Whenever you clean a boat, there is more blood, fish scales, and flotsam to clean out than there is clean water to rinse it away.

Fish blood, especially the fresh variety, stains everything it comes in contact with. A saltwater washdown pump is the most efficient way to get all the blood, fish scales, and flotsam out of your boat.

But most saltwater washdown pumps aren’t designed to perform well in saltwater. Here are some things you can do to make sure they work to their fullest capacity.

What is a saltwater washdown pump?

A saltwater washdown pump is a pump that is used for flushing out seawater, silt, sand, and other debris from various parts of the marine vessel. The pump is usually mounted to the vessel’s transom or aft and connected to the seacock, which is the valve at the end of the sea line.

The saltwater washdown pump is usually powered by the DC voltage, and the motion is transferred to the pump by a propeller. The pump can be driven by a single-phase or 3 phase motor.

6 tips to make your washdown pumps work perfectly

If your boat has a saltwater washdown pump, you already know that it’s one of the most important pieces of equipment, if not the most important. Without that pump, you risk contaminating your bilge with bacteria that could prove disastrous.

But pump problems aren’t relegated to the occasional spill. Sometimes, saltwater washdown pumps just don’t work as they should.

Here are six tips to make the pump work perfectly.

• Get the right sized pump

A washdown pump should be sized for your boat. A 10hp washdown pump should be on a 10hp engine, not a 20hp engine, and on a 40hp engine, not an 80hp engine.

• Connect the pump to the engine

Find a black rubber hose to connect your pump to the engine. If your engine is dirty, it’s a good idea to put some petroleum jelly on the hose — it will prevent the hose from sticking to the engine.

• Use the right fittings and hose

The fittings on the pump are essential to getting a good result. Use only stainless steel hose clamps- these won’t rust. Use a coupling to connect two hoses together. The coupling should be screwed onto both ends. Don’t use compression fittings since they aren’t strong enough.

Use a rubber hose or stainless steel hose. The rubber hose should be the right size for your pump — the wrong size hose will slip on the pump, and the pump won’t perform as well as it should.

• Examine the installation

When installing the washdown pump, users should pay attention to the pipes that connect to the pump and keep an eye on whether the water flows through the pipes smoothly. If there is an obstacle in the pipeline, the washdown pump may encounter problems of clogging and will affect its operation.

• Use a strainer

Installation problems may also occur if a strainer isn’t used or installed correctly. It also prevents debris, such as sand or grit, from getting sucked into the pump. Use a strainer that is designed to work with the pump instead of installing one that doesn’t fit with it. A fine mesh strainer that is 1/8-inch is usually adequate for most washdown pumps.

• Use a sealing for safety

When you buy a saltwater washdown pump, one of the most important factors is to make sure that it’s sealed. Seals are essential to pumps because they provide safety, preventing coolant and other fluids from escaping and contaminating the surrounding area. 

For all the boating enthusiasts, these were some essential tips to help your boating experience go well. Make sure you stay consistent with maintaining the pump, and you’re good to go!

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