What is recommended on a 58 ft HB Al hull, for alarms for taking on water, more concerned about a plumbing mis hap,

Sensors what kind and how many do u recommend, would these alarms normally be loud enough for other dock personnel to reconize,

where would I locate these , and any suggestions on suppliers, thanks

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"Come OOON Back............

Oh yes everyone within a block will hear mine.

They're really pretty simple: I wired a car alarm siren (radio shack or auto store) to a small 12v battery, then on the ground side of the siren I installed several float switches (bilge pump type, from Big Box) in parallel, with the ground lead of the switches coming back to the battery. Any switch will set off the alarm.

I also installed a fuse, a cutoff switch and a light, with the siren shut off the light will still come on. Note: unlike car alarms it will NOT shut off and reset... it'll howl till you cut the power to it or the problem is corrected.

Make sure your neighbors or dockmaster will know what to do if it goes off...

I'm sure you can buy more sophisticated alarms, but this is easy to build, cheap, and it works.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Edited: 09/15/2007 at 12:01:17 PM by stmbtwle

thats what I had in mind using a float switch didnt think of using 2, that sounds like a plan, I had read about a mosture sensor that sounded a little cheap. My hull is bone dry.

IM assuming the float switch, could be used in series one to trigger the alarm one to trigger the pump on a 12 volt system perhaps i can play around with that the previous ownner left a couple extra 12 volt on demand pumps.

Wondering if this makes sense to you I recently hooked up to dock water, the incoming outlet has a check value and regulator combo. from there approx. 20 ft. of 1/2" cpvc which I hooked to the output side of a 12 volt on demand water pump that gets its supply from 2 holding tanks on the top deck. All works fine till I close it down, this is the issue...

I turn off the spickett that supplies the hose water to he boat. I open my kitchen sink and bathroom sink to relieve any presure, disconect the hose from the boat, today I noticed the 2 sinks continued to have a trickle but continueous stream of water.

My 12 volt pumps are manually shut off and make such a nosie if they were running Id hear it, they are off, the hose is disconnected, several minutes have passed so Im certain the 20 ft of cpvc has had time to release any of the presured water. So somehow IM getting water to continue to run. And this never happend before I installed this supply line. If I walk on the boat after being gone a few days you cant get water out of a faucett unless the 12 volt pump is on or shore water is hooked up. any idea how this happening its a LOT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT GUESS U HAVE TO BE THERE

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"Come OOON Back............

You don't want the floats in series. Then they BOTH have to be up for anything to happen. Parallel, any one will set off the alarm. Keep the alarm system independent; do not connect it to the pumps, they need their OWN floats. cross-connecting them to the alarms could have unpredictable consequences.

Connect the alarm to it's own battery or to a DIFFERENT battery than the one that runs the bilge pumps. Otherwise if you have a leak the bilge pumps will run the battery down first, and then the alarm won't work when you need it.

The water flow could be coming from your accumulator if you have one, but it should stop after a minute or two.

If your water tanks are above the level of the taps they'll gravitate through the pump and out the tap, even with the pump off. I wouldn't worry about it, just close the taps. You probably have a valve somewhere to shut off the tank supply.

You STILL have to run your pump and use the water in the tanks from time to time; or after a few months it'll get pretty nasty.

To be honest, I think all you've accomplished is make a lot of extra work for yourself.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

We stay on the dock a lot more than we go out, so its nice to have a water source that isnt using pumps not sure why you would think this created more work, every houseboat on the dock has a dock side hose running to it....only cost about 30$ hook ed it all in myself.

As this boats only water supply was 2, 50 gallon holding tanks on the top

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"Come OOON Back............

I understand; I installed the same shore-water setup but I never use it. It's easier for me to fill the tanks and run them down; it keeps the water fresh and I like the peace of mind. One less thing to disconnect when I leave.

I use 50 gal plastic juice drums for water, though mine are below decks. I've had very good luck with them and for sure the price was right.

The water pumps are generally pretty quiet if properly mounted to something solid. If they're on a bulkhead it can act like a sounding board and amplifies the noise. An accumulator helps, too.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

I dont suppose these 50 gallon juice drums could double as plastic fuel tanks?

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"Come OOON Back............

I don't think they'd be a good idea, and I don't think the authorities would either.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Edited: 09/19/2007 at 07:38:24 AM by stmbtwle