secondnary BILDGE PUMP

[BOATINGmatt]

I have a wellcraft v20 that has a rule 800 in the bow and a rule 800 in the stern bildge. Both have seprate discharge thru hull fittings and hoses and each has a 5 amp fuse. My question is this? My boat is at a mooring and if i want to install a secondnary bildge in the stern can i use the same 3/4 hose that is there and just tap in to it with a "y" fitting or would that be completley useless. I just want to mount the second pump's float switch higher in the bildge incase the first pump fails...just as a precaution... I would like to use the same discharge hose if possible.
Thank you , any advice would be greatly appreciated
matt

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

I would think that you might want some sort of check valve to prevent first pump from pumping water back through second pump, unless bilge pumps have some sort or similar device built into it? I'm not sure on the latter part.

Hook it up and test it...if you see water coming out of the second pump back into bilge, you'll just have to add in a check valve. Good luck and let us know what you figure out.

 

[Bondo]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

Ayuh,... Bilge pumps need their Own discharge, Not shared....
Check-valves get Plugged,+ without 1, the water goes on circles...

'ell,... You've already got that system Now...
If the stern pump Quits,... The forward pump will kick in, Hopefully before she goes Down...

 

[BOATINGmatt]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

havent added second pump in stern yet was just figuring out how to do it..i cant figure how to get to same spot where the discharge is on the other side to put a second thru hull fitting for the 2nd pump...oh well i guess the "y" fitting was an esy way out and wont work..i will have to find a way for a second discharge..thanks

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

...agreeing with Bon-do (Good LORD, did I say THAT!!!).

With your current configuration, should either pump fail, as the bilge filled the opposite pump should kick in.

Check valves are a No-No in contaminated water systems as they are prone to clogging/jamming. Besides, each pump feeding to a 'Y' would require a check valve.

I have a V-20 as well. Are you suggesting that your second pump is in the chain locker inside the cubby?
FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[BOATINGmatt]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

its not in the chain locker there is a pump all the way forward on the keel in the bow..its a cut out hatch in the plywood deck..didnt put it there it rarley goes on i think..there is no manual switch..does ur v20 have a bildge up front or just in the back? thanks

 

[BOATINGmatt]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

eddie...if you wouldnt mind sharing, what is your bildge set up in your v20??
thanks

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

If you wanted to have the two pumps share an outlet, for emergency back-up if #1 goes out you can use #2, put a sea **** in each line out below the T. Keep #2 closed unless operating, then close #1. Occassionally use #2 and work the valves.
How about setting up #2 without a through-hull but with a long enough hose that if you had to use it, you could flop the hose overboard somewhere?

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

eddie...if you wouldnt mind sharing, what is your bildge set up in your v20??
thanks

Check your Private Messages !!!!

Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

After reading HomeCookin's reply, I will share my Private Message........

V-20 bilge configurration

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I currently have an 850 Atwood pump in the engine bay sump wired through a float switch and manual over-ride. The overboard is in the stock location (aft,starboard just above rubrail). Additionally I carry a spare bilge pump with sufficent discharge hose and aligator-clip leads in case of emergency.
I have a small, vee-shaped bilge area inside my cubby cab that I use as a chain locker. It has a drain that flows through to the fuel tank area and then to the bilge. I just couldn't imagine a bilge pump in this area!! Besides, as I run stern heavy anyway, I'd really have to be sinking for a pump to work there !!!
Ed in 'ol Virginny
__________________

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

the main bilge pump in my Wellcraft is installed under the front of the motor- there is a 1ft by 1ft well a few inches deep in the back bottom of the bilge that I want to put a secondary pump in. I was thinking (yes- I know dangerous) of tieing into a scupper drain thru hull with a Y fitting making sure the top of the Y is vertical

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

Ayuh,... Bilge pumps need their Own discharge, Not shared....
Check-valves get Plugged,+ without 1, the water goes on circles...

'ell,... You've already got that system Now...
If the stern pump Quits,... The forward pump will kick in, Hopefully before she goes Down...

I wasn't even thinking about possibility of clogging...thank you, Bond-o, for pointing that out.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

...agreeing with Bon-do (Good LORD, did I say THAT!!!).

Oh yeah!

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

I have a wellcraft v20 that has a rule 800 in the bow and a rule 800 in the stern bildge. Both have seprate discharge thru hull fittings and hoses and each has a 5 amp fuse. My question is this? My boat is at a mooring and if i want to install a secondnary bildge in the stern can i use the same 3/4 hose that is there and just tap in to it with a "y" fitting or would that be completley useless. I just want to mount the second pump's float switch higher in the bildge incase the first pump fails...just as a precaution... I would like to use the same discharge hose if possible.
Thank you , any advice would be greatly appreciated
matt

I am reading that you want the 2nd pump to be an automatic back-up to the 1st in-case of failure. In that situation you want a seperate discharge, and a larger capacity pump, with a larger discharge opening, located next to or above the 1st.

Reasoning is that if the 1st pump fails you now have a large amount of water on board, or if the 1st pump can't handle the flooding, then you will want a larger pump to fight the alreading losing battle.

It seems to me that relying on the forward pump as a back-up is already a lost boat. Unless of course the batteries are located in the front, or it has it's own power source up front.

And even then, it's only 800gph, the best it could do would be to keep the bow above water, while the stern settles to the bottom.

I personally think that since you are at a mooring you should consider upgrading to a 1100gph in both stern pumps, set as you indicated, to give you a margin of safety. And don't rely on the forward pump for anything but balast. (There may have been a reason for this pump not immediately obvious - such as a bow down storage on a trailer?)

 

[Mark42]

Re: secondnary BILDGE PUMP

Not only is a Y connector a bad idea, I believe it will fail coast guard inspection. The second discharge can go in a different location. The instructions that come with the pump will lay out how it should be installed. If in doubt, check the coast guard boat building regs in the sticky in the Restoration forum.