Is There Such a Thing as a Quiet Shower Sump Pump?

[TheThunderbird]

I use silent blocks or rubber sheet anywhere ..

[Pizzazz]

I experimented with different pumps in my very shallow sump and reached the conclusion that if it is a self priming pump then it has got to be noisy. Otherwise you can just use a bilge pump, these are quiet, rugged and inexpensive. So now I use a bilge pump but clean the compartment often.

[Scotty Kiwi]

Here's another true story. During a period of being damn busy working I had tradesmen do everything on the boat.

I rang one to ask about the installation of an auxillary bilge pump/shower pump. (The shower drained into a part of the bilge).

"Yep, all fine, installed, pisses water far better than a giant horse" he informed me.

I next attended weeks later, and had forgotten about it. First opportunity to pump that bilge was perhaps months later, during a 60 knot gale with hours of horizontal rain.

The high pitched whining vibration brought the Meercats up from 3 piers upwind, and this during the storm. Unbelievable. Friends in a shop on the wharf came outside to investigate the source of the noise pollution. Jesus nearly wept.

Couldn't work out w.t.f. was wrong. Rang the tradesman. "yeah it was a bit noisey". I explained that this was a yacht, an silence was everything. I found his experience was all commercial trawlers. He suggested the only solution was to cover the thing in a noise insulated box - which, with more money and delegative ability than time and sense, I immediately ordered.

Still real damn noisey.

The pump vibration frequency seemed to resonate/harmonise somehow with the hull size and shape, creating some kind of ultra amplifier, with the entire 60 foot fibreglass hull acting as a speaker box. None of the on wharf experts or other marina meercats could offer sensible advice.

Anyway, luckily, the installer hadn't chucked the packaging. The lazy prick had left in the bow cabin. Still in the original box - four rubber mounting feet! On the instructions "ensure the rubber mountings are properly installed.

But I felt I was the bigger idiot.

[Sailorbob8599]

Silly me, and I thought the noise was intentional so neighbours and guests would not hear when me or the missus produced loud farts.

[Sailorbob8599]

Originally Posted by Scotty Kiwi

Here's another true story. During a period of being damn busy working I had tradesmen do everything on the boat.

I rang one to ask about the installation of an auxillary bilge pump/shower pump. (The shower drained into a part of the bilge).

"Yep, all fine, installed, pisses water far better than a giant horse" he informed me.

I next attended weeks later, and had forgotten about it. First opportunity to pump that bilge was perhaps months later, during a 60 knot gale with hours of horizontal rain.

The high pitched whining vibration brought the Meercats up from 3 piers upwind, and this during the storm. Unbelievable. Friends in a shop on the wharf came outside to investigate the source of the noise pollution. Jesus nearly wept.

Couldn't work out w.t.f. was wrong. Rang the tradesman. "yeah it was a bit noisey". I explained that this was a yacht, an silence was everything. I found his experience was all commercial trawlers. He suggested the only solution was to cover the thing in a noise insulated box - which, with more money and delegative ability than time and sense, I immediately ordered.

Still real damn noisey.

The pump vibration frequency seemed to resonate/harmonise somehow with the hull size and shape, creating some kind of ultra amplifier, with the entire 60 foot fibreglass hull acting as a speaker box. None of the on wharf experts or other marina meercats could offer sensible advice.

Anyway, luckily, the installer hadn't chucked the packaging. The lazy prick had left in the bow cabin. Still in the original box - four rubber mounting feet! On the instructions "ensure the rubber mountings are properly installed.

But I felt I was the bigger idiot.

What is it with some tradesmen that they do not, or will not, read the frikken instructions? Do they think it unprofessional to do so? I'd much rather they take a few minutes, read the instructions and get it right the first time. I didn't have any problems when building my boat because I was there all the time, watching and checking; but I sure had problems with tradesmen doing my home reno's. a couple so bad, I had to fire their butt off the project.
What one needs to keep in mind is that it's your money, and you want the job done right because even warranty won't cover a problem created by a lousy or incorrect installation.

[Scotty Kiwi]

Originally Posted by Sailorbob8599

Silly me, and I thought the noise was intentional so neighbours and guests would not hear when me or the missus produced loud farts.

Yeah, that's a good point. Mine does that too.

[patprice]

Our Bavaria 42 has two showers. Up foreward there is no sump pump so we simply use a block sponge to transfer the water into the toilet or basin. And while at it we give the walls a wiping over with the sponge.

Like all good yachties we are economical with our wtare usage so sponging is no big deal

We also employ a sponge most times in the aft head rather than cause noise.