Bilge Pump Discharge - New Thru Hull ????

[Terry Clarke]

Hi Everyone,Looking for some advise on installing an electric bilge pump in my sailboat. Do I have to install a new thru hull fitting or is it possible to connect the new bilge pump discharge line (3/4") into a "Y" connection that would be installed in the existing (1 1/2") manual bilge pump discharge line ... aft of the manual pump itself ???Any advise would greatly be appreciated.Thank you,Terry Clarke CAPTIVA, Port Whitby

 

[nelson windsor]

I like separate

since i have a fairly long run from the manual pump to the exit i was concerned i might get water from the electric pump flowing back through the manual pump. as a fail safe i installed two electric pumps using a y and the water does not flow back through the other electric pump. recently i lost one pump because of a coroded connection so i was glad i had two. good luck

 

[Ron H]

pump discharge

I'd prefer separate too but have the setup you are asking about. There is a Y connector aft of the manual pump that the electric pump feeds into. Haven't had any problems with water flowing back through the manual pump. The manual pump is about a foot higher than the Y so that probably helps stop any flow back.

 

[John]

One less thru hull, one less chance of ??.

avoid open another hole in your boat, if you can.

 

[jcherubini]

Two pumps need two holes.

I just installed two (matching) through-hulls in the transom of my '74 H-25 (Mk 1). One is for the electric pump (1-1/8" hose-- what a pain) and one is for the manual pump. In an emergency it might be necessary to have both pumps run at once (if you buy a 1100-GPH pump, why not be able to use it?). The manual pump's pickup strainer is further forward, and depending on trim it can take both pumps to throroughly empty the bilge anyway.Each through-hull is about 8" above the DWL and has a plastic L leading the hose directly up under the deck where it loops over and extends down into the bilge (to avoid backwash). There are no seacocks-- in any emergency in which you'd want to shut everything off these two would be the only hull openings open, right?Besides with two fittings the (small) transom is now symmetrical and looks better.JC 2