www.iFourWinns.com

Vessel I am looking a buying has 2 tanks - one portside forward in engine bay. The other fwd central in engine bay. There is a cross-feed pump driver by a cockpit switch.
Each tank seems to have it's own filler - located on side opposite to tank.

Does cross-feed occur automatically if one tank or the other is empty?
Do some water systems draw from one particular tank?
Can you choose what tank to draw from?
Is there an ideal strategy to best manage water across the 2 tanks?

For our longer stays on the boat I suspect water may be our duration-limiting resource, hence this interest.

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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink

Check out the Four Winns web site. You can view the owners manual on line.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

thanks - read the closest manual (2004 version 248 to 318) but it doesn't cover that detail. It has diagrams of a single tank and no mention of cross-feed or what system draws of what tank.

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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink

Interesting setup, may not be factory installed as my 2005 288 Vista only has a single freshwater tank which is located centrally in the front of the engine compartment.

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2005 Vista 288 - That's A Winner

I am going to go out on a limb here but i'll bet he is looking at the fresh water tank and the holding tank

The filler he refers to is one for fresh water and the other is the pump out for the holding tank

There's also the possibility that he's looking at a freshwater tank that is specifically for the toilet. Our 268 has 2 freshwater tanks and 2 fills from the factory and instead of the toilet flush water coming from a thru hull, it gets it from the 2nd tank.

I've often thought about switching the toilet to a thru hull and using that tank as a second freshwater tank to extend cruising....maybe that's what the owner of this boat did if it has a switch. Does the switch look factory?

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Yeah - I think the second tank (port side) may indeed be the "holding tank". However if this is true then is it 'holding to use" rather than holding for waste!
Never seen that before.
The cross-feed sure looks factory and the switch for this is on the dash cluster (not labelled).

I will check what system draws water from each tank - I suspect the toilet does draw water from this second tank.

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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink

What year 288?
If the switch is not labeled,how do you know it's some kind of cross feed?
I have a 07 288 and nothing like your describing.

I would not think (but what do I know) that there would be 2 tanks. One for the head and one for washing.

Could he be talking about gray & black water tanks?

Where is your second tank, and approx. what size is it?

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Yeah, I hadn't thought about the head, it seems every head-system is a little different.

I have the VacuFlush, and mine pulls water from the same holding tank as the sinks (not sure why I need 3 sinks AND a transom shower.) It's the #1 source of water use on my boat.

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2005 Vista 288 - That's A Winner

My second water tank is located under the mid cabin berth on the port side, and is identical in shape and size to the holding tank which is on the starboard side. I think most 268's have that space as storage which would also be really nice to have for long cruises. I think the original owner special ordered that option because they boated on a heavily silted river that I assume could cause problems with the holding tank/plumbing(?)

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

That is where my grey water tank is located.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Same here. Some heads use sea water. The really don't need the wet bar sink, but the rest I can see. The transom shower is great if some spills anything or muddy feet.

Measured up my tanks.
Main water tank is approx 98 litres.
Auxilary (holding) tank is 72 litres. Both good for potable water.
Aux feeds to Main via cross-feed pump. All looks very factory.

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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink