Some simple checks on various water systems onboard are a great way to make sure your boat is in running order for the new boating season. Below are some quick walkthroughs to help keep your water systems in running order, including stuffing box adjustment, bilge pump cleaning and testing, potable water maintenance, seawater supply maintenance, and holding take emptying and flushing.
Bilge Pump Cleaning and Testing
Remove the bilge pump fuse (the fuse is wired directly to the batteries, so even if all house switches are off the bilge pump will still run).
Unscrew the hose and press the buttons on either side to lift and remove the bilge pump.
Inspect the bottom of the pump and basket for debris, and clean if necessary.
Reinsert the bilge pump into the base until it is secure in place and reattach the hose.
Reinstall the bilge pump fuse when complete.
To verify proper automatic operation, listen for the one second burst that occurs every two and a half minutes. To manually check, press the manual bilge pump switch on the breaker panel. Although this will confirm the pump itself is functional, this does not confirm the automatic burst every two and a half minutes. After checking, be sure to leave this switch off.
Some simple checks on various water systems onboard are a great way to make sure your boat is in running order for the new boating season. Below are some quick walkthroughs to help keep your water systems in running order, including stuffing box adjustment, bilge pump cleaning and testing, potable water maintenance, seawater supply maintenance, and holding take emptying and flushing.
Bilge Pump Cleaning and Testing
Remove the bilge pump fuse (the fuse is wired directly to the batteries, so even if all house switches are off the bilge pump will still run).
Unscrew the hose and press the buttons on either side to lift and remove the bilge pump.
Inspect the bottom of the pump and basket for debris, and clean if necessary.
Reinsert the bilge pump into the base until it is secure in place and reattach the hose.
Reinstall the bilge pump fuse when complete.
To verify proper automatic operation, listen for the one second burst that occurs every two and a half minutes. To manually check, press the manual bilge pump switch on the breaker panel. Although this will confirm the pump itself is functional, this does not confirm the automatic burst every two and a half minutes. After checking, be sure to leave this switch off.
Emptying the Holding Tank
Make sure the Y-valve position is set correctly – “Whatever two arrows are showing, is the direction it’s going”.
Open the waste tank cap. Be mindful the cap is loose and doesn’t have a lanyard. Place it in an area where you won’t lose it!
Turn on the dockside pump out machine. These can vary, but generally have simple on/off instructions.
Prime the hose by sticking the tip of the hose in the water and opening the ball valve. Close the ball valve, fully insert the hose into the tank (enough to create a vacuum) and reopen the ball valve.
Reattach the waste tank cap when finished to complete!
Emptying the Holding Tank
We recommend flushing and cleaning the holding tank each time you empty it to avoid buildups and odors.
Make sure the Y-valve is in the correct position and fill the tank about halfway or two-thirds with fresh water. Make sure the freshwater hose is not inserted in any manner in the holding tank or used for potable water.
Repeat the emptying pump out procedure as described above. Make sure to reattach the waste tank cap so it doesn’t get lost or misplaced!
To apply the tank cleaning treatment, apply it by pouring the recommended amount directly into your boat’s head and flushing several times.
Stuffing Box Adjustment (inboard boats only)
To monitor drip rate with the shaft spinning, have a captain pilot the boat, have a lookout on hand, or secure the boat to a dock. We recommend using two Rigid E110 offset hex wrenches.
With one wrench, hold the stuffing box in place and loosen the locking nut by turning clockwise while facing aft.
With the locking nut loosed, tighten or loosen the stuffing box with the second wrench as needed until you achieve a drip rate of a single drip every 15 – 20 seconds with the engine running idle.
To tighten: Turn the stuffing box clockwise facing aft until the desired drip rate is achieved.
To loosen: Turn the stuffing box counterclockwise until the desired drip rate is achieved.
Once done, hold the stuffing box in place and tighten the locking nut by turning it counterclockwise while facing aft.
If the proper drip rate cannot be achieved, the packing material in the stuffing box will need to be replaced.
