Nuisance water and new bilge pump recommendations?

[smokey73]

I've read through quite a few of the previous posts on this and appreciate the insights given. I have a few questions of my own and it looks like there may be some "newer" products on the market so thought I'd get some perspective.

Background: I am on a mooring with a solar panel to keep the batteries fully charged. It is a Hunter 40.5 with a very deep bilge. It has a piece that "reaches down" into the bilge where I can attach any bilge pumps, alarms, etc. at different heights which can be removed to service the parts. (a convenience for sure). I know a bilge pump isn't going to help with "catastrophic" leaks like a failed thruhull, PSS bellows failure, etc. so I'm not trying to address that problem. I have wooden bungs, etc placed near thruhulls, etc for that. My current bilge pump is a Rule 750 with a 3/4 inch corrigated hose and separate float switch and I know with the lift from the bilge to the overflow and the corrigated hose the capacity is much much less than the 750 gph. My hose has broken and I have a temporary "jumper" in the hose for the short term where it broke. As I stated I have some nuisance water that accumlates into the bilge now and then too.

My plan is to replace the Rule 750 one of the newer designed Rule or Attwood pumps of at least the same capaciy with the newer style internal switch and replace the hoses with smooth bore hoses. The discharge is above the water line so I could increase the hose size and fitting so may step up to a larger centrifugal pump with internal switch.

I was thinking of about installing a small "diaphram pump" with a hose directly into the bottom of the bilge to take care of the nuisance water with its own overboard discharge point above the water line. I would probably operate this pump manually to get the last of the water out. The dedicated primary diaphram bilge pumps are very expensive.

1. Any thoughts on a less expensive diaphram style pump like a washdown pump or chemical spray pump to use as the diaphram pump to be operated manually.

2. Any experience with the new Rule or Attwood Pumps with the integrated switches that don't "cycle the pump every few minutes" to check for water. I don't want that system as I think it would be annoying when on board.

Your thoughts and experiences are appreciated. Its okay for the short term with the jumper installed but I want a better system and the current Rule pump and switch have been there a long time (over 6 years) and its probably time to upgrade/replace just for safety.

 

[dlochner]

A better path might be to put a good automatic diaphragm pump down at the bottom to take care of the nuisance water with a larger centrifugal pump higher up to deal with large volumes of water.

This pump from Whale is a very nice unit. Installing one in my boat.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Dan- You know we have the same model sailboat h40.5. I generally have about 1.5" of water in my bilge, but what is the harm? Even if you put in a diaphragm pump, you will probably still end up with 1/4" of water, so it is still not "dry".
I would replace with a larger centrifugal pump with smooth bore hose. As you correctly state, it won't save you in a major emergency, but it could buy you more time.

 

[smokey73]

Rich, what size centrifugal pump do you have?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Rich, what size centrifugal pump do you have?

I can't find my receipt and my documentation is onboard. I think it is a Rule 2500. I can check but it may be another week or so.

 

[smokey73]

I can't find my receipt and my documentation is onboard. I think it is a Rule 2500. I can check but it may be another week or so.

Thanks Rich, Did you also increase the discharge hose size from the pump to the overboard discharge and the overboard hull fitting too?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Thanks Rich, Did you also increase the discharge hose size from the pump to the overboard discharge and the overboard hull fitting too?

No, I still have the corrugated hose.

 

[MitchM]

i just got one of the small Rule bilge pumps with internal float switch. it's very quiet , you cannot even hear it checking its electrical connection to see if it should start pumping. i'm adding it as a 'nuisance water' pump to take water out of the shower sump---IF and when i can figure out how to fish the hoses up to its new dedicated thru hull... .

 

[CarlN]

I have had at least six "newer" pumps with internal switches and find them no more reliable than the old separate switches. The ones with an internal float switch die in between one and three years. The ones with electronic sensors foul from invisible bilge crud. They also sometimes "fail on" and drain the battery. The only switch I've found to be reliable for more than three years are the Ultra switches. On the other hand, I've found most centrifugal pumps to be quite reliable as long as your bilge isn't particularly dirty. Using a Gulper diaphragm pump is a great (but expensive) way to handle nuisance water, but be sure to use a strainer on the intake hose that won't clog up easily. The pump can handle a lot. Most strainers have tiny holes. The nuisance pump should be able to handle all non-emergency pumping. So mount a second pump higher than the first. Pick one with a big hose. It should hardly ever get wet so it will last forever. You can also use just about any switch on this pump since it won't be sitting in bilge water.

 

[Gunni]

The Jabsco 37202 diaphragm bilge pump was OEM on a lot of Beneteaus. Self-priming, they have a suction lift of about 7 feet, can be run dry with no problem and are exceptionally reliable. Place them in a dry protected location. Flow rate is about 300gph. You can pick one up for a bit more than $200.

One way to increase the efficiency and flow rate of any pump is to use smooth-wall pipe, and large radius bends. I have been very happy with a sealed, solid-state WaterWitch pump switch I put in the bilge a few years ago. It has a delayed shut-down that clears the pipe and keeps the bilge at a low level.

 

[SailorFrank]

I've read through quite a few of the previous posts on this and appreciate the insights given. I have a few questions of my own and it looks like there may be some "newer" products on the market so thought I'd get some perspective.

Background: I am on a mooring with a solar panel to keep the batteries fully charged. It is a Hunter 40.5 with a very deep bilge. It has a piece that "reaches down" into the bilge where I can attach any bilge pumps, alarms, etc. at different heights which can be removed to service the parts. (a convenience for sure). I know a bilge pump isn't going to help with "catastrophic" leaks like a failed thruhull, PSS bellows failure, etc. so I'm not trying to address that problem. I have wooden bungs, etc placed near thruhulls, etc for that. My current bilge pump is a Rule 750 with a 3/4 inch corrigated hose and separate float switch and I know with the lift from the bilge to the overflow and the corrigated hose the capacity is much much less than the 750 gph. My hose has broken and I have a temporary "jumper" in the hose for the short term where it broke. As I stated I have some nuisance water that accumlates into the bilge now and then too.

My plan is to replace the Rule 750 one of the newer designed Rule or Attwood pumps of at least the same capaciy with the newer style internal switch and replace the hoses with smooth bore hoses. The discharge is above the water line so I could increase the hose size and fitting so may step up to a larger centrifugal pump with internal switch.

I was thinking of about installing a small "diaphram pump" with a hose directly into the bottom of the bilge to take care of the nuisance water with its own overboard discharge point above the water line. I would probably operate this pump manually to get the last of the water out. The dedicated primary diaphram bilge pumps are very expensive.

1. Any thoughts on a less expensive diaphram style pump like a washdown pump or chemical spray pump to use as the diaphram pump to be operated manually.

2. Any experience with the new Rule or Attwood Pumps with the integrated switches that don't "cycle the pump every few minutes" to check for water. I don't want that system as I think it would be annoying when on board.

Your thoughts and experiences are appreciated. Its okay for the short term with the jumper installed but I want a better system and the current Rule pump and switch have been there a long time (over 6 years) and its probably time to upgrade/replace just for safety.

I’ve recently purchased A 1999 H410. I live aboard with my golden retriever and want to be able to regularly inspect/maintain the bilge pump. I’ve been puzzling over how to reach both the pump itself and the associated float switch.
what is this piece that “REACHES DOWN”
All I’ve been thinking is that the fool who designed this weren’t thinking about servicing

 

[smokey73]

I’ve recently purchased A 1999 H410. I live aboard with my golden retriever and want to be able to regularly inspect/maintain the bilge pump. I’ve been puzzling over how to reach both the pump itself and the associated float switch.
what is this piece that “REACHES DOWN”
All I’ve been thinking is that the fool who designed this weren’t thinking about servicing

The part that reaches down is a fiberglass piece that fits up against the aft wall of the forward section of the bilge (there are 3 sections in my bilge) and is secured with one screw. The bilge pump attaches to this and can be lifted out. Other items like a high level alarm etc could be attached. I'll be going to the boat tomorrow to get reading for the upcoming storm so if I remember I'll try and take a picuture. It is a very deep bilge and this really is a convenience.

Smokey

 

[CarlN]

I also have a stick that reaches down - made out of starboard. It has two bilge pumps mounted on it. At the bottom on the front of the stick is the nuisance Johnson 500GPH with an Ultra switch and then on the back of the stick six inches higher is the big Rule 3800 GPH with a standard rule switch. The Rule never gets wet so I expect it will last the life of the boat.

 

[smokey73]

I’ve recently purchased A 1999 H410. I live aboard with my golden retriever and want to be able to regularly inspect/maintain the bilge pump. I’ve been puzzling over how to reach both the pump itself and the associated float switch.
what is this piece that “REACHES DOWN”
All I’ve been thinking is that the fool who designed this weren’t thinking about servicing

Here is a picture of the piece that reaches down. The bilge pump is attached to this as well as the float switch. You just undo the small screw that holds it in place (seen in the pic) and lift the whole thing up, pump, float switch and wires and all. You could easily make something similar with starboard or some other similiar material. Hope thi helps.