Posted: June 16 2008 at 19:26 | IP Logged

Hello,

I have a doral elegante but may be similar - the switch for the shower pump in the electrical panel is to force the shower bilge on.  even with that switch off, the shower bilge float switch will turn on the shower bilge if there is enough water in the shower bilge pump box.  flipping the switch on, on my boat, turns the shower bilge pump on and it stays on - normally you leave it off.  The water that leaves the shower goes into the shower bilge box and it pumps it overboard.  if you have a street water hookup, you might try turning your pressure pump off and connect a garden hose to that inlet - then you will get super great pressure for taking a shower.  I did not like the pressure on my fresh water system, so I replaced the pump with a shureflow high pressure/capacity pump. big difference in pressure.  you disconnect the accumulator for that pump it doesn't need one.  the chip inside the pump senses water demand and increases pressure when needed. 

the hand valve you describe near the shower bilge - sounds like a macerator valve to direct the flow from your holding tank to outside the boat - on my boat is is.  it would normally never be used, i have the marina pump out the boat - and only if you are a few miles out can you legally empty (if at all) it other than with pump out to a treatment plant.  In USA my understanding is that Doral does not install a grey water tank, therefore all shower, sink etc drains go into the water overboard - not into your regular holding tank.  if you have a grey water tank, then that is where it would go.  The hand valve in the engine compartment could be the sea water pickup for the airconditioning compressor.

Roger4

Posted: June 17 2008 at 19:32 | IP Logged

Doral250

I have a 2005 Monticello, same boat and as Roger stated the valve in the engine compartment is for your air conditioner. The other valve next to your shower pump is for your head, it draws sea water to flush so you don't use your fresh water supply. I also have another valve in my engine compartment which is for sea water to cool the engine. It is a large valve with a blue handle and you see a 11/2" dia. hose on it going to the engine. The Air conditioner valve has a yellow handle and if you folloe the connection it goes into the AC pump strainer. The 3rd valve in the engine compartment is your macerator discharge valve which should always be sealed closed.

Hope this helps.

Rich