After owning my 30U for 22 seasons now, I finally have installed some electric bilge pumps… primarily because the boat is a solid hour-and-a-half drive or more from our home, instead of only 10 minutes. I have not had much of a water intrusion issue, except for the cracked cockpit drain hose that flooded the bilge maybe 18 years ago, but the distance to the boat and getting older has made me decide now was the time.
Installed 2 pumps - a 1000 GPH unit that is on an on-off switch to handle smaller amounts of water, and a 2000 GPH, along with an external float-switch, connected to an Off-Manual-Automatic switch with a built in alarm, to handle emergencies (or major bilge cleaning time).
As I didn’t want to secure the pumps to the bottom of the bilge with screws, I used 3M 4000 to fasten the base plates to the bilge. These actually had the opportunity to dry thoroughly as after they were put in place, I didn’t get back to the boat for over two weeks.
This past weekend I conncected the hoses and the wiring. Luckily both pumps use the same ID hose (1 1/8"), and to avoid drilling any new holes in the transom or hull, I found a ‘manifold’ that had a central tube that fits a 1 1/2" ID hose (the original/manual bilge pump hose) on either end, and two branch tubes that fit the 1 1/8" ID new hoses. Made the installation much easier! And yes (LLoyd Herman asked me this question at the Nonsuch diner luncheon this past winter - thank you for making me check this Lloyd!)) I checked the flow rate of the 1 1/2" tube exit and it could handle at least twice the volume of water that all 3 pumps (2 electric and the Whale Gusher manual) could flow simultaneously.
Wiring the small unit was basic, the larger unit a bit more complicated as it involved the external float switch and the automatic switch with the alarm and a few additiona connections. Both units are wired directly to the batteries, and fused individually at their respective batteries - the smaller unit to my start battery, and the larger unit to my house bank which is twice the size of my start battery. I figure this should give the automatic pump a fighting chance to run as long as possible until someone hears the alarm, or I can get to the boat. I also installed a device (thank you Bob Gerhman!) that will send me a text message if activated by it’s float mechanism. It is placed at the same level that the external float switch will activate the automatic pump.
Instead of mounting the respective switches inside the cabin, as I was hesitant to cut holes in any of that beautiful wood, I mounted both switches inside the starboard side lazzarette where the bilge blower and windlass switches, fuel gauge and a 12v plug are.
Some photos for your ammusement -
Best regards,
Peter Grabow
