Hand- or foot-activated, in brass, plastic, and stainless, there are excellent pumps to add to the galley and head compartment to reduce water consumption, noise levels and electrical demand.

Time was, pressurized freshwater systems on mid- and small-size boats were a rarity. The galley had a single manual pump to draw water out of the tank and deliver it to the sink faucet. During the 1980s and 1990s new boats were delivered to customers with more and more standard equipment. In the plumbing department the list included head and cockpit showers, which necessitated an electric pump to pressurize the network of reinforced vinyl hose. A pressure tank is an important part of the system, too, because it reduces the amount of pump cycling as the pressure switch turns it on and off. …