Jeanneau SO 42DS

Apr 14, 2010
195
Jeanneau 42DS Larnaca Marina
I bought a 2006 SO 42DS and I'm confused with the bilge set-up. I have a diaphragm pump with a pick up at the bottom of the deep bilge but with no float switch! It has to be turned on manually at the panel! I also have a bilge pump with an integral float switch suspended (tied to the side) near the top of the deep bilge. When the water activates the switch, it takes seconds to lower the water one inch and the cycle starts all over. Should it be at the bottom of the bilge? What is the factory original set-up as the manual does not go into detail? Should I have a float switch on the upper bilge and let the deep bilge(small) stay full? It is mostly from A/C condensate. Thanks.
 

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
What you have there Lee is some hack modification work. Yes, the water level switch should be on the deep bilge intake pump and the high bilge pump should be manual. Running the condensate into the bilge grid is total jackleg work. Did you have this boat surveyed?
 
Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
On my boat which is a Hunter, there is a bilge pump and float switch at the bottom of the bilge and a much larger pump and float switch close to the top of the deep (about 2 ft) bilge, which also sounds an alarm in the cockpit when it trips. I think the design is that the small pump at the bottom is for occasional water and the larger pump at the top is for emergency flooding. I agree with Gunni that the condensate draining into the bilge is not ship shape. Should be routed to your shower sumps.
 
Mar 12, 2008
557
Jeanneau 49 DS San Pedro, CA
Congrats! (Are you sure it’s not a 43DS?)

We have the 2006 49DS, and the float on ours was attached to the bottom of the bilge. I took it out and replaced the switch with an electronic Water Witch switch. The problem with the float is it kept recycling.

Jeanneau makes a great boat. If it is a 43DS, PM me about the dreaded waterlock problem.
 

Apex

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Jun 19, 2013
1,222
C&C 30 Elk Rapids
On my boat which is a Hunter, there is a bilge pump and float switch at the bottom of the bilge and a much larger pump and float switch close to the top of the deep (about 2 ft) bilge, which also sounds an alarm in the cockpit when it trips. I think the design is that the small pump at the bottom is for occasional water and the larger pump at the top is for emergency flooding. I agree with Gunni that the condensate draining into the bilge is not ship shape. Should be routed to your shower sumps.
From everything I read, this is the way to set up.
 
Apr 14, 2010
195
Jeanneau 42DS Larnaca Marina
On my boat which is a Hunter, there is a bilge pump and float switch at the bottom of the bilge and a much larger pump and float switch close to the top of the deep (about 2 ft) bilge, which also sounds an alarm in the cockpit when it trips. I think the design is that the small pump at the bottom is for occasional water and the larger pump at the top is for emergency flooding. I agree with Gunni that the condensate draining into the bilge is not ship shape. Should be routed to your shower sumps.
Do you also have an A/C draining into the bilge? Problem is that the deep bilge fills up in 10 minutes with the A/C running and the float switch activates every few minutes, which is annoying and not necessary. Was wandering what the original factory set up was with A/C factory installed.
 
Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
Do you also have an A/C draining into the bilge? Problem is that the deep bilge fills up in 10 minutes with the A/C running and the float switch activates every few minutes, which is annoying and not necessary. Was wandering what the original factory set up was with A/C factory installed.
We have both A/C units draining into the shower sumps. Bilge is dry.
 

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
There was no ‘original factory set up” for the A/C, it was installed by the dealer during commissioning, or later by someone who claimed to be in the trade.
 
Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
Do you also have an A/C draining into the bilge? Problem is that the deep bilge fills up in 10 minutes with the A/C running and the float switch activates every few minutes, which is annoying and not necessary. Was wandering what the original factory set up was with A/C factory installed.
When we took delivery new from Hunter via the dealer the A/C were discharging into the bilge. It is really a simple matter to run tubing to the shower sumps. This is not a pressurized line and the shower sumps typically have spare inlet features available. Also, at least on our boat, both A/C units are well above the shower sumps.
 

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Typically the French boats don’t have shower sumps. The shower drain is direct plumbed to a manual-switched diaphragm pump and a below water through-hull - not a viable condensate removal option.
 
Last edited:
Mar 20, 2016
595
Beneteau 351 WYC Whitby
Put in a venturi tube to suck the condensate out of A/C pan ,lots of info on this forum .Its not good to pump water into the matrix ,you can get some nasty smells and mold. I have no water in my bilge whatsoever if there is there's a problem.... a leak
 
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