Amazing how a small thing like a water pressure regulator can have so many different opinions. Seems simple to me, but what do I know.
We live aboard and I fill the tanks for our water needs. We carry 300 gallons contained in 3 X 100 gallon tanks. I open one tank at a time as they empty. A year ago a visiting guest asked me if the water on the floor in the head was coming from outside. A quick check revealed that a plumbing connection to the sink faucet had come loose and drained the opened tank dry. Had we been hooked to dockside water I'm sure a lot more water would have entered the boat. This was a first incident like this in 53 years of boating so I must concede the risk is low. However, I was happy I was using tank water.
Perhaps the best way to mitigate the chance of a disaster when hooked to dockside water is to not only use a gallon limiting device but to also have a really loud high water bilge alarm. I think that is a good back up.
Would be me not only would this wake me up but would also give me an instant heart attack so would sink with my boat lolMy high water alarm is a 6 inch fire bell. Even if I were asleep, that thing will wake me.
I also have a bilge pump counter reading out for each bilge pump.
I also have a mobile bilge pump that will plug into the 12vt output in the ER and tank room, with a very long hose.
My bilges need to be cleaned because of dust and dirt falling into the engine room.
Took me a couple of years to notice the female water connection on my boat. Never used it and haven't had the need. Perhaps the next owner will make use of it.
What is the big deal about using tank water and filling up occasionally? Valves, pressure reducers, this, that, none of it for me. But, I make no judgment on the choices of others as long as they fully understand the risks and benefits.It's difficult to sink a house but not difficult to sink a boat.
The foolproof way of not sinking a boat from city water is to not hook the boat to city water. Fill the tanks and use water from the tanks. Anything else is taking a risk. Your risk tolerance is up to you but remember, even if you have never seen a boat sink from being connected to the city water system, it can and has happened.
What worries me about these shutoff devices is, they are often made of plastic and not built to the reliability that I would want to protect my boat. I would feel better about one made to commercial or industrial standards.
I use the water from my tanks and it's never been a problem. And as someone pointed out, it keeps the tanks fresh.
And in our marina the dockside water pressure (long run from a well, not high pressure city water) is less than what our onboard pump supplies. Dock water pressure is not sufficient to properly supply our new Raritan Elegance toilets.Good point.
For me, I guess its because I get a little better water pressure and I can take "Hollywood" showers.
Hey it take a lot of valuable time to fill my water tank!! OK I am just lazy....
For those of you that want to bump the pressure up when you take a shower there is this.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XKL6WR9/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1
Just remember to turn it back down when you are finished.
I am a liveaboard and stay at the dock and don't have a different opinion. We fill our tanks every three to four weeks.The reasons I don't have a dock water hookup are:
- There is a small added risk of flooding.
- A hose running across the dock and boat is also a trip hazard.
- A hose left on the dock get coated in a sticky gooey mess and looks like crap.
- The boat's water tanks get stale if not used regularly.
- I'm too lazy to disconnect and roll up the hose every time I want to use the boat.
The only negative I can see is the pump wearing out sooner.
If I was a live aboard and stayed at the dock, I'm sure I'd have a different view.
You would need a pressure reducer with numerous moving parts that can fail do to a freeze.
hooking up a flow restrictor such as an orifice or gate valve prior to the boat hookup WILL NOT reduce the pressure in the line. it will only reduce the flow if you have a fitting blow off inside the boat. You would need a pressure reducer with numerous moving parts that can fail do to a freeze. Pressure across an orifice is only reduced when flow is moving across the orifice. (Bernoulli's Principle). once you turn off a faucet inside the boat the pressure throughout the boat is the same as dockside pressure. If you don't believe me put a pressure gauge on both sides of your gate valve or orifice.
John
Always shut off when u leave dock.
There is a possibility that another boater will accidentally turn your water back on when trying to turn his on. It's safest to disconnect the hose. A "quick connect" makes this easy.
There is a possibility that another boater will accidentally turn your water back on when trying to turn his on. It's safest to disconnect the hose. A "quick connect" makes this easy.