Does anyone know how to install a bilge pump on a 27? I'm not sure how to route the hose and wiring from the bilge to the stern. There does not seem to be enough room to route it directly from the bilge going under the engine. I really don't want to route it up from the bilge with the hose on the floor. Any suggestions?
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Those pesky inboards!
I just LOVE having an outboard. The storage in the engine comparment seems to go on forever!! I don't think it'll help much but I routed mine right along the V of the bilge all the way to the out board well (which you don't have, of course). I certainly someone else can be of more help.
LaDonna
I just LOVE having an outboard. The storage in the engine comparment seems to go on forever!! I don't think it'll help much but I routed mine right along the V of the bilge all the way to the out board well (which you don't have, of course). I certainly someone else can be of more help.
LaDonnaLaDonna's just jealous... horsepower envy!
Hi John, Just did this last summer, easier than you think, so breathe easy. Go to your engine access door,face it, and take your fingers and slide them underneath the engine access doorframe (on the engine, or aft side). About dead center, you should find a hole that is just large enough to feed a bilge hose through. Once you have your pump, hose and wires, start with running the hose and wiring. Take the two electical leads (should be 12 or 14 guage) and tape their ends to one end of the bilge hose. Then, take the wrapped bundle, and feed it through the afforementioned pass-through hole (from engine side going toward the bilge). The hose should emerge at the aft, pinched end of the bilge. Once there, simply pull enough hose out so that it will easily reach the location of the pump. Make sure you have enough slack in the hose, as well as in the electrical leads. Then, route the rest of the length of the hose under the engine, aft to the hose exit hole. While you are at it, it might not be a bad idea to incorporate a manual bilge pump by the aft exit hole. I had a manual pump in place, and simply installed an electric one that passed water through the manual pump on its way out of the boat. Nice redundancy if you can manage it. A brief note on the electical connections - they should be heat shrink wrapped, you can get these connectors at West Marine. This will keep out moisture, as well as lower the possibility of spark, which is a big no-no if you have an A-4 like me. Also, I ran mine directly to my forward battery, eliminating any possibility of accidently switching the pump off when I leave the boat. Hope this helps. If it dosen't make sense, I will try to take a digital picure of it and send it to you. Best of Luck, Rob P.S. - I originally thought inboards were the way to go too... Until I saw the light. Wouldn't trade my A-4 for anything, and you should have plenty of space to run that hose underneath it. Bad LaDonna! Bad! Bad!
Hi John, Just did this last summer, easier than you think, so breathe easy. Go to your engine access door,face it, and take your fingers and slide them underneath the engine access doorframe (on the engine, or aft side). About dead center, you should find a hole that is just large enough to feed a bilge hose through. Once you have your pump, hose and wires, start with running the hose and wiring. Take the two electical leads (should be 12 or 14 guage) and tape their ends to one end of the bilge hose. Then, take the wrapped bundle, and feed it through the afforementioned pass-through hole (from engine side going toward the bilge). The hose should emerge at the aft, pinched end of the bilge. Once there, simply pull enough hose out so that it will easily reach the location of the pump. Make sure you have enough slack in the hose, as well as in the electrical leads. Then, route the rest of the length of the hose under the engine, aft to the hose exit hole. While you are at it, it might not be a bad idea to incorporate a manual bilge pump by the aft exit hole. I had a manual pump in place, and simply installed an electric one that passed water through the manual pump on its way out of the boat. Nice redundancy if you can manage it. A brief note on the electical connections - they should be heat shrink wrapped, you can get these connectors at West Marine. This will keep out moisture, as well as lower the possibility of spark, which is a big no-no if you have an A-4 like me. Also, I ran mine directly to my forward battery, eliminating any possibility of accidently switching the pump off when I leave the boat. Hope this helps. If it dosen't make sense, I will try to take a digital picure of it and send it to you. Best of Luck, Rob P.S. - I originally thought inboards were the way to go too... Until I saw the light. Wouldn't trade my A-4 for anything, and you should have plenty of space to run that hose underneath it. Bad LaDonna! Bad! Bad!
Another Way . . .
John, I just did this also, in my dinette model. The PO had a manual Whale pump (that has seen better days) in the port cockpit settee. I purchased an Atwood pump, and float switch and mounted them in the forward (lowest) part of the bilge. I first thought about running the hose and wires out the aft end of the bilge and under my A-4 (that I wouldn't trade for any diesel or OB, BTW) but I wasn't sure how much room was there and worried about the hose being pinched or chaffed (I couldn't really see under there, and when I shined a light in one end none of it came out the other. Remember, older boats have all kinds of mods, i.e., like various type pans that sit below the engine and they may restict access from one boat to another). I opted to run the hose and wires out the starboard side of the bilge, between the bilge and the deck liner, and under the starboard settee, passed the fuel tank, behind the engine and out to the thru-hull. (Use plastic tie wraps in all appropriate places, especially around the exhaust system). This is a longer run, but it still empties a full bilge very quickly and I can get to, and inspect any part of the system. Shrink wrap is good, but I prefer liquid electrical tape by Starbrite as I find it more waterproof and easier to apply. Good Luck, Nick "Julia Bell" #86
John, I just did this also, in my dinette model. The PO had a manual Whale pump (that has seen better days) in the port cockpit settee. I purchased an Atwood pump, and float switch and mounted them in the forward (lowest) part of the bilge. I first thought about running the hose and wires out the aft end of the bilge and under my A-4 (that I wouldn't trade for any diesel or OB, BTW) but I wasn't sure how much room was there and worried about the hose being pinched or chaffed (I couldn't really see under there, and when I shined a light in one end none of it came out the other. Remember, older boats have all kinds of mods, i.e., like various type pans that sit below the engine and they may restict access from one boat to another). I opted to run the hose and wires out the starboard side of the bilge, between the bilge and the deck liner, and under the starboard settee, passed the fuel tank, behind the engine and out to the thru-hull. (Use plastic tie wraps in all appropriate places, especially around the exhaust system). This is a longer run, but it still empties a full bilge very quickly and I can get to, and inspect any part of the system. Shrink wrap is good, but I prefer liquid electrical tape by Starbrite as I find it more waterproof and easier to apply. Good Luck, Nick "Julia Bell" #86
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