adding an electric bilge pump

[cindy]

We have just purchased a 1988 Beneteau 285 First. We would like to add an electric bilge pump and would like advice on placement. Thanks, Cindy

 

[ericsmith3d]

Bilge Pump Placement

In the bilge, below the floor board between the nav station and the galley cabinet there's a 2"x3" (approx) sump. Ideally, you'd put it in there. When I replaced the pump in mine I couldn't find one small enough to fit in there so I placed it just beside it on the center line. This seems to be the lowest area of the bilge, but not by much. The problem is that the bilge has to be almost full before the pump will draw so it's not much good for clearing the miscellaneous water that collects there.Maybe if you could find a pump with a hose for an intake, you could run that into the sump and then put a non-float automatic switch next to the sump.(BTW, I use a wet-dry vac to dry out the bilge; it works pretty well.)

 

[Doug_Meyer]

Try a Jabsco type pump

I agrww with Eric. Put a pickup in the low sump area and remotely mount the pump, for example benrath one of the setees. It would also be a good idea to mount a float switch somewhere close to that low point so that the pump would come on automatically if water was present.Strangely, beneteau does not provide a float switch ( at least on the 323), and with the bilge as shallow as it is one doesn't have much margin before the floor boards start floating.