250 Explorer Pump Question

[kb2ski]

Question about Surflo Pump Model 2088-433-244    3.3 g per min pump.  My pump for the explorer went bad and I am trying to replace it.  When I did a search I found it was a freshwater pump.  It takes the water in from the port side and then distributes to the livewell on the port side and supplies the washdown station center on the transom.   Should I replace with a freshwater pump or should this be a seawater pump to hold up better?   It is really an odd design b/c this 1994 250 Explorer is clearly a saltwater boat.  That thing was  bear to get out and the hoses were nearly glued on.  Any suggestions to make it work better?

[RickK]

Not sure there is a freshwater vs a saltwater version.  I know there is a marine vs RV version.  I replaced my Rule750 that was used to supply the baitwell water and had a "T" in it for a shower (drizzle I'm sure was more like it) with a 5.0 G/min Johnson pump and that baby is sweet.  I put in a 3.2 g/min pump in for the freshwater tank.
Now the million dollar question - how was the pump wired so that it fed the livewell on your boat - with a float switch or just an on/off at the helm?  Did it have a shutoff valve so you could use it as a shower also?  I don't know how powerful a pump needs to be for the baitwell - I'm assume 500-750g/hr is sufficient and that is "volume" of water - not pressured. Your 3.3 is for pressure more than volume.

[kb2ski]

I have a hand pump for the freshwater tank but I will not be using it.  The Shurflow pump is wired on/off at the helm and there is an isolation valve for the intake behind the port battery.  My use for this pump will be raw water washdown, aerator and I will likely put a host on the raw water washdown.  You think I should move up to a larger one?  I am having a tough time finding this particular model Surflo 2088-433-244 now it is 2088-433-344.  Nobody has those in stock.  I just wanted to put it back in place where it was.  It was a beast to get it out with those hoses on so tight.  

Not sure there is a freshwater vs a saltwater version.  I know there is a marine vs RV version.  I replaced my Rule750 that was used to supply the baitwell water and had a "T" in it for a shower (drizzle I'm sure was more like it) with a 5.0 G/min Johnson pump and that baby is sweet.  I put in a 3.2 g/min pump in for the freshwater tank.
Now the million dollar question - how was the pump wired so that it fed the livewell on your boat - with a float switch or just an on/off at the helm?  Did it have a shutoff valve so you could use it as a shower also?  I don't know how powerful a pump needs to be for the baitwell - I'm assume 500-750g/hr is sufficient and that is "volume" of water - not pressured. Your 3.3 is for pressure more than volume.

[RickK]

There is a point that too much water pressure in a baitwell is not a good thing - think it has to do with tank size.  Anyone know?

[Capt. Bob]

There is a point that too much water pressure in a baitwell is not a good thing - think it has to do with tank size.  Anyone know?

Can't speak for anyone else but if more water enters mine (under pressure) than can drain out (gravity fed) it overflows out the top onto the deck. That stated, I remember reading somewhere that you want the pressure to be strong enough to promote flow for healthy bait but not so strong that you bang the bait around the tank and/or into each other so as to remove scales and whatever else that keeps them lively. I would think the bigger the tank, the more pressure you could use.