Fresh Water Plumbing

[simmo]

Hi, I have another Bavaria 34 Cruiser (2001) plumbing query.  The boat has forward and aft fresh water tanks.  I believe the two way tap in the port side bathroom cabinet (in the photo) controls the water flow from the tanks.  Does one position drain only the forward tank and the other drain only the aft tank and if so which way is which?  At the moment the aft is 50% full and the forward is permanently 100% full (full to a mm of the brim if you remove the inspection hatch).  Curious if anyone has the same set up.  Unfortunately none of the clean or dirty water plumbing system is labelled on my boat.  Regards Simmo

[Nigel]

On my boat turning the lever forward and aft selects the appropriate tank.

[Yngmar]

On my boat, up is aft and right is forward. Should be easy enough to confirm out by looking down the tank inspection hatch while running the tap.

[MarkTheBike]

2-cabin version, so mine's under the sink. Quite frankly, if the lever is in one position and one tank is half full and the other is completely full, then I'd switch the lever the other way, turn on the sink tap and see if the full one starts to empty. If it does, problem solved and that's the point to write a BIG LABEL and stick it near the lever.... (I was lucky, all my pipes were labelled).

[tiger79]

I'm really finding it hard to believe that anyone would ask this question.

[landes_h]

I'm really finding it hard to believe that anyone would ask this question.

  like 

[DT]

very funny......if heaven forbid, you turn turtle the settings will reverse.

[Salty]

......The boat has forward and aft fresh water tanks.  I believe the two way tap in the port side bathroom cabinet (in the photo) controls the water flow from the tanks. 
Q1. Does one position drain only the forward tank and the other drain only the aft tank and
Q2. if so which way is which?
Q3. Unfortunately none of the clean or dirty water plumbing system is labelled on my boat....

Hi Simmo
I've slightly rearranged your query in the quote above in order to answer it, and in answering it I will also refer to your picture where needed.
In answer to Q1. Yes, one position will drain only the forward tank while the other will drain only the aft tank.
Regarding Q2, with the handle in the vertical position as shown in your photo, water is being drawn from the left blue water pipe. You will have to follow that specific blue water pipe to see which tank it is connected to in order to determine whether it is the forward or aft tank that is being pumped.
As for point 3, actually there is labelling or rather marking already on the valve shown in your photo which indicates what is happening, but only if you understand what that marking is telling you.
Look closely at the picture and on the valve handle you will see an "L" shape marked on it in black. That "L" shape indicates the channel within the valve which will allow water flow through it. In your photo that channel is shown connecting between the left blue pipe and the valve outlet leading to the filter above left and onwards to the pump. If you then turn your valve handle clockwise to the horizontal position, the "L" shape would now indicate connection between the right hand blue pipe and the valve outlet to the filter and on. Your only remaining problem is where does the left blue pipe come from, and where does the right blue pipe come from. Well the answer is that one comes from the forward tank while the other is from your aft tank, but in order to determine which is which, all you need to do is to follow one or other pipe to see which tank it comes from, and it's odds on likely that if one leads forward that it will be the pipe from the forward tank, and the other then must be from the aft tank.

[simmo]

Thanks Salty, Nigel, Mark, Yngmar for your advice to a simple question.  Will ignore the unhelpful responses - just not worth the time to reply.  The question was asked as the pressurised water system isn't working the way it should as no water will drain from the forward tank regardless of which way the valve is turned.  It stays permanently full to the top. Will investigate further.  Simmo. 

[Lyra]

The question was asked as the pressurised water system isn't working the way it should as no water will drain from the forward tank regardless of which way the valve is turned.

If pipes length permit simply switch between pipes connection to the valve - if water flows then there is a problem with the valve and if water does not flow there is a problem between tank and the valve.
Actually as soon as you disconnect the pipe from the non functioning tank there should be an indication if there is a problem between tank and valve as I would expect water to pour out if everything is OK.

[Nigel]

... no water will drain from the forward tank regardless of which way the valve is turned.  It stays permanently full to the top....

Do you get water out of the taps in both positions?

[Salty]

Do you get water out of the taps in both positions?

That's a very good point Nigel, it's quite possible that the valve handle, or the end of the valve spindle is worn or damaged such that the handle is not actually turning a valve spindle that is stuck in one position, good thinking