What's running?

[Driftwoods]

Not sure where to post this one so here's where it's going ... yeah, total noob question but gotta ask it somewhere.

Walking through the marina this week we noticed quite a few boats with overboard discharges going like what you see when the engine is running - some with 2 discharges. My wife asked me what they're running and I'm not 100% sure. I figured it might be their engine and/or generator but since we're in the marina on shore power that seems like a poor guess. I hope it's not a bilge pump. There are a number of boats that seem to be doing this 24x7.

So what is everyone running while sitting in the marina?

[ADMPRTR]

Could be a/c

[maytrix]

A/C would also have water running out constantly. Not needed up here now, but in Texas, might be?

[Driftwoods]

I hadn't thought of the A/C. It's generally been cold enough lately I can't believe anyone would want it on but maybe they left it running or something.

[ADMPRTR]

If they aren't paying for the electricity, they may not care that it is wasting someone else's. Also, some fridges use water, I believe.

[rover88]

My guess is AC, which many boaters not metered separately for electricity leave on all the time as a dehumidifier - even in colder weather.

[RabidRabbit]

refrigeration, freezer, A/C. Most quality reefer systems use a gas (R12, R134, ect) to liquid heat exchange.

[Cheechako]

A/C, water cooled refrig, bilge pump.... not uncommon...

[boatpoker]

Most marine a/c's are reverse cycle and also pump heat. If it's cold that's most likely what you are seeing.

[Stu Jackson]

I had a dockmate with the same thing, so I asked him. Dehumidifier.

[Driftwoods]

Let me clarify, when I say "like what you see when the engine is running" it really does have that kind of volume being pumped. Looks like a garden hose output. Next time I'm there, I'll take pictures to counteract my poor descriptive abilities.

I can't see a dehumidifier or reefer system and A/C putting that kind of water out ... can it? Maybe all of the above combined?

What drove the concern was the question, "Why don't we have that?". So much to learn!

[nes]

well, you did not say if they were power or sailboats. It could be a bait tank.

[Tim R.]

That is exactly the kind of output my reverse cycle ac/heater puts out.

[Bash]

My neighbor has a Glacier Bay refrigeration system. It puts out two garden-hose-size streams when it's cooling.

[barnakiel]

Can be genset, can be bilge pump ...

b.