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URGENT - Need fresh water pump in Georgetown, Baha...
Author Last Post
4/3/2025 9:00 PM

I have a Groco Paragon Sr, and i agree with all comments (loud, robust and hard to prime).  I'd also add that Groco does a nice job at supplying parts for them.  I bought a ne one and rebuilt the old one as a spare.

Richard
Untethered, 57-22
4/3/2025 6:24 PM
Hi Nick:

The Groco Sr. pump was the standard pump in the era that your boat was built (and my first Selene, a 50, hull #22). I'm not sure how long they used that pump, but it was quite a while. Seemed fairly robust. Quite expensive. I did have one pressure switch fail on it, but the pump seemed to be fine. A little noisy. I wouldn't want it in the bilge where my Headhunter pumps are!

Mark Tilden
Selene 60 "Koinonia"
4/3/2025 6:06 PM
Hi Nick,

We also had that pump in our 53’. Work great. I agree you do know when it was running or not. The only issues we hard with it was when we lost prime. Because someone forget to change supply tank over. Guilty as charged! Getting the system to re-primed took some effort. Do you have a question about its operation?

Richard R. Day
Day By Day 5314
4/3/2025 5:27 PM

Does anyone have the Groco Paragon Sr. pump? I think the previous owner put this one in, and we haven't had any issues (knock on wood) with it nor issues with water pressure. It's located in the engine room floor along the starboard fuel tank. I wouldn't say it's quiet, but we don't notice it too much. At least we know it's running. Pricey at around $2,400.


https://www.groco.net/products/water-pressure/paragon-sr


Nick

LunaSea 5318
4/3/2025 5:02 PM
In another thread in the forum I previously posted regarding the Marco pumps. I have had mine two years now and they work great. One operates in parallel if other fails or if pressure is needed. In the photo below, you can see I mounted unit on hose to isolate vibration from hull . You can also see the pressure supplied on the gauge that came on the unit. I originally purchased a single and liked it so much that I purchased this dual unit and now have the single as a spare.

4/3/2025 4:16 PM
Jack:

I'm curious about your experience with the Marco pump. Dylan (the technical director for Selene Americas) and I have been talking about what pumps they should put standard on the boats.

Our concern with the Marco pumps is that they are spec'ed to only generate about 35 PSI and that may be insufficient to really create a nice strong shower stream--especially if any other water is being used on the boat at the same time. I have the Headhunter XCaliber pumps (I actually have two that are permanently wired and valved in for exactly the situation you have encountered). However, the challenge is that these pumps have gotten irrationally expensive (over $2K each now) and their warranty is pretty weak. It's 2 years--from the date of MANUFACTURE. Not acceptable as an OEM on a new boat. The pumps are also not repairable. We're pretty sure Headhunter doesn't actually manufacture these pumps, but we don't know who makes them.

What's your experience with the Marco pump in terms of flow and pressure?

Also, how noisy are they? My fresh water pumps are in the bilge of my 60. I like that because they are close to and actually lower than the top of the water tanks, so there's no "lift" from the tank to the pump. However, they have to be quiet as they are under the sole of the master stateroom. (Remember, the bilges in the 60 are deep enough that I can climb down in there an lay next to my pumps to work on them (another thing I love about the 60 design).

Mark Tilden
Selene 60 "Koinonia"
4/3/2025 2:27 PM

I Love the Marco UP14/E 24v pump! Working again and possibly the remote control unit shut it down when it ran the tank dry and pump overheated a bit. The remote control is not really needed as the pump itself is supposed to shut down after running dry for 30 seconds or so. I might just abandon the remote control, especially if I have problems again.


I am back on the boat now and we have been using water all day without issue. Had a wet tender ride to and from Georgetown from Sand Dollar Beach with 25 knots of wind. But I cleared in and brought back my new backup pump, A Jabbsco Par-Max HD6. $978 here in the Bahamas and only $285 back home in the USA. Pretty much the only spare I did not have on board - lesson learned.


Early happy hour begins now - Jack



Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388
4/3/2025 9:42 AM
Jack,

I just put a Marco pump in.  Concerned that yours is challenged. How old is your Marco pump?
4/3/2025 8:00 AM

Well, this morning I hit the Marco pump with the handle of a screwdriver and it had a “born again” moment! It is working fine and I have a 24v Shurflo waiting for me at Browns in case I need a spare. We are washing dishes and clothes as we cruise towards Georgetown and all is well.


Thanks for the replies - Jack


Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388
4/2/2025 6:07 PM
Thanks Steve - I contacted Brown's in Georgetown and they have one Shurflow 24v pump and are holding it for me.  I am also going to try to have another Marco shipped in ASAP,  I should have carried a spare - lesson learned again.  I have 10 plus other pumps onboard but never added a spare fresh water pump.  Military is my language normally - Two is one and one is none.  Now living the dream!

Best - Jack
4/2/2025 5:55 PM
Jack,
There is a hardware/marine supply store in Georgetown that has a fairly good inventory of marine supplies. They may have a 24V pump that you could put into service until you get back stateside and have better access to parts sans duty and costly shipping. It may not have the capacity or smarts that your OEM pump has, but might be less hassle than having one shipped. Might be worth the walk. It's not far from the bridge, north toward library.

Good luck!
-------
Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 Maerin (SOLD)


On 4/2/2025 3:51 PM, Public Discussion Forum wrote:
4/2/2025 3:49 PM

Thanks all. Water from the dingy dock won’t really help much but I may buy some jugs to have fresh water available - my water tanks are full of water but i can’t get to it. I do have 5 gallons of emergency water on board.


I found the leak - perfect storm. During the night the woven SS flexible hose under the flybridge sink failed, the leak activated the pump which drained the aft tank (since refilled by water maker), the leak poured onto the flybridge deck and flowed right off the back of the boat. No bilge alarms sounded as nothing entered the bilge due to the leak location. The tank emptied, the Marco pump’s brain did not shut it down as it should have, and the pump overheated and fried.


So what I need is a 24v DC fresh water pump. If someone down here has one I would love to buy it from you. If anyone has a good idea about how to ship one to Georgetown, Bahamas ASAP, I would love some advice. I would love to replace it with an identical Marco pump, but any pump AASAP would be great.


Thanks - Jack Burgess

Cell (703) 609-2033



Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388
4/2/2025 10:09 AM

I have a Headhunter Mach5 I would be willing to ship to you. It is an AC pump though so not sure if that will cause more trouble than it is worth.
4/2/2025 10:03 AM
I just put a Marco pump in (removed Johnson).  Maybe you could get one overnighted to Georgetown. 

John Zimmerman 
4/2/2025 9:48 AM

Last night at SW Point Long Island Bahamas I apparently developed leak in fresh water system. Pump emptied aft FW tank and ran dry until it apparently burned up. I will investigate when we anchor later today on Long Island. I don’t have a spare. Does anyone in Georgetown Bahamas area have spare FW pump I can buy or know of a source there for 24v FW pump? I will arrive in Georgetown tomorrow April 3.


Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388

Cell (703) 609-2033
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