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Window Washer sprays.
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:53 pm
by reelfishin
We went out fishing in rough water. When we used our window sprays they could not put enough water on the windows to keep them clean.
We decided to make a change. Do you know how hard it is to find sprays for a boat? Car sprays are not long enough to go through the fiberglass deck. So using a little knowledge I learned or saw from work I designed our own system.
I used brass because it will last and is strong. I found the spray nozzles at Northern Tool for 7 bucks each. I wanted intrusion brass 45 degree elbows for the top. I ended up with round ones. They will be replaced with the intrusion type when I can find them. I have found them on the internet and just migh order them there. All the stores do not carry the style I want.
We did change the tubing back to the solenoid. We did not have to change the solenoid but did change the fitting attaching the tubing to the solenoid. It had to small of a hole to get the water flow we needed. Solenoid is large enough to do it.
Here are some pictures.

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I know it does not look pretty but we need water and I do plan on changing the round pipe 45's to the square intrusion ones.
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 9:35 pm
by rbcool
WOW !!!! Looks like something from the space shuttle ---- heavy duty.
Or maybe a car wash ??
Looking good.
Ron

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 9:57 pm
by reelfishin
Considering the problem we had with salt water drying on the windsheild and not having the water to wash it off, yes it looks great. It will look proffessional when I put the square 45's on the outside. When we were out fishing the windsheild stayed covered with salt and we had to use a water bottle to put the water on the windshield to keep it clear. It won't be a problem now if the sprayers work. The sprayers come in diffenent angles so we may find we need a more angle or less angle. The wind on the windsheild will tell us what we need.
The old system was bacically the same way with plastic tees on the bottom with tubing going to the sprays.
solenoid
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:12 am
by BobCT
I got my windshield washing system working too but used the existing nozzles. One broke so I move it to the port side for now, middle doesn't work.
At one point my solenoid hung up and they would spray constantly with the FW turned on.
The solenoid is easily taken apart and some light lube on the magnetized piston will do the trick. You can test it w/ a 9v battery at home before you reinstall.
Don't forget to winterize if you're up north! Easy thing to forget.
Bob
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:33 am
by reelfishin
We will fish all the way to the end of January. Winterizing ours would be hard since it is tied to the Fresh water system. Only thing I could do to protect the nozzles and brass 45's is to drain at the tube connections if I feel they are going to be a problem.
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:37 am
by Audrey II
"Do you know how hard it is to find sprays for a boat?"
Yes I do and I"m still looking I temporarily used an auto washer looks silly but work for the time being. Have you found nozzles and if so where, I would like to pick up two adjustable units.
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:50 am
by reelfishin
I tore out the old nozzles and installed what is pictured above. I bought the nozzles at Northern Tool and the brass fittings at a Hampton Rubber. I am still looking for the intrusion made 45 degree fittings. I probably will have to order them on line.
You can alos get nozzles on line, I wanted brass nozzles but got stainless steel ones. I might look on line for them but these work fine so far.
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:39 am
by Audrey II
Sorry the picture is hard to make out and I saw your comment that you still plan on changing out the pipe I thought this was a temp setup until you could find the right nozzle. I took a second look and see you have nozzles at the end of the pipes. I'm still looking for the perfect fit and then I will swap out the temp unit and maybe add another.
Glad it worked out for you. I thought it would be easy to find the right parts but with time I will.
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:42 am
by rossjo
Reel,
Do they poke out of the deck and squirt up at a 45?
Do you just have a solenoid valve run off of water pressure and run all 3 at once?
I like it ... we have to run forward with a long wash-down hose occasionally if we try to drive from the lower helm (in winter with rough seas).
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:21 pm
by reelfishin
Yes they do shoot at a 45 degree angle. When we put a nozzle on that had just a whole in it, it shot over the boat LOL. We then put on a nozzle with a wide angle of spray. It still shot high but does get the windshield very wet. Now when you are moving the wind will force the water toward the windsheild. We may have to change to a narrower spray than the wide angle spray. Only trying it will we know.
Yes the solenoid is large enough to allow enough water for all three sprays to work at once. That is why I moved to larger tubing. We were surprised that we did get enough water but we did.
If I find I need more water I will increase the size of the fitting at the solenoid. The barbed fitting has a whole which is larger than the original one but I still can put a larger one on and still use the tubing I have installed.
I will probably run with the pipe fittings until spring then I wll replace them with the intrusion type which are square and shorter. The will look a lot better.
wiper nozzles
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:54 pm
by BobCT
I just winterized my whole boat the other day. Do you add pink to the F/W tank when you do yours or do you blow the lines out?
After I run everything until it's dry, add about three gallons into the tank and then run everything until it's pink coming out (including the washers).
Bob
Just re-read your post.... missed the end of January part

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:05 pm
by rbcool
Thank goodness for this thread!! I didn't think of winterizing my washers.
Mine has 3 seperate pump motors that spray individualy. Shoots down from nozzles right next to wiper stud arm like a power washer. I believe the stream could break up ice if I were cruising in Alaska lol
Ron

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:42 am
by RWS
If anyone comes up with something close to Factory nozzels, I'm in.
One of mine is missing and the other 2 will not hold an adjustment.
RWS