Posts: 43
Threads: 15
Joined: Jul 2019
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Home Port: Chesapeake Bay
Vessel Info: 3800 Open Cummins 6CTA8.3
Could use some advise. I have an 01 3800 Open with 2 Flo Jet water pumps and an accumulator tank. With pump 1 only on I am losing water pressure after about 30 seconds. It will still come out but only 1 faucet can be on and very little pressure. If I turn pump 2 on as well I completely lose pressure. Filter screen is clear. Water tank is full. Vent seems fine. In addition, my Tiara manual doesn’t really explain should I be using both pumps at the same time or just 1 and is 1 back up. By the looks of it these pumps and plumbing/wiring they could original. If so they have served the boat well. They are FloJets and accumulator is a Jabsco. Advise is appreciated.
Posts: 47
Threads: 8
Joined: May 2018
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Home Port: Lake Superior
Vessel Info: 2001 40 Express
01 40 Open. Pumps died. Replaced #1 w/ stronger pump & use that one only. Good luck.
Posts: 123
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Home Port: SW Florida
Vessel Info: 2002 38 Open Plan A. 450 Ciummins
I have a 2002 38 Open. How do you select which one to use? I only see one breaker for fresh water pump on the electrical panel.
Posts: 43
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Home Port: Chesapeake Bay
Vessel Info: 3800 Open Cummins 6CTA8.3
I have a switch for pump 1 and a switch for pump 2. I have typically used pump 1 and it supplied more than enough pressure. I will probably do what Bruce suggested and replace pump 1 with a beefier pump.
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Home Port: Kings Park, NY
Vessel Info: 2003 38' Open Cummin's 6CTA's (450 hp)
I have a 2003 38 Open w/2 Flow Jet pumps as well. Also have 2 breakers, one for each pump. I always use both pumps, although one is enough. The purpose of the 2 pump system is to minimize water pulsing at the faucet or at leas that is what I was told when I purchased the boat... From what I understand from your posting I would take a look at the filter just before the pumps to ensure you don't have an air leak there. The filter cover screws off and there is a rubber gasket that gave me trouble when removed/replaced when cleaning the metal filter... Look at the filer to ensure its full of water when using the system. Mine was allowing air to get in preventing a good suction from the tank... Once I reseated the gasket the pumps worked correctly and pressure remained good. Another guess is the pump diaphragms are worn out and can be replaced by purchasing a Flowjet repair/rebuild kit.. Kit wasn't expensive and I actually have one on the boat should I need it...M2C
Posts: 43
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Home Port: Chesapeake Bay
Vessel Info: 3800 Open Cummins 6CTA8.3
Thx for the background ReelMagic. The screen looks good. Seems to always have full or near full water in it and no air leaks. I replaced that rubber o-ring a while back and that helped a lot. I will look into the repair rebuild kit for the pump. Could be simplistic solution.
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Home Port: SW Florida
Vessel Info: 2002 38 Open Plan A. 450 Ciummins
I am wondering if I have redundant water pumps. The two breakers are labeled Fresh Water #1 and #2. The side by side pumps in the center bilge are labeled Washdown Pump and Fresh Water System. Breaker #2 controls the Fresh Water System which supplies water to the faucets. Breaker #1 has no effect on anything...unless it is really for the Fresh Water washdown in the cockpit.
I have a raw water washdown breaker but nothing specially labeled Fresh Water Washdown.
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Home Port: Kings Park, NY
Vessel Info: 2003 38' Open Cummin's 6CTA's (450 hp)
I'm not sure how the 2002 is plumbed but my 2003 is plumbed using both, pump #1 and pump #2 (breaker ID's), for the fresh water system for all sinks, fresh water wash down (located in the cockpit, starboard side, & Shower. See my post above. The purpose of running both is to minimize "pulsing" of the water at each faucet.. To test this turn pump # 1 off with pump # 2 on and see if water comes out of the faucets. If it does then turn pump #1 off and turn pump # 2 on. If water flows then its configured as I described in my previous post.. Both pumps are used for fresh water system...M2C
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Home Port: SW Florida
Vessel Info: 2002 38 Open Plan A. 450 Ciummins
Since my #1 breaker has no effect on anything...no pump runs and no water comes out anywhere...maybe the one marked washdown is kaput.
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Home Port: Kings Park, NY
Vessel Info: 2003 38' Open Cummin's 6CTA's (450 hp)
08-05-2021, 04:26 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-05-2021, 04:29 PM by ReelMagic.)
It may be as simple as the pressure switch... Try tapping the bottom of the pump, that's where the pressure switch is... Can you take a picture of the pumps so I can take a look at how its plumbed. It may help to better understand what you are saying. Do you hear or feel the pump motor running.. Should feel or hear something
