Hunter 35.5 shower drain pump

[wilburleft]

Hello forum,

Newish boat owner. Thinking of installing a shower sump pump on my 1995 Hunter 35.5. Shower drains into the bilge where it sits until the bilge pump is triggered. But the bilge pump doesn’t get all the water out, leaves an inch or two. It gets pretty gross in the bilge. I’m attaching a pic showing the shower drain hose.
Could I install a sump pump right there by the drain hose and discharge it into the galley sink drain hose? The discharge hose would run uphill from the bilge into the cabinet that contains the galley sink drain hose, I think.
Thanks very much for any feedback.
Bill in Miami

 

[wilburleft]

I just found a post from Lyle Hanna in 2005 that confirms my plan will work. Just have to do it. This forum is a treasure chest. Thanks to all who share. Maybe I will be able to provide support sometime.

 

[jssailem]

The simple answer is yes. Getting the shower water out of the bilge is a smart step to improving the interior air of your boat.
There are many potential ways to pump water overboard. Care should be exercised in routing the hoses and protecting your plumbing from becoming a siphon that floods your boat.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Bad idea. While it might work, it creates two problems:
1. Siphon, and
2. discharge (rate) below the waterline is inherently slow

 

[wilburleft]

Thanks for pointing out some of the risks. More research is evidently needed. The sump discharge might be stronger than the shower drain flow. But the galley sink drains fine at full on faucet…might be fine. The syphon issue though… maybe a check valve would be a workaround.

 

[Dalliance]

Thanks for pointing out some of the risks. More research is evidently needed. The sump discharge might be stronger than the shower drain flow. But the galley sink drains fine at full on faucet…might be fine. The syphon issue though… maybe a check valve would be a workaround.

A check valve would clog up pretty quick with hair and soap scum. Treat your new shower sump like an isolated bilge pump and discharge at a new through hull fitting up near the toe rail, as close as possible to the pump.