Windshield Washer Valve

[kernr]

Hi Everyone -

We have a 2008 GB Europa and the drawings that came with the boat shows a shut off valve from the FW system to the windshield washer system. Does anyone know where it is located?

Thanks
Bob

 

[rgano]

Mine was down below knee level on the cabinetry to stbd of the lower helm. Just a knob.

 

[kernr]

Windshield washers

rgano -

Thanks for the response. I have followed the tubing and it goes across the top of the windshield to the Port side and disappears - not quite sure where to. Probably not on Starboard side.

Bob

 

[wkearney99]

The valve for mine was down in the engine compartment of our Eastbay, after running down the port B pillar of salon house. Since the valve on mine leaked I just turned it off. Supposedly the valve gets gunked up with minerals/corrosion and that leads to problems. If I was going to do anything about it, I'd probably look into switching to something different that using fresh water and those valves. But I don't use the wipers often enough for it to be necessary.

 

[kernr]

Washers valve location

wkearney99 -

Bill, Thanks for your configuration. I kind of agree with you - I think the wipers and washers are kind of fluff on the boat. Since this is the first year of winterization for this boat I am trying to get everything that otherwise might be a rain forest over the electronics in the spring time. My tigon tubing water line definitely runs across the top of the windshields from the solenoid and goes to the Port side. It is either going to a fresh water line to the FB sink or like yours down into the engine room somewhere. I am slowly getting to know every inch of this boat and there are systems I have not even touched yet.

Thanks again,
Bob

 

[wkearney99]

Take pictures. It helps tremendously for when you're not near the boat, trying to remember what was where, and which parts you need...

Excellent point about winterizing, I'm not sure mine do get winterized properly since I shut off the valve.

One nice feature in my EB47 is a drain in the engine room from a tee in-between the water tanks. I can drain the tanks and anything gravity-fed from that side of the lines. Though I do pop the feed line off where the tanks lead to the pump and use a portable tank of anti-freeze and pull that through the whole system. But since the washer hose is closed there's no outflow... I should correct that, presumably by finding the tee point and just disconnecting it entirely.

The easy route would be to find some new valves. The harder route would be to re-route the washer hoses to somewhere a valve leak wouldn't matter, and potentially switch to regular windshield washing solution with it's own pump and tank. My wipers have individual knobs for speed and fluid. Since it's driven from fresh water I don't have to control a pump. If I changed the source I'd have to adjust the wiring to power the pump along with the valves.