I've had generally poor long time performance from several brands of the 12 volt, pressure switched pressure pumps in the past and just gave up trying to keep them working.😫
Butt was wondering if the diaphragm type is working for anyone? I,m interested in trying something for the summer. But need a good opinion of what works for you boaters. I generally don't use a pump in the winter as obviously that's a 🤕 headache. Thanks for some saltwater opinions.🚣♀️
I stopped using my wash down a few years ago and found it much easier and faster to use a bucket
I haven't had luck with the pump as well. I replaced it once, I now use a bucket.
Sal
Rule pumps are pretty much the standard here in So Cal. Normally I get about 4 seasons out of the one for the bait tank and longer of the wash down.
The wash down does not get a lot of use as a bucket and sponge work well but I do use it almost every trip. I do keep it working though as a backup if the bait pump stops working and I can't get it going while on the water. If this happens I run the wash down hose into the bait tank.
PLEASE!
Someone come up with a better idea here!!!
or
Dominick & I will be bucket & mop washing the USS Maiko this summer during our week-long Aug. 2019 Silver Salmon trip to Gustavus, AK to visit Gary-The-BUTTman and MaryJo!
ANY IDEAS PLEASE ;D
Wayne
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7588_14_04_19_3_29_31_27582570.jpeg)
You're going to find this as a familiar theme, but any pump will fail if used straight out of the box. Take any old pump and look at how badly corroded it is. Now tear down a brand new pump, grease everything that was corroded in the old pump, and your new pump should last much longer. ;D
I have been disapointed in my Shurflo pressure-switched washdown pump. It works but is a bit wimpy and wasn't capable of maintaining adequete flow for the live bait well.
I decided to switch to a Rule 17A 3800GPH centrafugal pump. This should give me a higher flow rate which I intend to use as a washdown and ocassionally for a 30gal live bait well. This pump is non self priming and has no pressure switch, so its important to mount it above a dedicated seacock and below the waterline.
It will onlh have to pump a short verticle distance, and should give me plenty of water pressure.
I considered a washdown run off of an auxilary port on the engine, or off of a pully driven by the main engine (such as those available from Jabsco). These give outstanding flow rates, and are exceedingly reliable given their simplicity, but they run constantly when the engine is running (unless you get one with a disengaging clutch system). It seemed a bit more challenging to figure out how to make this setup work on my boat (I couldn't figure out how a setup that is gear driven and mounts directly to the engine, the pully-driven would require a new pully on the engine, and it would be located away from the thruhull, and plumbing might require a y fitting that allows water to pump overboard though an above water thru hull, which then would make switching the pump on/off the washdown hose an inconvient/mechanical affaur. Also, a failure in the plumbing while underway and you are pumping water into your boat faster than the bulge pumps can pump it back out!). In the end, I basically gave up on the idea.
I have a Jabsco diaphram pump mounted just above the waterline, that does a pretty good job of lifting water 2.5' up from the bottom of the bulge. It is a quality pump, and its easy to diassasemble for service, but it's noisy, surgy, and a bit pricy. I had a screw get sucked up that damaged the rubber diaphram. A rebuild kit with new diaphram and seals along with a general service got her working good as new, until the motor went out on me 900hrs later. I bought a new one, did a preservice, and keep the old one for parts. I like it, but don't think it would make a great washdown.
My boat has 2 other bulge pumps (a Rule 5000 automatic), and a cheapo west marine pump for the front compartment. The Rule worked great for over 1000hr, when the motor burned out and needed to be replaced. The impeller needed fixing on the WM unit.
Honestly, I was looking for a heavy duty/marinized bronze impeller pump on a large electric motor, with manual switch, that can be mounted in a dry compartment above the waterline as my washdown. My dad had one that worked great (high capacity, quiet, reliable) on his boat, but I just couldn't seem to find what I was looking for.
The Rule seems like it will work good as a manual switch high capacity option, and fits well with the location of my boat's thruhull and general layout. It is important that it is mounted/plumed correctly though.
Most of the commercial style boats out here are using bronze impeller pumps driven directly off of the engine.
I'm not sure what would work best for your needs, but I don't think the diaphram would make the best washdown.
If anyone has suggestions on a better washdown/duel duty live baitwell pump option I am all ears, as I havn't purchased my pump yet.
John
I have repaired a Johnson Pump similar to this one https://www.spxflow.com/en/johnson-pump-marine/pd-marine-wash-down-pumps-aqua-jet-series/ that had lasted for about 5 years.
Also fitted two Shureflow pumps https://www.amazon.com/SHURFLO-BLASTER-II-Washdown-Pump/dp/B00TUNV39K
The latter two are still on the boat but they are very vulnerable to sucking in dirt that immediately blocks the filters.
When they work they are convenient, but in all honesty the bucket system is a lot more reliable!
I think the Johnson pump gave slightly less trouble. So my experience seems not too different from gstours. Anything on boats need constant attention and you do more maintenance then catch fish. ;) ;)
Hope this helps a bit.
Ok Wayne, here is improvement from a regular bucket...
....It a deluxe bucket with custom rope handle. Just remove old handle, drill correct hole for rope, insert rope, add large washer inside and torch the rope ends. Now you have a deluxe washdown bucket !!
Ted
Quote from: El Pescador on April 14, 2019, 05:20:01 PM
PLEASE!
Someone come up with a better idea here!!!
or
Dominick & I will be bucket & mop washing the USS Maiko this summer during our week-long Aug. 2019 Silver Salmon trip to Gustavus, AK to visit Gary-The-BUTTman and MaryJo!
ANY IDEAS PLEASE ;D
Wayne
Yo Wayno...speak for yourself. :D Dominick
Quote from: Maxed Out on April 14, 2019, 07:26:13 PM
Ok Wayne, here is improvement from a regular bucket...
....It a deluxe bucket with custom rope handle. Just remove old handle, drill correct hole for rope, insert rope, add large washer inside and torch the rope ends. Now you have a deluxe washdown bucket !!
Ted
Love it.
Captain Jay is quite proud of his delux washdown bucket too. Guess I had better get onboard with this one.
You can wash down or replenish the live well while under way , with just a pvc pipe hung off the transom.
The faster you go , the higher the pressure no pump needed.
Besides centrifugal pumps and diaphragm pumps there are flexible impeller pumps like Marco or something. They are self priming so you do not have to deal with pressure switches or foot valves and they can be mounted above the water line. They are a little less efficient than centrifugal pumps but more efficient than diaphragm pumps and do not surge like diaphragm pumps. But, they do not handle solids very well and flexible impellers wear out.
-steve
I would think pumps should last longer on the left-side of the coast, here we have it rough.
I've run untifreeze prior to winter storage and still lost one :-\ . A little water gets in there and it is usually done, well mine anyway.
We have the same battles with powerwash units, being a GC, I've lost a couple through the years.
Sal
Quote from: Maxed Out on April 14, 2019, 07:26:13 PM
Ok Wayne, here is improvement from a regular bucket...
Ted
Ted!
A great idea, much better than the deck bucket used on a salmon trip we enjoyed several years ago!!!
Wayne
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7588_14_04_19_2_42_55_275812450.jpeg)
Quote from: Dominick on April 14, 2019, 07:30:05 PM
Quote from: El Pescador on April 14, 2019, 05:20:01 PM
PLEASE!
Someone come up with a better idea here!!!
or
Dominick & I will be bucket & mop washing the USS Maiko this summer during our week-long Aug. 2019 Silver Salmon trip to Gustavus, AK to visit Gary-The-BUTTman and MaryJo!
ANY IDEAS PLEASE ;D
Wayne
Yo Wayno...speak for yourself. :D Dominick
Slick! How 'bout some support here!!!!!
Wayne
Wayne, you got your monies worth out of that bucket, time you traded it in, cheers Don.
Quote from: El Pescador on April 14, 2019, 09:45:41 PM
Quote from: Dominick on April 14, 2019, 07:30:05 PM
Quote from: El Pescador on April 14, 2019, 05:20:01 PM
PLEASE!
Someone come up with a better idea here!!!
or
Dominick & I will be bucket & mop washing the USS Maiko this summer during our week-long Aug. 2019 Silver Salmon trip to Gustavus, AK to visit Gary-The-BUTTman and MaryJo!
ANY IDEAS PLEASE ;D
Wayne
Yo Wayno...speak for yourself. :D Dominick
Slick! How 'bout some support here!!!!!
Wayne
Okay-okay...I'll carry the bucket to the boat. ;D Dominick
I'm about to replace mine for the second time in 10 years, not so bad as far as I am concerned. I've been using Rule pumps for my baitwell and my washdown and I use both on every trip. If I'm catching fish I'm washing scales and blood off the deck, if aim not catching fish I'm using the down time to wash the dirt and grime off the deck and rail. They lose performance after about four years then I curse them for another year for barely working, then I replace them and aim happy for four more years. Wish I had a better solution to offer but this is where I go.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas 💡. I've had 4 different brands of wash down pumps and none seem very reliable after a year. Maybe the things need more maintenance like Alan said?
In the winter here the bucket is great. But I was thinking 🤔 of going back to try another one for the summer. Generally I,m the one lifting the water bucket .
I like to clean and ice salmon within a few minutes of getting the lines back down in the warm summer of southeast, so it can be a lot of work. First you must catch a fish, right?🎣. Right Slick? You,ll see.😤.
Quote from: gstours on April 15, 2019, 09:41:36 PM
First you must catch a fish, right?🎣. Right Slick? You,ll see.😤.
Ha ha it looks like you got Slick's number... :D ;D Dominick
as soon as the fish hits my deck.
1. Lines back in the water
2. bonk fish just to settle him down not kill him.
3. cut gills to bleed out.
4. rinse and in the ice.
5. wash down decks and gear and everything else that got blood all over it.
6. repeat 1-5 as needed.
id like to know if you have tried either the Jabsco 80psi or the Johnson 75psi pumps? I need a new one, I can piss more pressure than my current pump and Im old!
those two look on paper like good heavy duty pumps and theyre over $100 so im wondering if anyone has real world experience with them. im leaning to the jabsco cuz the strainer and water connections are pop in pop out twist lock
Thanks Dave, I,m leaning towards the Johnson wash down pump, it's the only one I've never tried. It's possibly a new comer? I had a Johnson bilge for years butt now got a big Rule and it's very reliable.
As for bailing 🚿 I,m thinking 🤔 the captain 🚣♀️ is waay too important and busy to 🧽 clean and make coffee, so that kinda puts the burden on Slick, huh Dommie?🤔
Quote from: Dominick on April 16, 2019, 03:28:21 AM
Quote from: gstours on April 15, 2019, 09:41:36 PM
First you must catch a fish, right?🎣. Right Slick? You,ll see.😤.
Ha ha it looks like you got Slick's number... :D ;D Dominick
Holy Moly! What is going on here???
I, like the rest of you on this site, enjoy a little "Dry Shaving"!!! A friendly comment that just stings a little - That's Dry Shaving!
BUTT, you two are elevating this to a whole new level!
Still, we will be Silver Salmon Fishing this August in Gustavus, AK - Bring it on!!!!
Wayne
Gary ,
We have used this pump for 6 or 7 years on the big sailboat.
The boat gets used year round about 15 days a month .
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/shurflo--5gpm-pro-blaster-ii-ultimate-5-0-washdown-pump-kit-12v-dc--14153217?recordNum=3
No problems of any kind . We did replace the impeller during spring maintenance last year as well as clean and grease with the Yamaha Blue .
We also have a bypass and run about a gallon of fresh water thru at the end of each day .
My experience with Johnson pumps in general has not been good .
I installed 3 bilge pumps in a week in my runabout , alll would not pump to a 18 inch head ,and finally went back to a Rule .
Just my 2 cents
Thanks, for the kind and unkind words. Usually the pressure switch is the first to fail in my opinion. Ok the bucket is reliable butt heavy. I'm going to grease everything before the installation. 🤞
I use Jabsco automatic wash down pumps. Mine is 9 years old. I also have a 30 gallon fresh water tank that goes to my marine misters, a sink we never use, and a wash down marine grade hose bib.
Keith
Just found this thread,
I'm just going through the scenario on my rig, currently have replaced transom, stringers and floor, and lifted the transom up to carry a 25 inch leg.
Every thing has been redone, Now, to fit off all my pumps, I've stuck with rule for bilge and live bait tank pumps, but have gone for a larger pressurised pump for my wash down, cant recall the brand, but a few mates have recommended them for their pressure and seemingly longivity. It's annoying when a pump dies, especially when your out fishing, I carry at least one rule pump, that can quickly be swapped out should one go, nothing worse than a live bait tank full and the pump dies. I find the rule pumps ok, however, after having lost 2 in a season, the type that have the auto option included inside, is just another device to go wrong with it, I now only use the rule with a separate auto switch and they seem to last. I was running a sure flow up until the re build started, but wasn't real happy with it's performance, so will be interesting to see how this new one goes. Couldn't be without a deck wash now, quick and easy to hose everything down after bleeding fish or ink stains from squid, and just quietly, comes in handy when some of these clowns decide to anchor right on top of me at times ;D. Just got to decide whether to use a thru hull fitting for my pick up. or run a pick up up and over the transom,
Hate drilling thru a brand new transom, i'm shivering even contemplating it !!!!
Col
Funny I finally get back on this amazing site and find topics I should have been reading months ago. I just replaced the pump on my 25' Steiger with a Jasco 7gpm. I actually called the guys at Steiger and asked them what they recommended. Said they have tried em all, even European brands and more often then not, all pumps give out in 3-5 years. Asked them about corrosion since when I tore down the last one it was pretty beat up looking and they said its more of a switch problem? Either way I spent more money got a new Jabsco. Hopefully it lasts but for now it sure beats using a bucket.