. Furthermore, the interior liner of the box is compromised and slowly fills with water whenever we turn on the water pump.
- The FW plumbing manifolds, water pump, and other primary components are located in the engine compartment. They contribute significantly to the clutter on the engine room walls and present maintenance difficulties.
- The current installation creates an electrical hazard. The boat’s distribution wiring located on the same wall as the FW system components is an electrical disaster waiting to happen. Removing the components will mitigate the electrical risk and contribute to a long-standing objective to de-clutter the engine compartment.
- We are dissatisfied with the existing installation and it’s reliability. We also have concerns about the cleanliness of the system and its effects on health. A new installation will go a long way towards rectifying all four concerns. One exception is the condition of the water lines running under the cabin sole from the water tanks to the FW plumbing manifold.
Our Commitment To the FW System Replacement
The current system uses a pressure sensing, variable speed Jabsco pump, and includes a combination of old copper pipe and nasty plastic hoses. We decided to replace the entire FW system except for the Isotemp Basic water heater that we installed ten years ago. It still runs and looks like new. We agreed to buy top-quality components and do a top-quality installation.
My experience as a sailor and my familiarity with various marine system technologies has given me a strong bias towards Groco products. They design and manufacture high quality and reliable marine products in Stevensville, MD U.S.A. We also decided to use SeaTech plumbing.
My next Post will discuss details on the Groco and SeaTech components we selected and the FW system design and layout.
