yep, it's happened to me too. My theory is that water siphons back into the fridge after pumping it out with the foot pump. I always make sure that I pump until I get bubbles coming up through the sink drains. Have never had the problem since. I'd like to put a siphon break in the hose, but haven't gotten to it. Note that my fridge drain shares the drain with the sink, and is plumbed into the hose below the sinks with a T-fitting. If yours is plumbed otherwise, this solution may not help you.

halven, you don't identify what series of C36 you're discussing so we can't give you targeted advice - unless all C36s used the same foot pump...and that I don't know. I can tell you that the foot pump does indeed contain check valves. The foot pump on our Mk II can be rebuilt using an economical kit available at West Marine and other such chandleries.

It's not a difficult job, although it is a bit fussy with a lot of small parts. Some of the parts are under spring load, so if you're not careful when you disassemble and reassemble you can launch a plastic part out over your anchorage. This is a job best done below (as opposed to a cockpit table) where any small airborne components can be recaptured.

Not difficult. Took me about 10 minutes to remove the pump, and 10 to re-install it. The rebuild took, maybe, 90 minutes, give or take. Say a patient 2 hours, taking notes along the way, and with a cold beer at hand.

PS-you can help us help you by creating an automatic signature similar to mine below. Just click on "User CP" in the upper left portion of this page.

Search for "foot pump" on this Forum and you'll find another thread called, Access to Ice Box Foot Pump...or something like that. In that thread I posted photos of the parts that are in the Whale pump overhaul kit. Not much there, but it is fussy work.

Is it possible that the water is just condensation from the fridge running? It seems to me that I get water in the fridge every time it runs for any extended time. This includes when the through hull is closed. If I remember rightly, the water was not salt.

If the water fills the fridge to the waterline, that would be WAY too much for condensation.

Our drain hose has an inline plastic ball valve that we keep closed except those few times we pump the fridge dry.

Sometimes a small piece of junk can wedge one of the pump valves open allowing seawater to siphon back. I took mine apart over four years ago only to discover that I had some junk doing just that plus someone had done a bad repair using the wrong valves. I got the kit from WM, replaced all the valves and also put a new hose in from the pump to the sink making sure it was looped well above the waterline. I have not had any problems since then. The pump repair is an easy 40 minutes and as Larry says, watch out for the small parts especially the springs.
John Meyer
Hilbre 2135
San Pedro

I rebuilt the foot pump, replace the check valve and still had problems even when the seagate was usually kept closed. Our 36 is on a mooring in Jamestown RI, East Ferry across from Newport. This is not a protected harbor. As a result the seas can get rough and I suspect that the pressure fluctuations on the check valve allowed sea water to sneak back into the fridge. I replace the foot pump with an electric bait well pump I found on WM discount table and eliminated the one way valve. For the time being I simply pull the outlet hose out and hang it in the sink, push a momentary contact button mounted on the inside of the cubby door, empty the fridge water and put away the hose.

s/v Pooka
C36 #1339