We took our boat out for the July 4th weekend with some newbies aboard. They ran our water tanks dry and left the water pressure pump running for a number of minutes with no water coming out of the faucets.
When we got back to our dock, I refilled the tanks and bled the system of air by turning on the galley and head faucets and let the pump run for about 5 minutes with water running through them. Now, when we turn on the pump at the panel it just starts running, even if there are no faucets open. After running water through the faucets and then closing them, the pump doesn't want to shut off- just keeps running until I turn off the switch at the panel.
Has anyone experienced this? Is our pump on the way out or is it possible there could still be air trapped in there somewhere? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Steve M, Greg E, Kevin W
ThreeForAll
1991 C36 Mk I, Hull 1119
Bellevue, WA
After running tanks dry it is not uncommon for air to be trapped somewhere. I'm not familiar with the plumbing of Mk I series boats, but try switching tanks and see if the problem exists on other tanks. If that doesn't resolve the matter post back here.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Hi
Last year we have that problem, we try to find the solution and we see at the transom shower it was a little leak, we bleed the shower and stop the leak.
May be it is the same problem for you.
You can look if you have water on the botom of the boat, if it is it could be a leak on a hose.
Good luck
Michel
Michel
Le MarieLu
Catalina 36 1987
hull # 769
Québec, Canada
Try bleeding from the hot water tank. That does the trick for me, although I have never had your problem- but then again I never bled from the faucets, always the hot water tank.
Will Papke
"Spirit"
Pacific Northwest, Seattle
Sailing out of Lake Union
2007 C-36 mkII Tall Rig M35B
Thanks for the advice. I'll try everyone's ideas and see what happens.
Steve M, Greg E, Kevin W
ThreeForAll
1991 C36 Mk I, Hull 1119
Bellevue, WA
First, are you getting water into the pump? I had an air block in my line from the forward tank so water wasn't coming into the pump and it kept running.I blew back thru the line which cleared it and it started working.
A couple of years ago I had the same problem but it turned out the filter on the input side of the pump had a piece crack and it jammed up the pressure valve so it wouldn't shut off. Had to open up the pump a bit but once that was out, it was fine. Had to replace the filter off course.
Try clamping off the lines bit by bit as you move away from the output side of the pump with C clamps. If the pump shuts off clamped just after the output, the problem is in the pump. Keep moving down the lines until you find the item not holding pressure.
Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Thanks to everyone's tips and suggestions. I was finally able to get the water pressure system working properly. I basically did one tank at a time, closed off the other 2. Filled the tank, ran the hot and cold faucets in the galley, head and transom washdown. After doing all three tanks, the pump was back to normal. I guess they key was doing each tank separately because when I tried the first time I had them all open.
Happy sailing!
Steve M, Greg E, Kevin W
ThreeForAll
1991 C36 Mk I, Hull 1119
Bellevue, WA
From my experience, when a tank runs dry, the pump will not prime itself unless the empty tank is shut off. I've always assumed this was due to the fact that water is heavier/more dense than air, so the pump can't pull water through the hose as long as it has a source or air.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
I recently had a freezer installed on the 375. It has a freshwater cooling circuit to help the system run efficently. After they had installed the system, the pressure pump ran everytime the compressor would start. They told me that there must be some air in the system and it would sort itself out after a while. I told them this was rubbish and that they had probably connected the intake to the water circuit on the pressure side of the main pump.
On inspection, this is exactly what had happened. We changed the system over and it worked properly.
I had two concerns. First that they did not even realise that they needed to connect the water offtake on the no pressure side of the system. Secondly, that after an install they did not even take the time to work out why the pump was running constantly.
All this from the local Catalina dealer....
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia