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Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
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Author:  JohnnyMarlin [ Thu May 30, 2013 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
A couple of months ago I posted asking if there was a way to drain the on board fresh water tank.......

It appeared there was a drain plug on the end of the tank.......even though us boaters in Southern California do not need to winterize like folks do in northern climates, I wanted the ability to drain the water tank........if nothing else than to exchange the old water for fresh........

Well, I was able to get the 1/2" MIP plug out of the tank.........So, I installed a hose barb and reinforced hose with a barbed 1/2' ball valve in it.......I then terminated the drain hose by cutting a hole in the deck drain hose and installing a barbed elbow fitting.......the fresh water tank will now drain into the deck hose and then out the back of the transom.........Pictures below........

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Author:  Partycove2 [ Thu May 30, 2013 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
Nice mod, but when you say deck drain hose what do you mean.
That looks like the holding tank hose
Author:  230 Mike [ Thu May 30, 2013 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
Also... the idea is great (and I like the execution), but the problem with putting the ball valve downstream is that "stuff" can grow in the new drain line and migrate backward into the tank. Water in that line may tend not to circulate out when the fresh water supply is used.
Author:  JohnnyMarlin [ Thu May 30, 2013 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
Partycove2....My Funship doesn't have a holding tank......it does have a deck drain.......

230 Mike......I hear your concern..........but, once or twice a year, a cup of bleach (Clorox) mixed with a tank full of fresh water and let sit over night then drained will kill any of the "Stuff" ........I have a 17 year old motorhome and have done this at least once a year.......I've never had a bacteria problem.......



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Author:  Graham R [ Fri May 31, 2013 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
My Sundowner has a pretty small water tank; to drain it before the Winter , I just disconnect the push fit coupling at the pump. OK, the water goes into the bilge but then straight out of the rear drain plug.
Author:  wkearney99 [ Sat Jun 01, 2013 6:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
Are you ABSOLUTELY SURE that large white hose is a 'deck drain' and not the line to the waste tank?

You should never, ever, ever connect a fresh water setup to a waste drain. Or for any line, for that matter. Especially not one where the system is going to be sitting all day in the hot sun getting warm. You're just asking for major health problems by providing a ripe breeding ground for bacteria.

If anything I'd have put the shut off valve right at the tank to keep the distance where water could rest uncirculated to as short as possible.

I sympathize with wanting to make things more convenient, but sometimes the risks outweigh the convenience.
Author:  weather [ Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
To give a little support to the OP - my cockpit drain (scupper drain) which drains out a flapper through hull on the transom, also uses the same hose, which looks (and may be) the same as the waste hose.
I'm also going to tie into that hose, so that my transom locker drains through that instead of into the bigle. There is a cleaner way to tie into the large drain hose however. I'm using one of these: Image

With a fresh water tie-in, I would always want to see some type of back flow preventer in that line - you never know what is on peoples feet, and then get's washed into the deck drain you've tied into. Unlikely? Perhaps, but a good idea.
Author:  JohnnyMarlin [ Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
wkearney99 wrote:
Are you ABSOLUTELY SURE that large white hose is a 'deck drain' and not the line to the waste tank?

Yes....106.78%......I do not have a waste tank.......

You should never, ever, ever connect a fresh water setup to a waste drain. Or for any line, for that matter. Especially not one where the system is going to be sitting all day in the hot sun getting warm. You're just asking for major health problems by providing a ripe breeding ground for bacteria.


what do you mean sitting in the sun?.......all of this plumbing is below deck and in the engine compartment.......we use that water for washing our feet...besides......a cap full of bleach with each fill up will kill most if not all waterborn bacteria....Plus I can now drain the tank after each use......our boat is trailered so it will sit empty most 99% of the time......

If anything I'd have put the shut off valve right at the tank to keep the distance where water could rest uncirculated to as short as possible. that's a good idea......I'm thinking about re-routing the hose so the valve handle is pointing towards the actual tank........I need to source a new piece of hose first......

I sympathize with wanting to make things more convenient, but sometimes the risks outweigh the convenience.
Author:  230 Mike [ Mon Jun 03, 2013 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
And I like the idea of being able to drain the tank without having to run the pump/drain the battery. Many times I would like to have done that.
Author:  wkearney99 [ Tue Jun 04, 2013 5:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fresh water tank drain.......Revisited
The whole boat is out there sitting in the sun, getting fairly hot inside. This makes for a prime breeding ground for bacteria. You really, really, really want to make sure fresh water lines don't end up providing a bridge to places where bacteria will grow, especially sight-unseen. No point having an otherwise fun time on the boat leave everyone with a bout with Montezuma's revenge, or worse.

For when I have to drain our tank i just attach a line to it that dumps to a nearby bilge. I let that pump do the work. This way I can also clean and replace that line should it become dirty.
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