You are looking at the ultimate execution of a plumbing manifold. These are for various exhausts (two bilge pumps, two sump pumps, water maker brine) in the engine room of the FPB 64. The details are as follows:
- The manifolds are welded up from aluminum (this is longer lived than stainless steel).
- There is a removable end cap for inspection and cleaning.
- They exhaust above the waterline.
- There is a shut off valve (for use when the system is open for maintenance).
We often do these in schedule 80 PVC. However, the PVC takes more space and is not nearly as cool looking. As you might expect the welded aluminum manifolds are more costly than PVC, but working with Circa and building the FPB 64 in series makes this approach feasible.
Posted by Steve Dashew (October 19, 2009)
October 19th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Hi Steve – Ben from NS here. Been following avidly, and the boats are looking good of course. I like the look of these manifolds- it’s a pesky problem that they solve – but a question for you: They are quite long and stick out quite far when built this way. That’s a long lever for an overhung load if one were to (*ahem* this never happens) step on them or bang them with a falling piece of gear (or foul one of the attached hoses and pull on it heavily). Looks to me like the PVC valve casing is the weak point in this case – it would likely be the failure point if overloaded in this way. I know there are regs for minimum allowable loads on overhung thru hulls below the waterline, but I’m not sure if they apply above the waterline or not. Either way, it would likely be easily avoided by having an outer support leg or bracket that was welded to the aluminum manifold pipe, supporting the outer end of it back down to a hull plate or frame/bracket. I’m sure you’ve considered this already – any comment on this loading scenario?
thanks – I enjoy following your travels as always.
bg
October 20th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Good Question Ben:
The manifolds in question are under the steering system support platform and so not subject to being stepped on.They are attached to long welded pipes, which run under the swim platform and exhaust aft above the waterline. The forward end of these pipes are supported by welded braces.
April 19th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Hi Steve,
I was thumbing though the plumbing section of your Crusing Encyclopedia and had a question about standpipes and plumbing manifolds. Seems the logical location on any vessel for a discharge standpipe, especially a sailboat (what we have) would be on the stern. That said, it appears that you’ve chosen to mount the manifolds horizontally on the FPB, opposed the the vertical installation you have pictured in your book. Any logic for the change? We are planning on installing a similar arrangement.
Thanks for the books and wisdom…
Mike
April 22nd, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Exhaust standpipes should be mounted and exhaust above the waterline. That said, whether the layout is horizontal or vertical is simply a question of space and plumbing runs.