Bilge inspection

[pitaw]

I recently installed a small Shurflo pump as described in this article A dry bilge for $50. I modified it by using a simple on/off dc switch since I did not need constant pump cycling. It works great in my 5’ deep bilge. I also have a sump box to which I have plumbed all the water sources like ac, refrig,shower. It’s pumped out by a whale gusher. The small sea flow pumps into this same box which evacuates its product. My bilge water comes primarily from rain water down the keel stepped mast which leaks past the limber hole hose to the sump box. The vac is retired!

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Our refrigerator/ice box drains into the bilge. When I bought the boat the ice box didn’t have a stopper. It drains into the bilge. After being out for a week cruising with a block of ice in the frig the bilge has been getting wet. I don’t dry it every day and it is ends out with the 1/2 inch of water the bilge pump can’t get. I always plan to dry the bilge when leaving the boat, but that doesn’t always happen. Any ideas for the ice box draining into the bilge? Or other suggestions?

Route it into a through hull such as your sink drain. I'm in the process of building a dry bilge system to get down to the last few drops. I should have it operational but not completed today. Send me a PM if you'd like to see some pics

 

[Hayden Watson]

Route it into a through hull such as your sink drain. I'm in the process of building a dry bilge system to get down to the last few drops. I should have it operational but not completed today. Send me a PM if you'd like to see some pics

I personally would not drain it to a sink drain or any other below the waterline drain because I do not leave any of them open when not on the boat. It is easy enough to run a hose back to the transom and add a 1/2" nylon fitting above the waterline that can stay open all the time.

 

[dLj]

My refrigerator/ice box drain is below the water line. I would never be able to connect it to a thru hull - I'd have a pond of sea water. On fact it would be about half full of seawater all the time...

dj

 

[Foswick]

[...] it would be about half full of seawater all the time...

Or, if you are an optimistist ... half empty.

 

[dLj]

Or, if you are an optimistist ... half empty.

Hahaha - it would be a good way to check my door seals. Opening the door would have a cascade of water into the kitchen. If my door seals worked...

dj