Wash Down System

[Moonshine36]

Mounting new anchor windless this spring. Which leads to setting up a wash down system for the rode & chain. Any thoughts on fresh or salt water wash down ? Have an extra 3/4 inch through hull that is caped at this time or could pull from the 150 gal water tank. Only use the fresh water for washing self and dishes as spouse prefers bottled water for food prep.

[nitpik]

I would vote for high pressure salt water wash down, so you can do a thorough job without worrying about how much water you are using. You can always follow up with a squirt of fresh water if salt crystals on your anchor and chain worry you.

[AnchorageGuy]

You don't want to use up your fresh water washing mud off the anchor. Here is ours, The Trawler Beach House: Anchor Washdown System . Been using this system for decades. Chuck

[matauwhi]

G'day, mate. Where's your pump going to be located at?? I have both fresh & saltwater pumped to our deckwash pump and can easily switch between the two. After a blustery sail to the next anchorage, it's nice getting the salt off the decks if you have the fresh water to spare. Just a thought. All the best. Cheers.

[PamlicoTraveler]

Definitely only use salt water. I know some new boats use the freshwater, but that just isn't going to make sense.

[Paperbird]

Faced this exact question last year when I replaced our windlass. I chose salt water. I installed a 4 gpm pump under the V berth and tee'd off an existing through hull (head intake) running to a ball valve and hose bib in the anchor locker. It uses one of those spring coil hoses for use as an anchor chain washdown but I can also connect a longer hose to wash down the rest of the deck. Works great!

+1 on the 'save the fresh water' sentiment.

[thinwater]

If this is largly to remove mud from the anchor (the "new" anchors bring up a ton) a plastic scraper on a handle is very fast. I generally don't get enough on the rode to bother.

This is what I like:

Sail Delmarva: My favorite Bottom Cleaning Tools

[cburger]

Wonder how a garden type weed sprayer would work for this?

[Moonshine36]

Thank you for your thoughts. I decided upon salt water wash down, I have a spare through hull and valve. Plan to put a strainer, pump and hose to the anchor locker. Now need advice on deck fitting; traditional hose bib, ITT Jabsco: Flush Mount SS Deck Washdown Outlet Fitting, NavPod: HoseCoil Flush Mount Enclosure. Like the hosecoil and storage system but hate the large hole in the deck.

[mikereed100]

Originally Posted by cburger

Wonder how a garden type weed sprayer would work for this?

We use a garden sprayer for a shower so using it to clean the anchor seemed like a no-brainer to me. It turns out it works OK but you have to keep pumping it up and when my wife found out I'd put salt water in her shower there was hell to pay. I'm planning a pump based system now.

[Sailmonkey]

We went with salt.....there is no other option in my mind, and on deck use the Jabsco/NFM flush doodad. I was sceptical of the plastic insert so bought a spare, but no worries. I did however remove the valve from the deck mount as it was restricting the flow too much.

[bobconnie]

Always had a wash down pump. Never had enough fresh water. So always had salt water wash down ! Simple! If ya have a water maker, and don't mind useing the extra power to make the extra water ya need to do your wash down , then by all means go with fresh water!! But if ya have teak decks ya need the salt water !! Just a thought

[Ian R]

Photos of a gadget I made up for a hands free wash down. Water jet insert is the case of a pen.