www.iFourWinns.com

I kicked on the water pump last night and get great cold water pressure in the galley and head. I get decent hot water pressure in the galley and barely any at all in the head. Any ideas? Is it the pump or do I have an issue with the hot water heater? I checked the hot water line ... no kinks or anything.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Funny you mention that, I have the same problem, I just noticed it last weekend. I am thinking it may be something in the head faucet or at the connections under the vanity area. I'm going to check it out this weekend and see if I can get to the bottom of it.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

The sales guy at WM suggested a booster pump. I'll wait to see what you find.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

That is a band-aid to the problem. Considering the system works with a pump that works with pressure it doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

Sounds to me like your problem is at the water heater or the hot water line. I believe you discussed before cleaning out the lines on your boat, has this been done yet? Is the problem with the hot water the same at the head, galley and swim platform shower?

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Agreed ... on the booster pump being a less-than-best solution. Our water flow (both hot & cold) in the head is just fine. If you have low flow, there is a problem in the system.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Hot water pressure is good at the galley and transom shower. Only the head has low pressure. Cold water pressure is GREAT in all locations. I removed the shower pan to make sure there were no kinks. Everything looks fine from outward appearances.

The sales guy at WM said that it was probably the hot water heater, but I don't why that would be. The water pump pushes the water through it. I would think there little to any difference between hot water and cold water pressure.

I will be flushing the lines (with bleach) tomorrow morning. I already flushed the stinky (rotten egg) water out but have not had the chance to get to the dock where there is potable water to flush out with bleach.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

If hot water flow is good at the galley and the transom shower, then the water heater is niot the potential issue. All of the hot water flows through it. You would have issues at the other hot water locations, not just the head.

The WM guy may be genuinely trying to help, but he is obviously not a diagnostician.

Your problem is either at the head or the line between the head and water heater. I would start checking that hot water valve is opening correctly. It may just be that your turning the knob but the actual valve isn't opening up completely. While unlikely you could also have something stuck in the line there blocking water.

What I would do in your shoes is disconnect the line at the faucet and run it you will most likely find your problem this way.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

I shall do just that after flushing the lines. Needs to be done regardless and it may just fix the issue without further labor.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Remember to keep the high concentration of bleach in the lines for a good 8 hours but no more that 24 hours.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

What is "high concentration" in your experience? I was planning to put 1/2 to 1 gallon of bleach in the fresh water tank, then filling it up. Run the faucets (hot and cold) for a couple minutes (to get the bleach water in the lines). Then letting it sit for 24 hours.

In the fresh water toilet tank, I was just going to put in a gallon of water and 1 cup of bleach. Don't want to add too much bleach to the black water, especially if I have a sludge issue like I am thinking.

Too much? Too little?

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

After further thought ... I don't think I'll add bleach to the toilet fresh water tank. The bleach might mess up the seals/gaskets in my new toilet.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Considering u pumped it out yesterday I wouldn't do it either.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

For the fresh water tank I think the 1/2 is sufficient.

As for the black water tank the question is what is the sludge composed of. If it is a huge amount I guess you could drop some detergent in there fill with water about half way then take here for a spin to try and break it down then immediately upon return pump out fill with water a couple of times. You should have odor control chemicals in there at all times.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

If your plumbing uses the Whale fittings then there might be an easy way to test it. Swap the hot and cold lines where they go into the head faucet. The Whale fittings are easy to work with, just press in the collar and the tubing should slide right out of the fitting. It takes a few tries sometimes. But the idea is not unlike the kids 'chinese finger cuff' trick. Pressing in the ring collar on the fitting relieves the pressure that holds the tubing into it.

Anyway, if you swap them and the cold suddenly runs slow then problem is at your faucet. My guess would be some thing stuck inside the faucet and blocking the cartridge inside from opening fully.

I WOULD NOT DO THE BLEACH RINSE. Bleach and many other solvents are very hard on rubber and plastic, two MAJOR components in your boat's plumbing system. Something restricting the flow this badly is not going to break down with bleach. All that will do is run the risk of greatly shortening the lifespan of the otherwise good parts of your system.

Fixing the faucet is just like any other faucet at home. It varies from one model to another but basically you remove the handle (often with an allen wrench) and then the collar nut. The cartridge should them come right out. Underneath it there may also be a couple of O-rings. Check that they're in good shape and not crimped or otherwise not seating properly.

Most of these faucets have their parts lists online. Which make is yours?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista