Macerator Pump for Shower drain?

[SV Demeter]

My boat was originally designed with the shower(s) draining to the bilge via a drain with short piece of 1 1/4" hose coming off hte drain. Access to the drain and this short piece of hose is very tough and I want to have the shower drains run to a pump then overboard. The most practical location for the pump is in difficult to reach location, basically under the toilet in the head, this makes using an inline strainer before the pump not practical as I would have to take up the base that the toilet is mounted to every time the strainer clogged. The shower sump drain has a metal grate with roughly 1/8" holes. I am considering using a macerator pump without an inline strainer.

So the shower drain hose would go directly to the macerator pump then through a vented loop and overboard. I figure the macerator pump would be able to handle hair and other bits that would clog a conventional diaphram bilge pump.

My question is, is there anything wrong with using a macerator pump for shower drain?

[anjou]

Just stop fretting and fit the Whale Gulper 220.

Fit and forget.

Simples

[SV Demeter]

Gulper 220 with no intake strainer? Ok. Youre not the first person to speak highly of this pump.

[anjou]

The strainer isnt needed. I saw the gulper being demonstrated at a show and the sales guy dropped a sock into the tank and it was sucked through the pump and blown out into the next tank.

A strainer would only make a maintenence issue where there doesnt need to be one

[SV Demeter]

Got the Whale gulper 220 and it comes with a check valve on the output side. Its the kind that is just a rubber sleeve of sorts and not a flap. Im generally not a fan of these things in this application but Whale is saying to use it?

[bstreep]

Whoa... Just looked it up. That's one expensive pump - 10x the cost of the Rule pump I have in my shower sump. And, with all of the gunk and hair (plus all of our dog hair), they last about 2 years.

[cchesley]

I have had a macerator pump for my shower drain for five years (since new). We lived aboard for 2 1/2 yrs straight and still do half the year. Never a problem and haven't even looked at it--no need!

[Windblown]

I've used the Whale Gulper for a year and a half now, daily use with 2 liveaboards, still works great.

[SV Demeter]

Originally Posted by Windblown

I've used the Whale Gulper for a year and a half now, daily use with 2 liveaboards, still works great.

Windblown did you use the provided check valve? This pump is going to live in a difficult to access location so Im concerned about the check valve getting clogged.

[DotDun]

I have the Gulpers, never had a problem. I don't believe there is a strainer.

[witchcraft]

I have a lot of faith in whale products. We tried cheaper ones at first...and well you get what you pay for. Install as directed and they work. We have lived aboard for almost nine years now...never replaced anything on the whale pumps. Have the rebuild kits....never used them.
Fair Winds

[osirissail]

The Whale Gulper is the pump of choice for shower drains as it will pump most anything. Macerator pumps are not a good solution as the macerating blades are on a short shaft and will indeed load up with hair and other "string" like material. the stuff gets wrapped around the blades just like anchor line does around your propeller. That can lead to failure of this type pump.
- - The alternative is to build a shower "sump" and then place a small output automatic bilge pump in it. Commercially built shower sumps and pumps combo's are available, but you can also build your own for a lot less money.

[SV Demeter]

Thanks everyone. I bought the whale gulper and will be hopefully installing along with a new steering system and all the other crap I have do this spring....

[s/v Jedi]

Okay, good because the Gulper is the best choice: 6 years liveaboard use with 0 maintenance here. They need the check valve to function (diaphragm pump)

cheers,
Nick.

[Windblown]

Escape Plan, no I didn't use the check valve. Even though my system has good accessiblity all around, I didn't see a need for it, and it's one less thing to clog.