Strainer for Bilge Pump

[jviss]

My bilge and sump pumps are "protected" by small, Jabsco "Pumpguard" strainers. Well, it seems my bilge is littered with building debris - either from when built new, or perhaps some extensive repair at some time. So, when I get a lot of water in there, as when I forgot I was filling a potable water tank and it overflowed gallons of water into the bilge via the vent, a lot of debris was washed down to the lowest sections of the bilge. This soon clogged the strainer, badly, to the point where cleaning the bowl did no good, I had to remove it and clean out the input nipple part, etc. The bad part was the pump would run but not pump, a situation that unattended, could just flatten the batteries.

I'd like to put a bigger, more robust strainer on, in addition to cleaning the bilge. I like the Groco raw water strainers. Has anyone used one of these with a bilge pump? Is there a model that's not so tall, that it might fit beneath the floor boards? Need they necessarily be installed vertically?

Thanks,

jv

 

[dlochner]

What kind of bilge pump do you have that can use a strainer?

 

[jviss]

I have two ITT-Jabsco Par-Max3 pumps, one for the bilge and the other for the sump. (The sump is a plastic pan suspended above the bilge into which drain the shower and fridge.).

The really suck! They are self-priming, too. So, they can draw a vacuum on a strainer and eventually suck up the water. They are located close to the output, which is into a sea chest that exhaust at or slightly above the waterline.

 

[jviss]

More precisely, the bilge pump circuit starts with a pickup "foot" that has a non-return flapper in it. This is screwed to the bottom of the bilge. A smooth-bore hose runs from that to the input of a Jabsco Pumguard strainer. Then, a smooth-bore white hose runs to a union that connects it to a black rubber hose that runs to the pump. Then the pump has a hose to a seachest.

 

[dlochner]

The look like diaphragm pumps. The part you are looking for is called a strum box.

You might also consider replacing the pumps with Whale pumps. They have a couple of different models of diaphragm pumps that would suit your needs.

 

[jviss]

The look like diaphragm pumps. The part you are looking for is called a strum box.

You might also consider replacing the pumps with Whale pumps. They have a couple of different models of diaphragm pumps that would suit your needs.

Thanks. Why would I consider changing out the pumps? These seem fine, and I guess they are rated at 3.5 GPM.

 

[dlochner]

Whale pumps have a reputation for being more robust and longer lasting. The Whale Gulper can suck oranges through, check out the video on their site. The smaller Whale IC Bilge pumps well, never have any issues with clogging.

 

[capta]

I do not believe that those are rated as continuous duty pumps, so if they had to operate for a number of hours continuously, the could fail. If you want a remote pump, consider a magnetic drive pump, as they can run with the impeller not turning without damaging the impeller or motor.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no solution to your problem because no matter how fine or coarse the screen it will, in time, get plugged up. The two options I can think of are to have easy access to the strum boxes so they can easily be cleaned and/or to have a plug (available and made exclusively for that purpose) at the deepest point in the bilge, and when hauled out, remove it and wash out your bilges. We would do that at each haul out.

 

[jviss]

@capta thanks for your reply.

I do not believe that those are rated as continuous duty pumps, so if they had to operate for a number of hours continuously, the could fail.

Why do you believe this? Have you seen a spec or report that states so? I have not. But the, a sump or bilge pump is not a continuous load, and if your bilge pump is expected to run for hours, you have bigger problems.

If you want a remote pump, consider a magnetic drive pump, as they can run with the impeller not turning without damaging the impeller or motor.

I have never heard of a boat pump with magnetic drive. Can you give an example, please? (I never thought I'd need one.)

To the best of my knowledge, there is no solution to your problem because no matter how fine or coarse the screen it will, in time, get plugged up.

There is a solution, and that is a strainer that won't get plugged up before the screen, like a Groco.

to have a plug (available and made exclusively for that purpose) at the deepest point in the bilge, and when hauled out, remove it and wash out your bilges. We would do that at each haul out.

That's kind of a kooky idea for a 38' shallow bilge keel boat. Have you ever seen such a plug on a boat like this? Are you saying you have one on your Pearson 530?

 

[dlochner]

That's kind of a kooky idea for a 38' shallow bilge keel boat. Have you ever seen such a plug on a boat like this? Are you saying you have one on your Pearson 530?

@capta is referring to a garboard drain plug. Quite common on boats that are hauled each year. Prevents water from accumulating in the bilge during the off season. It is located in the lowest part of the bilge.

 

[jviss]

@capta is referring to a garboard drain plug. Quite common on boats that are hauled each year. Prevents water from accumulating in the bilge during the off season. It is located in the lowest part of the bilge.

I have never seen one on a boat like this, or this size. I can't imagine where it would go, as the lowest part of my bilge is actually a pretty big area, all on top of the bolt-on lead keel. So, to put it out there, no, I'm not boring a hole in my hull to clean out the bilge! I can do that with my hands, rags, sponges, etc.

FWIW, I'd like to hear from people who have boats over 30' with external keels (i.e., not encapsulated) and garboard drains.

 

[dlochner]

Keep Your Bilge Dry with a Garboard Drain Plug

Every once in a while you hear about a boat stored ashore that leaked enough rainwater to fill the bilge and flood the cabin. What a mess! And even a little water in the bilge, if it freezes, can cause damage.

www.sailmagazine.com

Garboard drain installation

Hello all, I'm getting a new-to-me Ranger 33 ready for launch this season. The previous owner drilled a 1/2" hole down at the bottom of the keel when he put the boat in long term storage several years ago to prevent water from accumulating in the bilge, and now I've got to figure out what to...

forums.sailboatowners.com

There's a really handy website, called DuckDuckGo.com. It allows you to search for topics on the internet.

 

[jviss]

There's a really handy website, called DuckDuckGo.com. It allows you to search for topics on the internet.

Ha, ha, ha, very funny. Now tell me, how many 30'+ Catalinas, Hunters, O'Days, Tartan's, etc., have garboard drains? And, with a keel like mine, similar to a Catalina 36 keel, where would you put it?

I can see on an encapsulated keel, like an Endeavor, Island Packet, etc., but not on a stub keel, external lead ballast/fin or wing keel boat. That's just my experience and intuition, not based on any scientific study.

 

[jviss]

What I do in the winter is:

• indoor storage
• bilge pumped out and then RV antifreeze dumped in the bilge and pumped through the bilge and sump pump
• remove the strainer caps in case random water collects there