Fresh Water, Head and thru hull seacock operation

[Stephen Crimaudo]

Hello Pearson Owners.  I have a 1991 Pearson 31-2 and I have a couple of new Pearson owner questions:

 

I filled and drained the water tanks, seemed pretty straight forward.  (I need to be more careful of overfilling as I noticed some water inside the cabin. The water will totally dry up as soon as it gets hot.)  I've been told to add some chlorine and then cruise around to clean the water tanks more.

 

Also – I realized that I needed to open the Sink Drain seacock to allow the head sink to drain out – easy lesson learned.

 

On the Head Intake valve - really all of the seacocks  - the Sink Drain, Head Intake and Sump Pump Discharge – do I keep then open when I’m cruising and using the boat, and then close them at the end of the trip?

 

Also, second pic – for the head operation.  I opened the valve (vertical) and pumped and nothing seemed to happen – not sure what to look for.

 

Any tips would be welcome, I've attached two pics for reference.  Thanks!

 

Steve Crimaudo

 

 

[Peter Trunfio]

Steve,

I have five (5) seacocks on my Pearson 10M:

1 Head Intake

1 Head Discharge

1 Raw Water Intake (engine)

2 Cockpit Scuppers

I can't close the Cockpit Scupper seacocks...else the cockpit would fill up with water.

But I open the head intake and discharge, and raw water intake when I get to the boat. And I close them before I leave the boat...every time.

I figure I can't do anything about the cockpit scuppers. But I'd feel pretty dumb if the boat sank on her mooring because of a busted hose or clamp on a seacock that only needs to be open when I'm on the boat.

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[Jeff Griglack]

I have 3 seacocks on my 1972 P30:

1 Head discharge

1 Head intake

1 Engine raw water intake

The head and galley sinks have stand pipes, as does the cockpit scuppers, so I really can't speak about those seacocks.

I am eliminating the Engine Raw Water Intake this spring because I have converted to an electric motor and have no need for it.  Also, it is located in a place where I can no longer easily reach it (under the battery bank).

That leaves me with the Head intake and Head discharge.  The Head discharge should never be opened unless you are 3+ miles off shore.  It is illegal to pump the head or holding tank any closer to shore.  If you are in a lake, you should not open it at all.  Personally, I never use the Head intake seacock because the hose fills up with anaerobic bacteria and stinks when I pump it into the bowl.  Instead, I keep a gallon of fresh water nearby and fill up the bowl from that.  My cabin and holding tank smell all the better for it.  If I were cruising, and fresh water was more of an issue, I would probably use the head intake.

When I had an Atomic 4 engine, I would open the engine intake seacock right AFTER I started the engine.  This was to guard against excessive cranking and engine flooding (the water pump runs when the starter is cranking).  This meant that I had to hop down there and turn it on quickly.  When I turned the engine off, I would close the seacock again.

Jeff

------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jeff Griglack                  "Blithe Spirit" P-30 #182
------------------------------------------------------------------
| "Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent"
|                   - Walt Kelly
| 'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this
| world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood –
| "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
| Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.'
|               —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
------------------------------------------------------------------

[Stephen Crimaudo]

Thanks Gents, good tips.  I didn't mention the raw water intake for the engine, so thanks for discussing that one.  

I think my procedure will be to open the sink drain, head intake and raw water intake before I leave the dock, and close them when I return.  I've been leaving the raw water intake for the engine open, might as well close it, it is easy to access.  I assume the Sump Pump Discharge is the head discharge - yes? The sump pump switch is in the head above the sink.   If that's the case, I agree I'll keep it closed and use the pump out at the marina.

I think the head wasn't operating because the head intake was closed - ohh well another easy lesson.

I'll research the cockpit scupper seacocks, the cockpit is draining fine after every rain, so I guess they are open.

Thanks again,  Steve

[Richard S. Usen]

Two thoughts: 1. the water tank vents into the bilge and 2.  if those valves are in a vertical bulkhead, vertical is closed, horizontal open.

use...@verizon.net
Dick Usen
T-33 Hopscotch

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<thru hull seacocks.JPG><head.JPG>

[Sam Llewellyn]

Steve,
I have a '87 P31-2. Currently refitting it with all new electronics so i have gotten to know it very well.

There is no shutoff for the cockpit and deck drains. They just go right out around the transom.

Your head discharge valve is below the sink along with the Y valve to the holding tank.
Remember that the Y valve must be secured set to use the holding tank in US waters. A zip tie or two will do.

The pump out deck fitting is in the anchor locker on my boat. Not sure if they changed this in later years.

Feel free to Ask more questions. Its great to have another 31-2 owner on the list!

Sam

[Jeff Griglack]

You might want to look around some more for the head discharge.  I would assume that your "Sump Pump Discharge" is for a shower sump.  Follow the hoses back and see.

It looks like the PO (previous owner) was very neat and organized.

Jeff

------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jeff Griglack                  "Blithe Spirit" P-30 #182
------------------------------------------------------------------
| "Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent"
|                   - Walt Kelly
| 'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this
| world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood –
| "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
| Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.'
|               —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
------------------------------------------------------------------

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[Dan Pfeiffer]

I would open seacocks when you use them and keep them closed otherwise.  If your just out for a day sail and don't use the sink why open the drain seacock?   However you should routinely open/close all seacocks to keep them functional, including the scupper drains.

Sump is probably the drain for the shower sump.  It may be plumbed to the bilge drain or it's own overboard discharge, or right into the bilge.  If it's to it's own discharge that should be above the waterline.  Or it could be plumbed to the holding tank but that is unlikely.  It is NOT the head discharge. 

I usually leave my engine key hanging on the engine intake seacock handle.  That way I remember to check and open it when I go to start the engine and to close it if I remember to return the key to the seacock handle.

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[Stephen Crimaudo]

Thanks again to all,

I wondered where the Y valve to the head holding tank was.  I'll look for the pump out fitting in the anchor locker.  And the cockpit drains directly from the transom, works for me.

So - it sounds like the Sump Pump Discharge is for the shower sump only - not the head, got it.

Steve

On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 12:00:21 PM UTC-4, Stephen Crimaudo wrote:

[Robert Franklin]

I vote for and follow Dan Pfeiffer's protocol in all respects including the key hanging on the intake handle.

It would be plain foolhardy to leave any through hull open when leaving the boat. Keeping them closed except when in use is safest.

The drains from the cockpit are above the water line, so those can stay open at the mooring. 

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