Shower install - couple questions

[jhiestand]

I'm in the process of putting a shower in my '01 SAN and am trying to work out some kinks. FINALLY tracked down the shower wires, so now to figure out where to mount the pump and where to hook up the hot/cold lines. I still have the ballast tanks in my boat and I think the stock location for the pump was low in the bilge -- very difficult for me to get to with the tanks in. Anyone have any better solutions? I'm probably at the point where I"ll have to fabricate a bracket of some sort to get it mounted in a reasonable location.

My second question is I'm not 100% sure where to tap into hot water. Directions say to use the drain plug at the stbd bottom of the block, which would be very easy. I see a lot of people have used that, but I also have a heater and that's where its return line is. Does anyone have a similar setup and if so, would splicing off that line cool the water down too much by the time it reaches the shower?

The cold line shouldn't be as difficult. I'm thinking of tapping in to the raw water feed before or after the water strainer, as the hose is pretty accessible there.

Anyone offer up any helpful advice? Thanks!!!

[DavidF]

RE: Shower install - couple questions

The factory (or dealer) installed shower pump in my '99 NSS is located on the starboard side engine cradle rail (mounted to a bracket). I believe my hot water tap is indeed the block drain. I also had a heater (that I removed last year), but honestly, cannot remember where it was tapped (other than the one on the intake manifold). But, I would imagine that the block drain would not flow enough water for the heater to function properly.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Shower install - couple questions

My factory install on my SAN, was port block for hot, T'd off thermostat hose for cold, the pump was mounted high in the rear port locker.

I removed my setup last year. Never used it.

My heater is off the intake and the starboard engine block.

[Hollywood]

Re: RE: Shower install - couple questions

My heater is off the intake and the starboard engine block.

DavidF, I believe the block is the return line for the heater, the hot in is off the intake manifold.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Shower install - couple questions

Hollywood,

Did Johnny ever put his shower in?

[jhiestand]

Re: RE: Shower install - couple questions

My heater is off the intake and the starboard engine block.

DavidF, I believe the block is the return line for the heater, the hot in is off the intake manifold.

I believe this is correct, at least for my setup. The block is my heater return line, so if I tap off that to supply hot for my shower will the water only be luke warm? Just trying to save some potential trial & error, here.

I can only imagine trying to fit some of this stuff in an engine bay packed with a 502!! TIGHT!!!! :grin:

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Shower install - couple questions

Tap off the other side. There is a block drain on each side.

And yes, it was a pain to remove even. Hard to complain though.

[Hollywood]

RE: Re: RE: Shower install - couple questions

No, I haven't installed Johnny's shower yet.

I don't know if you'd have hot enough water from the shower tapped off the heater return line. If it was too cold I suppose you could just turn off the heater while you use the shower.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Shower install - couple questions

I agree that the heater and shower should not be together on the same line. I am not sure that even shutting the heater off would make a huge difference. I think the hot water still has a pretty long run to cool off regardless of the air blowing across the vanes on the heater core. Especially long in a V-drive.

[jhiestand]

RE: Re: RE: Shower install - couple questions

I did a bunch of reading on some of the other boards and it sounds like I may want to try tapping into hot line that feeds my heat (off top of the engine). Apparently a lot of folks have been getting rust from the block drain point. I don't know how hot the water is at either point, but I'd assume it would be warmer from the line that feeds the heater than the return line.

Worth a shot, anyway. I'll report back on my findings.

[jhiestand]

took first actual run yesterday since installing the shower and it did significantly better than running it off the water hose in the driveway. Pumped a decent amount of water and at full heat it was WAY too hot! Dialed in a decent temp and it worked great in warming feet back up after my set. Should be awesome once we graduate to just wearing neoprene.

On the negative side my heater cooled WAY down after a few sets. Didn't see any water pouring out from the kick panel but I'm still suspect the core could've given out. Either that or some sort of blockage. Looks like I'll have a little troubleshooting to do and may have to pull the dreaded kick panel out!

[WakeSlayer]

How long has the heater been in the boat? They do clog up with crap from the lake after a long period. I have not had to replace mine but a friend did after 9 years and around 1100 hours. It did not crack or anything, there was just no room for the water to move through properly any more.

[jhiestand]

quite a while, I think summer of 2004? I guess next step will be to determine whether it's clogged or it's started leaking.

[dan1166]

Shower install

Okay; I have gone around and around this subject many times with Heatercraft and the Nautique dealers. Here is the HOT set-up. And I mean HOT

I have a 1999 Ski with a GT-40 engine. Heater feed should be off the top of the engine(I tee-ed off the temp. sending unit).This is were the water is at it's hottest temp. Heater return should be on the intake side of the raw water pump, using a Y fitting.(Discount Inboard Marine has the Y fitting.)

The shower hot water feed should come from the engine drain plug. I tee-ed off the starboard side. The cold water feed should come off of the discharge side of the raw water pump. The shower pump is designed to draw water from both sources, through the mixing valve, where the temp can be adjusted, and to the shower nozzle.

This set up works. Plenty of heat from the heater and plenty of hot water for the shower. Good Luck

Dan, the Nautique Man

[ers906]

Dan,
Can you post pictures of the hot and cold water feeds
Thanks