Draining water tanks

[teshannon]

What is the best way to drain the fresh water tanks? I've probably got 100+ gallons remaining in the 2 tanks and am assuming that's too much continuous duty for the fresh water pump. Thanks.
Tom Shannon

[christyleigh]

That's the kind of abuse I give my water pump every spring - a few times - first with bleach then vinagar. If that's not to your liking simply stick a hose in the access port, fill the hose with water, plug it with your thumb, and carry it over board to do a siphone. I've done that with water beds many times.

[labatt]

Ditto for us (100 gallons in tanks - need to get rid of it)

Is it too much duty for the pump?

[SailinJay]

On the advice from my dealer, I always drain my water tanks through the sink faucet. In the spring I usually fill and drain my tanks (55-, 30-, and 22-gallon) at least twice to purge all vestiges of anti-freeze. I don't see any reason why your water pump can't run for the time it takes to do this. I've done it for five years.

The only other alternative I have is to open the hose in the bilge and let the water run into it.

[teshannon]

Thanks all for the advice. I'll run the water pump to empty them, it's old anyway and I have a new spare just in case.
Tom Shannon

[Boasun]

On the work boats we have a dump valve and just dump into the bilges. (4~5000 gls if the tank is full) Then the larger bilge pump pumps over the side in a few minutes. Something like 250 gl per min.
On a smaller boats, I would use a stripping pump (one that you use to strip various tanks, barrels and bilges. And sometimes the Honeylocker (holding tank)).

The stripping pump has a varity of uses.

[sailingdog]

IMHO, draining the fresh water tanks into the bilge is just a PITA and a bad idea. The pressure system pump should be able to handle the load of getting rid of most of the water from the system pretty easily—after all, that is what it is designed to do. It might be wise not to run it for one long burst, but in several shorter ones.

A siphon can deal with what is remaining after the pressure system has used all the water it can.

[T37Chef]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

IMHO, draining the fresh water tanks into the bilge is just a PITA and a bad idea.

Can you explain why that is?

[Boasun]

Maybe he has shallow or oil fouled bilges.

what is PITA??? explain please.

[T37Chef]

Pain in the ass