I'm in the process of installing an electric bilge pump in my 1983 Catalina 27. I'm wondering if it would be ok to use a "y" fitting to connect the discharge hose of the electroc to the existing manual (pump) discharge hose?
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bilge pump
You can do that but you have to put a check valve in each line so you do not get back flooding
You can do that but you have to put a check valve in each line so you do not get back flooding
Caution
Most of the of the shelf bilge pumps do not develope enough head pressure to over come hte check valve.Also please remember that this is an area that will easily clog.Been there.
Most of the of the shelf bilge pumps do not develope enough head pressure to over come hte check valve.Also please remember that this is an area that will easily clog.Been there.
A B = C
Although conflicting, Timm and Gary are both correct. A check valve can malfunction and the head which must be overcome are mutually exclusive but valid points. If you don't want to do it correctly, i.e., separate discharge line for each pump, use a good quality check valve and watch it closely to make sure it is working all the time. The conventional wisdom is to not use a check valve but that's the only way to do it if you use a common discharge hose. Why not rig up a portable electric bolge pump with sufficient length hose and bronze or brass alligator clips you could use inm an emergency? Don Illusion
Although conflicting, Timm and Gary are both correct. A check valve can malfunction and the head which must be overcome are mutually exclusive but valid points. If you don't want to do it correctly, i.e., separate discharge line for each pump, use a good quality check valve and watch it closely to make sure it is working all the time. The conventional wisdom is to not use a check valve but that's the only way to do it if you use a common discharge hose. Why not rig up a portable electric bolge pump with sufficient length hose and bronze or brass alligator clips you could use inm an emergency? Don Illusion
sink drain
On my O'Day, the bilge pump is plumed into the sink plumbing in the head. Works fine, might work on yours, some sinks drain into the bilge.
On my O'Day, the bilge pump is plumed into the sink plumbing in the head. Works fine, might work on yours, some sinks drain into the bilge.
Head Y Fiitting in Reverse?
Not being very familiar with plumbing systems, this may be a dumb response ... but is it possible to find a Y fitting to work with the bilge pumps that you can switch, similar to a head fitting that is manually switched, only the flows are going in the opposite direction? I guess convenient access could then be the next problem.
Not being very familiar with plumbing systems, this may be a dumb response ... but is it possible to find a Y fitting to work with the bilge pumps that you can switch, similar to a head fitting that is manually switched, only the flows are going in the opposite direction? I guess convenient access could then be the next problem.
Too many things to go wrong...
when you start putting check valves or Y valves in the bilge pump discharge lines. What if something fails when you need it the most? If either of the check valves gets debris in it and is stuck in the open position, neither of the pumps is going to do you any good. If you need to use both pumps at the same time, the Y valve won't let you. What if you forget to put the Y valve in the correct position? If something really bad ever happens and those bilge pumps are the only thing between you and taking a swim, I'd want to know that they were both fully independent and ready to go, without having any valves to mess with or other little gizmos that could go wrong. Just my two cents worth, Jeff
when you start putting check valves or Y valves in the bilge pump discharge lines. What if something fails when you need it the most? If either of the check valves gets debris in it and is stuck in the open position, neither of the pumps is going to do you any good. If you need to use both pumps at the same time, the Y valve won't let you. What if you forget to put the Y valve in the correct position? If something really bad ever happens and those bilge pumps are the only thing between you and taking a swim, I'd want to know that they were both fully independent and ready to go, without having any valves to mess with or other little gizmos that could go wrong. Just my two cents worth, Jeff
Thanks
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the responses. This forum seems to generate good, prompt replies. Looks like conventional wisdom dictates a separate line. Was hoping to avoid jamming another hose through the already tight space at rear of bilge and leading to engine compartment, out to a new outlet in the hull. But this will be my plan of action, as I prefer to have new hose out of sight. Any more suggestions will be appreciated. Good sailing, les
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the responses. This forum seems to generate good, prompt replies. Looks like conventional wisdom dictates a separate line. Was hoping to avoid jamming another hose through the already tight space at rear of bilge and leading to engine compartment, out to a new outlet in the hull. But this will be my plan of action, as I prefer to have new hose out of sight. Any more suggestions will be appreciated. Good sailing, les
Hold up
When I installed both of my pumps I simply ran the one inch line from each pump up inside the breather hose for the cowl vents. The discharge line stops just where it is level with the deck.You have to look inside the vent to see it .The water comes out and shoots out the back of the boat.Hope this helps.
When I installed both of my pumps I simply ran the one inch line from each pump up inside the breather hose for the cowl vents. The discharge line stops just where it is level with the deck.You have to look inside the vent to see it .The water comes out and shoots out the back of the boat.Hope this helps.
wye into the manual?
Where is the down side here? My manual bilge pump has quite a bit of fall from the cockpit to the above-the-waterline discharge. If one were to tee into the 1 1/2" line at the low end of the manual discharge line at the stern, the bilge water would not only have to overcome the head pressure to reach the manual pump located in the cockpit....but also the flapper valves in the manual pump before it could ever 'backflush'... A valve in the electric bilge would preclude back flow from the manual...of course this is the small first-line pump. My larger 1100 gph pump is routed straight out and comes on when the first one is ever overtaken. (Redundancy is a good thing.)
Where is the down side here? My manual bilge pump has quite a bit of fall from the cockpit to the above-the-waterline discharge. If one were to tee into the 1 1/2" line at the low end of the manual discharge line at the stern, the bilge water would not only have to overcome the head pressure to reach the manual pump located in the cockpit....but also the flapper valves in the manual pump before it could ever 'backflush'... A valve in the electric bilge would preclude back flow from the manual...of course this is the small first-line pump. My larger 1100 gph pump is routed straight out and comes on when the first one is ever overtaken. (Redundancy is a good thing.)
Timm's response
Timm, I hadn't thought of running the discharge line(s) out of the cowl vents. Did you have to secure them, or just shove the 1" line into the cowl vent pipe?
Timm, I hadn't thought of running the discharge line(s) out of the cowl vents. Did you have to secure them, or just shove the 1" line into the cowl vent pipe?
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