Location of Bilge Pump

[Pete735]

Following a recent survey, surveyor has recommended that I fit a bilge pump inside the cabin - boat is a 32ft motor sailor, in addition to Henderson mk5 pump fitted in cockpit locker (quite rightly he says that as locker has to be open to operate this manual pump it would be risky to use in bad weather).
I am struggling to find a location in cabin where a pump could be fitted and be as unobtrusive as possible and yet accessible, he recommends another manual pump. Has anyone on the forum fitted a unit inside cabin and if so where? Am looking for any ideas please. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[michael_w]

With a bit of ingenuity you can usually use the head as a below deck bilge pump. On my boat with the standard Jabsco head I put a tee into the intake hose, with a shut off valve and a suitable length of hose to reach the bilge.

Normally the valve is shut and the head operates in the usual way. To use it as a bilge pump, close off the intake seacock, open the shut off valve, stick pipe in bilge water and pump.

Sure, not very efficent, but is cheap, and satisfies the ORC Special Regulations.

 

[Pete735]

I wondered about whether I could do this as I've just fitted a brand new Lavac in the heads. Did you T into pipe or use a Y valve?

 

[michael_w]

I used a tee and as the intake pipe is about 3/4" id. All the Y-valves I've seen are for much larger diameters. My old boat had the same arrangement with a Lavac; bit more efficent than the Jabsco.

 

[dolphin]

on my boat, the bulge pump (whale) is located in the lowest possible place, and the discharge line, is passing through highest possible position in cockpit. the only weak point is the intake lines which are going out to different location into the boat, from a common manifold, are about 18-20 mm and not 38 mm. i have additional one electrical pump in the engine bilge but planning to follow the a/m advise and to fit additionaly an Y valve on my lavac system in the head.


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[Clyde_Wanderer]

Why not relocate the pump you have in the locker to an outside position and that should satisfy the surveyer, and save you having to fit another pump, assuming you have an electric pump as well
You should really have at least 2 pumps anyway.

 

[AndrewF]

I would be wary of using the toilet pump as a back up Bilge pump. If the Block valve is not shut, or fails you could easily flood the boat.

 

[Pete735]

Have looked at moving locker pump, but Henderson is quite bulky and it is the only bilge pump currently, and as you say a second pump is useful "insurance". I think it might be the Lavac solution.