[C320-list] Fresh Water Tank Valves

[Jeff Hare]

Colin,

If you use the same plumbing arrangement I showed at the end of the article
in this location under the galley sink,  you shouldn't need any additional
whale fittings or valves to do the project.  I just moved the ones (almost
in the same arrangement) from the back to the front.  (But I could be
mistaken)

With that arrangement you can reach in without looking and switch tanks
easily by feel..  You'll never forget which one is which because the forward
tank is controlled by the front valve and the aft tank is controlled by the
valve just behind it.

http://www.catalina320.com/mediagallery/media.php?s=2008111616131836
http://www.catalina320.com/mediagallery/media.php?s=20081116161236590

However you would need to find a length of the (15mm ? ) PEX hose to be
compatible with the whale fittings.  
I had no problems at all feeding the new line from the aft tank forward to
the galley sink and that allowed avoiding the big loop with the extra
fittings and made everything tidy.

One other super nice upgrade while doing this project is to replace the
jabsco water pump with a Jabsco VSD pump.  It's nearly silent which is nice
if you use any water late at night.  I also added a 1 gallon expansion tank
back by the pump which further reduces pump cycling and allows for a liter
or so of water without the pump breaker being turned on.  Nice if you're in
the head and forgot to turn on the switch first.

-Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Colin Evans
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 1:24 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Fresh Water Tank Valves

I have read the informative description by Wes Giles and Walter Burnett and
seen the photos by Jeff Hare.
So now I am ready to move the fresh water tank valves to more accessible
location. The hardest part so far has been trying to get Whale fittings in
Australia. I finally located them at Coffs Harbour. It appears that John
Guest and Whale fittings are very similar but not interchangeable. 
The hot water tank sits on a plastic plinth.  Is there anything inside this
or is it just to level/ lift the tank as I`m thinking of mounting the valves
on the side of that, between the drawer housing as it is easily accessed
through the aft door in the galley cabinet ( not all boats seem to have this
door).  I`m also thinking of putting a filter in the feed line at this point
to try cut any clogging of the filter under the aft bed.
I briefly thought of putting the valves in the useless shelf under the oven,
but I have a fire extinguisher in there.
Any comments would be welcome. 
*************************
Regards
Colin Evans
Watermark #774
Lake Macquarie, Australia