Hi, I liveaboard my boat year round, and I see alot of concern about shuting off the water when you leave. I always shut mine off when I leave for long periods of time but not just for the day when I go to work. But I have noticed some shut it off even if they leave for an hour or so. My water presure isnt the greatest on my boat not sure if it is the marina or just my plumbing My plumbing is 1/2 inch pvc which is what most homes use so I dont think its from my boat I think its the marina. But I have been debating on using my fresh water system all the time and unhooking the hose so I dont have to wory about sinking my boat from somthing stupid, and also for more presure. My concerns are how long will a fresh water pump last? Is this a better way to go? Should I put an accumulater tank in my system if Im going to use my fresh system all the time?

Thanks,

-Andrew

There's no harm in leaving the onboard water pump on, even continuously...I did, because I had an icemaker.

It's any dock water connection that should never be left on while away from the boat, even for an hour, or even overnight while sleeping. Because the dock water pressure is much higher than any boat plumbing is rated to withstand, dock water connections must have a pressure reducer valve...and there are only two kinds of those--the ones that have failed and the ones that will. When it does, the pressure WILL blow out a fitting in the onboard plumbing...and the water coming in is more than even 3 BIG bilge pumps can keep up with. So it's essential that someone be aboard and awak to hear the FIRST sounds of gushing water below decks and turn off the water on the dock. Dock water left on while owners are away is fast becoming the leading cause of boats sinking in their slips.

If your connection only keeps your tanks topped off, the risk is only slightly lower than it would be if you teed it into the plumbing after the pump. peghall38333.2755787037