How to operate sink faucet and bladder

[elvatoli]

I dont really know how to operate the water sink faucet and water, because on the bladder (5 gal) inside the galley seat under compatment, there is a rotating cap valve, and I can see an open and close position, but it move so freely taht is almost impossible to keep the cap in any of the desired positions. I'm assuming that it have to be in the open position. I'm assuming also that the bladdet have to be with the cap valve under the water, so it have to bee facing downwards with the cap in the lowest position.
On the faucet there is a lever that I think is to create pressure to suck water from the bladdet, but is not doing the function. How many times do you have to pump the lever in order to get water out of it ?
I saw the faucet tube and is free with no obstructions, and I can see the internal ball valve and it look ok for me.
And how does normally the head sink faucet works ?
Any ideas ?

[Russ]

It's tricky to get the hose to line up so that the valve is in the open position. If you rotate the hose in the opposite direction of "open" and then tighten the hose clamp it will probably stay open.
The valve doesn't have to be below water. The bag can be upright.

It normally only takes 3 or 4 pumps to get water to come out. If everything is open, you might want to check the pump as the seals/gaskets might be worn out. The standard pump seems a bit weak to me. I replaced it with an electric pump.

--Russ

[c130king]

It helps to squeeze all the air out of the bladder once it is filled. It is tricky to get the valve to stay in the open position but you will eventually figure it out as you twist the bladder and the hose around to get it to line up and stay in the right position. Then as you operate the pump the water will come out and the bladder will collapse with no air coming in.

At least that is how it works for me...but to be honest I have only used it a few times as I have not done much cruising/camping in my own boat yet.

Good Luck,
Jim

[Boblee]

One of the first mods I did was to replace the silly bag but have kept the tap/pump for emergencies and installed a bladder under the aft berth with an electric pump and proper sink tap/faucet with in line filters to remove tastes when filling from strange places.
Our original sink tap/pump still works ok and is handy for extracting air from the system or for bypassing the filters when quality is not an issue but is rarely done due to the in line tap being awkward to get at under the sink even though we threw the original galley face away and installed sliding doors..

[K9Kampers]

I've never had any dependable, good experience with the cheap bladder tank setup. From not pumping at all to the cap failing and empty many gallons into the bilge. Had rigged the cap with a new hose, brass fittings and hose clamps. Upright / upside down, faucet broke...eventually scrapped the whole system. Now use a stronger five gallon portable tank with several one gallon jugs. All water is poured - one less thing to fix!

[restless]

Hi
mine was rubbish.. I swapped it for the one in the head which works better, though to start it off I put a foot on the bladder and half stand on it. It is soon to be replaced. Oh, and the bladder is in a large flexi tub... I had one just fill the bilge on an early trip!

[Kelly Hanson East]

I squeezed a 40 liter tank into the front space of Catigale and plumbed it back to a dual action pump at the galley. Takes 20 strokes to fill the kettle. That tank was perfect for a week cruise with 5 up - it emptied out on my last day on anchor. I carry a 30 liter hard blue jerry can I can fill on shore and carry with the dingy in case I run short.

[keith]

I have 3x20 & 2x15 litre plastic water cubes under the forward dinette seat and v berth.There hooked up to pump taps for the galley and head.I drilled holes in two caps and fitted 90 degree elbows with a tube spear into the cube and to the tap.When one runs out change to next cube and the empty one becomes extra flotation.I reckon its better than one big tank because if something goes wrong you dont lose your whole supply.