2003 Aquasport 275 Explorer Washdown - The Hull Truth

abman · 08-25-2008, 08:49 AM

I recently acquired this boat and am just learning about it so I'll probably be burning up the forum with questions over the next few weeks.

First off, I've downloaded the Aquasport owner's manual and the manual for the Wellcraft 270 Coastal. Neither are of a whole lot of value.

I have a hose connection at the forward end of the port gunwhale as described in the manuals but I can't find any sign of a "y-valve" to divert water from the fresh-water transom shower to this fitting as described. I also have a switch labeled "Water Pump" on my panel that apparently does nothing.

I know not all boats are set up for the washdown. Does the fact that I have the fitting mean anything? Also, although the manual seems to indicate otherwise, wouldn't the gunwhale mounted fitting be a raw water wash?

Any help is appreciated.

Door#3 · 08-25-2008, 02:55 PM

I have such a connection on my Aquasport and it is for the raw water wash down, not the fresh, but I don't have a fresh water wash down.

I would take some time to figure out all the (physical) parts of the water systems. You should be able to do that by looking into the (too small) hatches and reasoning it out. You are going to have to do some bilge diving. My Y valve switches pumping between the live well and the raw water wash down, and is close to the live well (in the bilge) not the wash down.

Don't assume that because the water pump switch doesn't turn anything on that it isn't meant to. The pop fuses that Genmar was installing in Aquasports were not reliable. I had three fail in two years. Last winter I rewired my console to eliminate them in favor of normal plug in spade fuses. You can test that easily enough using a multi-meter. If you find the pop fuse is bad you replace it or jump it out with some other temporary fuse setup. The wiring may seem complicated, but it is not bad after you spend some time figuring it out. The manual will not help, nor is there likely to be a schematic you can download, but all of the wires will have unique coloring by application making circuit tracing much easier, for a boat anyway :-)

RMP · 08-25-2008, 06:49 PM

I owned a 270 Coastal and here's what I remember. The washdown you describe is raw water. The Y valve is located inside the access hatch under the transom door. It's down low and to the right as you are looking in the hatch.

The baitwell and raw water washdown are on the same pump, so if you are getting water to the baitwell, you should have water at the washdown once the Y valve is in the correct position.

brianm333 · 08-26-2008, 06:40 AM

The y valve is located next to the batteries. You have to turn the livewell siwtch on at the helm. The transom shower uses freshwater and the switch is located in the cabin electrical panel. The water pump switch at the helm is not connected to anything. If you have any questions pm me Ive been all over my boat and know it pretty good. Where did you download the manuals from?

abman · 08-26-2008, 07:18 AM

I appreciate the responses. I'm looking forward to getting back on the boat (kept in dry storage for now) and digging around some more.

Brian, I downloaded the manuals here:

http://www.wellcraft.com/index.cfm?#/21/

Both Aquasport and Wellcraft are there. For the Aquasport, Section 4 is the only one of any value at all.

BTW, looking at one of the drawings it indicates the waste water pumpout was optional. It's looking like my boat doesn't have it. Is there a quick way to tell for sure?

Thanks again,

Jerry

brianm333 · 08-26-2008, 07:52 AM

The holding tank pump out switch is in the bilge. It is located under the livewell. remove the hatch under the livewell and there will be a switch mounted on the forward bulkhead on a black plastic box. That pumps the holding tank

AQUA 1 · 08-27-2008, 08:02 AM

I have the same boat 2000 model that fitting on the gunnel is a raw water wash down and shares the same pump as the live well there should be a y valve for that.