Shower drain pump

[John 32i]

My Jabsco 37202 has never been that effective, even after a service kit it struggles to empty the shower tray and there is normally water left in the pipe I guess which runs back into the tray, so I feel it needs replacing...question is do I buy a like for like replacement at over £200 or is there a better option? Thanks; any advice appreciated

 

[RupertW]

My Jabsco 37202 has never been that effective, even after a service kit it struggles to empty the shower tray and there is normally water left in the pipe I guess which runs back into the tray, so I feel it needs replacing...question is do I buy a like for like replacement at over £200 or is there a better option? Thanks; any advice appreciated

I've changed a couple over the last 5 years and find that they normally fail completely (apart from one where the diaphragm was assembled backwards which worked but leaked air). But many times the weakness is a blockage in the pipes or filter or just generally clogging up with soap. I would replace all pipes if and give the filter a real clean out (especially using a spoon or flat screwdriver to find all the bits that may be blocking the inlet and outlet to the filter). If you can't find any obvious blockage then I'd bypass the filter and see whether that the flow is longer. You will still get flow back into the sump for anything between the pump and the sump (unless you have a loop upwards between sump and pump)

Finally I'd check the voltage drop with the pump connected directly to the battery compared to through all the wiring in case there is some dodgy wire or connection along the way that allows full voltage to be shown when not under load but that drops when load applies.

You've probably done all the above but just my experience.

 

[coopec]

I am unhappy with the set-up I have for gray water/shower pumping in the yacht I am building. Currently I have a macerator pump (I know, I now) which is self priming but I've been told they lose their self priming capability after a short time. (I'm sure that will be the case). I'm now considering a self priming diaphragm pump which I can buy on Amazon (don't deal with eBay anymore) for about $25-$30. Have you considered that idea? Would appreciate your thoughts.

 

[John 32i]

I don't really understand it because we have never used the shower on board and yet after a days sailing there is often water in the shower tray. I have checked the seacock and there is no obvious sign of it coming from the heads or anywhere else. We have come to accept it but we do need a decent pump to clear it, I will re-check points that Rupert has mentioned in the hope that I have missed something.

 

[pvb]

My Jabsco 37202 has never been that effective, even after a service kit it struggles to empty the shower tray and there is normally water left in the pipe I guess which runs back into the tray, so I feel it needs replacing...question is do I buy a like for like replacement at over £200 or is there a better option? Thanks; any advice appreciated

The better option may be the Whale Gulley IC system. I have one on my shower. It's fully automatic, and I just leave it switched on all the time I'm on the boat. The system senses the presence of water in the drain and starts the pump, then the pump stops when the water has gone. Don't get any flowback into the tray. Same sort of price range.

 

[Norman_E]

I have those Jabsco pumps in both showers. They are effective if a bit slow. My grey water from the galley is pumped by a Whale gulper 220 which is a lot cheaper (less than half the price) and has as good or better flow rate. The only thing against the Whale Gulper is the steel worm gear that drives the plastic worm wheel. You must protect the worm from water ingress or it will rust and become abrasive so that it wears out the plastic wheel.

 

[NUTMEG]

+1 for a Whale Gulper, doesn’t block, runs dry etc but sounds like a frog when working.

 

[lpdsn]

My Jabsco 37202 has never been that effective, even after a service kit it struggles to empty the shower tray and there is normally water left in the pipe I guess which runs back into the tray, so I feel it needs replacing...question is do I buy a like for like replacement at over £200 or is there a better option? Thanks; any advice appreciated

I just have a Jabsco Par Max pump - supposed to be a freshwater pump but I thought the pressure switch on the output would be handy for when it was accidentally operated with the outlet seacock closed. It seems to work well but there is an additional filter on the input side. I do get a small amount of water left in the pipe too though, but not to the extent that it is a nuisance.

That said, the same type of pump has just failed as my freshwater pump and I replaced it with a Seaflow Series 33, which appears to be better made and comes with an additional input filter (and poor manual but that's another story). As it was £50 even if it is not as wonderful as your £200 jobbie it should last a few years and you'd have enough left over to buy three more.

 

[Norman_E]

+1 for a Whale Gulper, doesn’t block, runs dry etc but sounds like a frog when working.

To be fair the Jabsco pump is not exactly quiet.