Practical Boat-Plumbing Information

What Everyone Ought to Know About Boat Pumbing Systems.

Boat-plumbing is an essential part of any yacht system. Boat-plumbing systems include potable water systems, then there are Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD) along with associated toilet equipment. The simple shower pump system is also important to life on board. Desalination or water maker systems have the potential to open up your cruising options and destinations. Saltwater systems for wash down etc are also an increasingly important addition. No boat is seaworthy unless the bilge pump is properly functioning and this is fundamental to offshore safety. Improvements in electronics has also lead to improved bilge and water monitoring and control systems.

There are many things to know and understand. You need to know about the proper installation of heads, sea cocks, thru-hull fittings, how anti-siphon devices work, what accumulator tanks are used for, about holding tanks, why you use check valves, what the various electric and manual pumps are and how they work.

My name is John Payne, and I am a Marine Engineer and I started my long career as a ships engineer in the merchant marine. Yacht plumbing and water systems. I am also the author of the best selling Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible and the updated and revised 3rd Edition is out now. When I first published this book some 13 years ago it included basic plumbing and water systems and not so much has changed. Pumps have improved as have the monitoring systems, however the stringent requirements for MSD's have made such systems essential. Similarly watermaking systems have evolved and become affordable for most people

I have over the years built, owned, cruised and lived aboard several sailing yachts and have had most of the boat plumbing and water system problems. I know and understand what the problems are and how to fix them

Like water and plumbing systems my books have also moved with the times, and along with my Motorboat Electrical and Electronics Manual and the Understanding Boat series of books you will find the right answers to your many marine engineering questions.

The Secrets to Keeping Your Marine Plumbing Systems Operating

1. Know how to install the right boat-plumbing and water system equipment

2. Know how to perform proper and regular maintenance to ensure good and reliable performance. Check and keep filters clean and protect the pumps from damage

3. Know what your Legal Obligations for waste are and how to comply with them, in the USA there are State and Federal discharge regulations to meet

4. Know how to diagnose and repair system problems.

Always perform some basic water system checks (it’s so easy and your crew and fellow sailors will feel a lot safer when they observe your skills in action!).