Arid Bilge System

Don S/V ILLusion · Dec 15, 2012

I assume you read the reviews on the Panbo Marine Electronics site. Sounds like some people compare this to a complicated system to replace their wet/dry vacuum.

Have you tried eliminating the source(s) of water entering the bilge?

ghost · Dec 15, 2012

I re-routed my AC condensate hose from my bilge to a large clear plastic container. It sits beside the AC unit in the cockpit locker. I can quickly check the water level and empty it when needed. No more water in the bilge.

Don S/V ILLusion · Dec 15, 2012

ChrisL said:
Some of the water is coming from the packing nut, but most of it is from the A/C condensation.

The latter is easy and cheap to eliminate. Just plumb a hose from the condensate pan to a venturi tube you can buy for a few dollar online or any store which sells waterbeds and run the discharge to a 'T' on the A/C discharge line. The condensate will go out with the discharge water and not into the bilge.

As to the packing, using "dripless" packing will significantly lessen the volume of water if not eliminate it. More elegant alternatives exist depending on how much $$ you want to spend but in no case will they cost more than the system you asked about.

Nodak7 · Dec 15, 2012

Don S/V ILLusion said:
The latter is easy and cheap to eliminate. Just plumb a hose from the condensate pan to a venturi tube you can buy for a few dollar online or any store which sells waterbeds and run the discharge to a 'T' on the A/C discharge line. The condensate will go out with the discharge water and not into the bilge.

As to the packing, using "dripless" packing will significantly lessen the volume of water if not eliminate it. More elegant alternatives exist depending on how much $$ you want to spend but in no case will they cost more than the system you asked about.

Excellent idea Don! This sounds like something that I will give a try. Thanks

I looked around the net but could not find any that seems to fit the bill. Did you install this system? Is there any chance that it could restrict the A/C water pump?

Don S/V ILLusion · Dec 15, 2012

Nodak7 said:
Excellent idea Don! This sounds like something that I will give a try. Thanks I looked around the net but could not find any that seems to fit the bill. Did you install this system? Is there any chance that it could restrict the A/C water pump?

I did install one on our A/C and it works fine with no restriction. This is a common cure for the condensate in the bilge problem. The only caution is a common sense one - use the proper size and type hoses and clamps.

There is a commercially available version marketed by the name of "Condensator" but it is nothing more than what I described for around $150.

Bill1565 · Dec 15, 2012

I ran our A/C condensate line into the shower sump. Didn't buy anything no worrys about hose clamps. I also threaded a hose barb into the mast base and drain rain water out of the mast into the shower sump.