Best place for bilge pump exit

[GILow]

Hello Cruisers,

I have a choice of exit points for our manual and electric bilge pumps.

Currently I have both exiting the boat on the starboard side, about 6 inches above the waterline and about 6 inches apart.

However, I also have an exit point for the old eutectic refrigeration system at the stern, offset from the centerline by about 6 inches, and about a foot or so above the waterline.

I have removed the refrigeration system completely and will never replace it, so I was about to glass over that hole. Then it struck me that since I am completely replumbing/replacing our bilge pumps, maybe I should use that exit point for one of the pumps. It is a larger hole than currently used by either of the pumps, but that is easy enough to work around.

Also, we are a canoe stern, not sure if that affects anything.

Thoughts on this?

Matt

[Ziggy]

I think the stern port is best for bilge pump drain. If it's large enough diameter, you might be able to use it for both pumps.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Ziggy

I think the stern port is best for bilge pump drain. If it's large enough diameter, you might be able to use it for both pumps.

OK, but they'd have to be separated... right?

[Suijin]

Plumb it to the one that is easiest to replumb in future when the hose fails. Seriously. It doesn't matter where it exits the boat, among your choices. That said, if you can close off a hole in your hull without little practical impact on the function and maintenance of your boat, go for it.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Suijin

...when the hose fails.

Yes, well, I suppose WHEN is appropriate. A realist approach, I like that.

[Mr B]

Is it subject to getting swamped by following seas, The one at the stern,

Forcing the water into the bilge,

[GILow]

Gut feel here is no, the stern seems very bouyant, and one of the reasons I liked it was because I felt it would be more likely to be out of the water, than say the current outlets, which must be submerged when I am on the port tack.

[banjoship]

Matt,

I am in the process of thinking through an upgrade/ addition to the bilge pumps on Banjo, and the question of exits is very much on my mind.

I am absolutely loath to drill holes in the hull for additional pumps. One thought I have is to exit via the cockpit coaming, onto the deck. I think coaming is the right word....that bit around the cockpit that your sheet winches mount to. For others, we are talking centre cockpit on a swanson 42, with a raised edge/coaming around the cockpit. Any comments on such an arrangement much appreciated.

There is a compromise with bilge pumps, as always. You want the exit as low as possible to minimise head that the pump is working against, but you want it as high as possible to avoid backflow/syphoning.

If I end up drilling holes in the hull, I will put them in the stern, as high as possible.

I think accepted wisdom, as reflected in Cat 1 and AYBC etc. ,is that bilge pump outlets should be dedicated....no sharing with other pumps or other devices. seems logical to me.

One of the pumps I am adding is engine driven. Another thought going through my mind is to provide an exit to this pump in the form of a length of firehose, which can be unrolled and taken out through the companionway, onto the deck. Clearly this pump and exit would only be used in dire emergency. again, comments welcome.

Lee

[GILow]

Originally Posted by banjoship

I am absolutely loath to drill holes in the hull for additional pumps.

Lee, if drilling holes is worrying you, don't worry, I have some spares I can give you, just send me your address and I'll post 'em up there.

Actually, you are making me think a bit. I have an engine driven pump, decommissioned at the moment as it was not working when we bought the boat, though five minutes in the workshop fixed it, I have not yet refitted it. It has its outlet at the stern also. I must refit it pronto, but I like your idea of a firehose style setup, I would be interested to see what people think. Then I could use the spare outlet for "other" of the two commisioned pumps.


Matt

[HopCar]

Since you have an extra hole, why not take the opportunity to add another pump?

"One of the pumps I am adding is engine driven. Another thought going through my mind is to provide an exit to this pump in the form of a length of firehose, which can be unrolled and taken out through the companionway, onto the deck. "

I like the engine driven pump, don't like the fire hose. It's one more thing you would have to rig in an emergency. Don't forget you would probably have to secure the discharge end of the hose to prevent it from falling back down inside the boat.

I'd just want to engage the clutch on the pump and start working on the leak. Of course if the boat was both sinking and on fire, you might be onto something.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Of course if the boat was both sinking and on
fire, you might be onto something.

Yeah, I'd be onto the life raft.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Since you have an extra hole, why not take the opportunity to add another pump?

It's kind of a piece of string question really.. how many bilge pumps should you have?

Matt

[Mr B]

I had six X 1/2 inch electric bilge pumps going and a 1 & 1/2 inch manual,

Yes I did have them all going, The manual pump was killing me,

Hahahahaha, Absolute waste of time and energy, They did Bugger all, It sank,

Minor leaks or spills, The Shower, Basin, the 1/2 inch 12 Volt DC pumps are more than adequate,

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Mr B

Hahahahaha, Absolute waste of time and energy, They did Bugger all, It sank,

Sounds like the kind of boat I grew up with. What caused the water to be on the wrong side in the first place?

[Boracay]

Boracay has large cockpit drains and the outlet for the manual diaphragm pump is just above one of them.

The electric bilge pump is plumbed up to deck level and then down to a through hull above the water line. If doing it again I'd locate the outlet above the other cockpit drain.

If the bilge pumps are working it's good to have visual confirmation.