Water Tank on a Bayliner 3288

[knotheadcharters]

I still can't find the DAMN thing. Does anyone know how to access the tank? I think I may have a slight leak in it and the sending unit doesn't work. It always reads empty. I read a post about replacing the float with a wine cork but I can't get to it.
The other issue is with my water pressure. I never seem to have enough. The pump runs but when I turn it on it only sputters for a few seconds then I have to wait forever to get it to flow, and then only for a few seconds. I have checked all the lines and faucets for leaks there but I have not found any. I think that is why I have a leak in the tank, plus my fwd bilge seems to gather water after I fill the tank. Not a lot but a slow fill in the bilge. Please Help!! It is driving me crazy.

Chris
:argh

[heymagic]

The water tank should be under the berth in the mid-cabin. You will need to remove some screws and plywood to get to it. Runs fore and aft. Ours used a rod that measured resistance rather than a float. Most tank level indicators fail in short order anyway. It is a 70 gallon aluminum tank. Long and skinny.

The water pump likely has a filter somewhere. Usually just before the pump. It should be a small plastic affair with a clear dome and screen inside. The clear top screws off. They tend to fill up with a white or pinkish "gravel", which is corrosion from the aluminum tank. Pump and filter should be in the "equipment room" at the starboard end of the bed. While you have it apart add an accumulator if it doesn't have one. There is plenty of room in there and it takes out all of the pulsation boat pumps have. Good luck, Gene

[Randygh]

Gene--what is an accumulator? Our galley faucet pulsates and splashes water out of sink.

If you have water in the bilge and the water pressure is low, the leak may be in the line from the tank to the pump, rather than in the tank.

An accumulator is a device that is plumbed into the pressure side of the system (after the pump). It consists of a small tank or cylinder with a membrane or piston in it. The membrane or piston has air pressure on one side that is balanced by water pressure on the other. The idea is that the accumulator will keep a higher volume of water at somewhat constant water pressure to balance pulsations.
http://www.jabsco.com/prodInfoApp/servlet/DisplayItemDetail?itemId=12573-3000&catalogId=Marine&categoryId=JMWPS&typeId=JMWAT

There are pumps available with built-in or attached accumulators. Also, there are variable speed pumps that are supposed to eliminate the need for an accumulator.

Raul

[Randygh]

Thanks Raul. I think one of those would make a great Christmas present for the Admiral.