40 ft. sailboat bilge setup

[redsky49]

[QUOT... As I mentioned before, the Grouper doesn't have that little flap inside, just 2 large tricuspid valves, and their literature says that it must be mounted beneath the outlet of a tank but it also says that it has up to 1 meter suction. So, I was worried that since my holding tank is located in the bilge and the pump must be mounted a couple inches above the top of the tank (above the outlet), it might not work. I've now pumped out my holding tank with it twice and it does seem to work just fine so all good news about the Gulper Grouper pump.

...[/QUOTE]

If the literature says it will handle 39" suction head, you will be just fine with the pump inlet a few inches higher than the outlet of your holding tank.

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by redsky49

[I[/I]If the literature says it will handle 39" suction head, you will be just fine with the pump inlet a few inches higher than the outlet of your holding tank.

Yeah, I think I mentioned that I had read the part about the 1 meter suction lift, but in their installation instructions they also emphasize that it "must (not should) be mounted at or below the outlet drain." Even so, I suspected that it would work just fine mounted a few inches above the outlet so installed it there anyway and it does work very well. But since I obviously couldn't return it once I had installed and tried to use it once to pump out a holding tank, it would have been really nice for Whale to clarify this before I installed it. In order to eliminate this confusion, I think they need to rewrite their installation instructions so they're in agreement with what their spec sheet says and reflects the actual capability of their pump. As you stated above, and as I have determined via trial and error, here is no need to mount the Gulper Grouper "at or below" the outlet drain.

[Cruisingscotts]

Originally Posted by DDabs

My current bilge pump setup is:
-Jabsco 36960 bilge pump
-Rule superswitch

I am recently being let down by my Jabsco pump and rule superswitch. I am looking for an alternative. My bilge sump is fairly small, and I like the idea of having my external pump mounted high in the bilge. I have been looking a lot at the Whale Gulper and Gulper Grouper pumps, which seem like a more reliable, simple solution. Any input on these models? Both of my head shower drains go into the bilge and I like the idea of having a pump that is heavy duty and will not clog.

Also with the float switch, thoughts on a better solution to the rule flapper? Jabsco Air switch?

Thanks so much for any input.

David

I would highly reccomend the whale pumps. Have been using one for grey water for several years with three full time liveabords and due to its performance instaled a secound as a backup bilge pump.

The grey water pump uses the solid state inline "T" for operation. As stated in some other posts it is preferable to seperate grey water out of your bilge, due to bacteria etc. Using this "T" eliminates the need for a tank, unless you are required to have one for a NDZ. The pump can be set up in auto off hand. The grey water pump switch tends to be about 80% reliable in clearing itself, IE pump will keep running in auto due to something in the "T" shower stuff etc. The bilge pump has a foot strainer solid state switch that has proven reliable so far. The nature of the diaphram pump seems to work quit well in both applications. Not prone to fouling and self priming. Our primary bilge pump is a johnson centrifigal in a well and has been fine, the lowest fwd portion in the bilge is below a mast step and quite small. the whale foot switch fits all the way down and keeps the bilge dry.

They have a automated stop delay which means it will continue to pump for a period after the switch is off ensuring you do not have cycling of the pump.