Showers on board - direct discharge?

redunculous

redunculous

.
May 13, 2011
420
Hunter 40.5 Legend Jupiter
Sitting here on a friends boat and we were discussing his shower system as he has relays which he hates and we are looking at a sump box.

The question he asked me was 'why do we need a sump box or a pump? Why can't we just direct discharge out?

I cannot for the life of me give him an answer to that, as we sit here and search the internet and think about it I cannot for the life of me think of a reason he cannot have his shower directly discharge.

Am I missing something here? Is there a fundamental reason this should not be done?
 
Ed Caldwell

Ed Caldwell

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Jul 29, 2004
413
Hunter 340 Lake Lanier, GA
Sump boxes and pumps are typically used when the shower drain is below or too close to the waterline. It's a better alternative to letting the shower drain into the bilge and using that pump.
 
redunculous

redunculous

.
May 13, 2011
420
Hunter 40.5 Legend Jupiter
Perhaps we have drunk too much as we just looked under the floor and deduced that his shower pump pushes it up to his thru-hull ... So now we are looking at sumps to get rid of the multiple push relay button !

At least we know its something that can be done should you be able to.
 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
5,069
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
redunculous said:
The question he asked me was 'why do we need a sump box or a pump? Why can't we just direct discharge out?
Am I missing something here? Is there a fundamental reason this should not be done?
Click to expand
Are we missing a simple fact here that you can't direct discharge with the floor of the shower below the water line? If the floor of his shower is above the water line, then you could, but below the water line and you would then just have a hole in the bottom of your boat allowing it to fill with water - as in sink your boat. With the shower floor below the water line, you have to have a hose running above the water line, then you need to pump the water up and over the top of that line to then drain... All hoses in your boat below the water line stay full of water up to the water line of the boat (in simple terms)...

dj
 
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redunculous

redunculous

.
May 13, 2011
420
Hunter 40.5 Legend Jupiter
dLj said:
Are we missing a simple fact here that you can't direct discharge with the floor of the shower below the water line? If the floor of his shower is above the water line, then you could, but below the water line and you would then just have a hole in the bottom of your boat allowing it to fill with water - as in sink your boat. With the shower floor below the water line, you have to have a hose running above the water line, then you need to pump the water up and over the top of that line to then drain... All hoses in your boat below the water line stay full of water up to the water line of the boat (in simple terms)...

dj
Click to expand
That's why I said perhaps we had drunk too much as we sat here and he was sure his shower floor was above the waterline and then we actually looked (hence post #4) and discovered it wasn't so that was the end of our direct discharge quest but we at least know its not something that can't be done should all the working pieces come together (floor above water line etc etc)
 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
5,069
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Wish I had some of what you are drinking - LOL - (your post 4 came in as I was writing mine or I wouldn't have posted)...

dj
 
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Peggie Hall HeadMistress

Peggie Hall HeadMistress

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Dec 2, 1997
9,011
- - LIttle Rock
Sumps don't have to stink and keeping 'em clean is one job that doesn't require any manual labor: Raritan only markets their "C.P. Cleans Potties" as a bowl cleaner--and it is an excellent one. But it's also the best sump and drain cleaner on the planet. C.P. is a bio-enzymatic cleaner that not only destroys odor on contact, but the enzymes in it "eat" hair, soap scum, body oils, galley grease and all the stuff that clogs sumps and drains and makes 'em stinky. All you need to is put 2-3 oz down the shower drain when it can stand at least overnight...the enzymes need time to work. Then flush clean water through the sump. You can even let it remain in the sump for weeks, 'cuz although the enzymes exhaust themselves in 24 hours, there's nothing in C.P. that can harm anything. To clean sink drains, close the seacock, then put about an ounce of C.P down the drain and fill the drain with water--again when it can stand at least overnight. That's it.
 
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Parsons

Parsons

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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
redunculous said:
That's why I said perhaps we had drunk too much as we sat here and he was sure his shower floor was above the waterline and then we actually looked (hence post #4) and discovered it wasn't so that was the end of our direct discharge quest ....
Click to expand
New boat rule: Never do plumbing or wiring after drinking! Where you're sailing, you are always within a mile of land -- of course, that closest land may be straight down - think about it.
 
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