A raw water system is an integral component of a boat's seawater intake system. It is a hollow chamber that is installed on the hull of a vessel, typically below the waterline. The raw water system is a mandatory subsystem that is required when the boat has any of the following options: main bait livewell and tackle station, fender box bait livewell, or deck wash pump. The raw water system provides seawater reservoir for these systems to use.
Sea chest is an integral component of a boat’s raw water system. The primary purpose of a sea chest is to provide a controlled intake of seawater used for various onboard systems.
The aluminum 18-liter (5 US gal) sea chest is in the aft of the boat, under the aft deck hatch. It can be equipped with two submersible bilge pumps and it is possible to place seacocks and bait livewell pumps behind the gyro pedestal. The pumps can be accessed by unscrewing the bolts holding the lid of the sea chest.
The outlet valve can be adjusted to control the flow rate as required.
Close the water intake valve when you are not using the equipment which utilizes the sea chest.
All maintenance should be performed by a qualified technician.
Regular inspection and cleaning of the grates is recommended to maintain optimal performance.
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Monthly: Visually check the sea chest. Make sure there are no signs of corrosion such as bubbling paint, pitting, or discoloration.
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Biannually: Check the sealing for leaks.