Marine Pumps

[Crackle]

That sort of pump can tend to drip if the seals on the drive shaft are worn.
There is sometimes a small hole where the water drips out, it is important to not block this as water may seep into the motor itself.

Mike

[Nowhere-Man]

OK cheers, Mike. The weather been awful here so a good time to mess with the pump. I think the gasket fits better on the Shurflo after soaking in soapy water. The guys in the boatyard recommend silicon although online some swear by Hylomar.
I have the water tank to make and the plumbing to do. This Summer will be busy.

[Nowhere-Man]

"I have designed electronic parts for aeroplane engines, trains and cars - I can even handle copper plumbing - but this push fit plastic plumbing scares the willies out of me!"

Taken from a thread on a Shurflo pump. Replacement parts tend to be very costly. After soaking the gasket grooves in very hot water this may have helped smooth them out. I was able to press fit the grooves. However I need to buy some sealant today. I tried last year and had no joy but I am giving it another shot. Sometimes you get distortion with a pump due to freezing temps. It's very common on boats in Winter especially for outlet valves to split.

[Nowhere-Man]

I was examining the original tap on my old boat. The tap seems really vintage so maybe early seventies. It has a water pump connection and an electric switch. The switch is rotary and obviously activates the pump. I also have the original lights which are tungsten strip lights. I imagine they will draw more current by far than LED's so have to decide whether to choose originality over thrift. Of course I do have quite old LED lamps too maybe 10 years old. I thought these were dangerous as they had AC wiring leads but the bulb (if you look is 12 volts). I bet it resulted in several mishaps on boats.
I am still working very hard to get this boat as I want it to be. I plan to live in it. This would be an amazing event as it was once an abandoned wreck and considered too ramshackle to bother with. I worked on it over years in fits and starts till eventually I realised it could be a nice boat. The volume of work to rescue it was formidable. I recall having to smash fixtures to get at the rubbing strake bolts. Then these fixtures had to be repaired. I have done a huge amount of work but it remains an old boat and that does alter the value. Much of the interior is as it was when built with simple cupboards and sliding doors.

[Crackle]

How about some photos, I would be interested to see what you are doing.

Mike

[Nowhere-Man]

Yesterday I made the sink drain. Nothing fancy. Originally it was just flex hose so I used that. Now you can pour water in the sink and it drains overboard. Next stage is water tank and taps. I figure once I can turn taps and water comes out, I am pretty much close to having a functional boat. I did the AC last year so with water and electric the rest gets easier.
The shower room too is tiled.
After some years being involved with boats I learned design is crucial to success. There must be access to filters and pumps or fuses. Things can and do go wrong. I have seen the most absurd work carried out - one guy I knew bought a boat where the engine had been carpeted. Water pumps are often hidden under boards. And as John Payne stated, so many electrical systems are flawed from the outset. I've seen no end of people moor up with totally flat batteries due to heavy amp loads and insufficient charging factored in. When the weather is terrible and you depend on a boat, power cuts or leaks from rain can be very troublesome.

[Nowhere-Man]

Still keeping up with radio (theory) at night as the boat work is urgent to finish by day. I made a water tank from an old plastic tub and invented a simple pick up from plastic pipe. Where I struggled was location for the tank. Originally the tank was outside but not practical in winter. Inside my tank is too big to go under the various seat cupboards. I finally decided to mount it on a small storage cupboard seat so today will make a fixing frame and paint around and the water pump can go beneath. Later on I have a transistor diagram to post which is a simple amplifier diagram.

[Nowhere-Man]

Change of plan. I'll be putting the water tank outside. It could need to be drained in Winter though. It's too big to be inside the boat. Today I was working on the deck area where the tank will go and I can convert the diesel filler for water tank supply. Hose will have to run in the bilge from the tank, to the pump inside and then to outlets. This is all very dirty and hard work. I was using bitumen on the woodwork which I find protects it. I also made a pickup for the water tank so the pump can draw water.
I may use a thermostat to stop the tank freezing in winter but putting it outside frees up saloon space.