Bilge Pump Discharge Port Location

[Pusher]

I'm planning to drill for the port soon and was wondering where people suggest it be located. Above waterline I presume, and not through the transom? I am also thinking the captain's side would be best so he can confirm it's pumping if he ever needs to kick it on. Is it asthetic after that?

 

[wahlejim]

Mine is placed 2 inches down and 2 inches in on port side upper stern corner.

 

[Texasmark]

Mine is placed 2 inches down and 2 inches in on port side upper stern corner.

+1 On that although it might be too close to the transom.... depends on your transom. Some boats don't have wood all the way across the transom area and the front to back dimension is not the usual 1 ?" plus thickness of glass/alum on both sides. Then you have to have room for the jamb nut on the inside.

You get the drift, Starboard side, well above water line, close to the transom.

 

[hemi rt]

I prefer them on the starboard side so when I turn it on I can see how much water comes out. I can judge from what we are doing - skiing etc. to know how much should be coming out versus that is way too much - better head to the boat ramp.

 

[thumpar]

Mine is about 4 or so inches down from where the bottom and top cap come together and about 8 inches forward from the outside of the transom. It is on the helm side. Make sure you check on the inside to find the best spot.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

A few inches below the gunnel at the rear about 6 inches forward of the transom. Check, check then check again before you drill a hole in your boat. More than one cable has been drilled before.

I wish my overflow was on my starboard side. If possible starboard side. Most every boat I have seen has the over flow on the port side. I am thinking they don't want the overflow line anywhere near the steering cable, most of the electrical lines are starboard too, very little on port side, just a guess. Does anyone know the answer?

 

[Texasmark]

A few inches below the gunnel at the rear about 6 inches forward of the transom. Check, check then check again before you drill a hole in your boat. More than one cable has been drilled before.

I wish my overflow was on my starboard side. If possible starboard side. Most every boat I have seen has the over flow on the port side. I am thinking they don't want the overflow line anywhere near the steering cable, most of the electrical lines are starboard too, very little on port side, just a guess. Does anyone know the answer?

You probably nailed it. Too much going on with the boat control wiring and all as you said.

 

[mr 88]

I have 4 , [one for livewell,] the stern pump goes out the transom ,dead center about 12 " below the gunwale. The other 3 are all on the port side and exit about 1" above the waterline. The hoses from the pumps are all looped to the inside of the gunwale as high as they can go. That stops the water from siphoning back into the boat and keeps the side of the boat looking clean.

 

[wrvond]

Mine is on the stbd side. Thought they all were. Going to have to keep that in mind on my next boat.

A few inches below the gunnel at the rear about 6 inches forward of the transom. Check, check then check again before you drill a hole in your boat. More than one cable has been drilled before.

I wish my overflow was on my starboard side. If possible starboard side. Most every boat I have seen has the over flow on the port side. I am thinking they don't want the overflow line anywhere near the steering cable, most of the electrical lines are starboard too, very little on port side, just a guess. Does anyone know the answer?

 

[Pusher]

Oh crumb, I forgot about the looped tubing. I already bought a length to fit. Grrr. Well, maybe I'll replace it next year once it's splashed. I guess having it on the starboard side would make sense if it was to keep the water system away from electronics/steering cables. I'll have some things to think about now. Thanks guys.

Also, I am planning on making the pump terminals into my harness the spade type so if my switch on the dash doesn't work I can unclip them in a pinch and plug them straight to the battery spade terminal.

 

[Watermann]

I've never had a boat with the bilge pump hose looped, that's for the fuel vent line. If you have water up that high on your gunnel to where water will come in the bilge outlet then you better start thinking about motoring or swimming to shore. If water did start coming in the bilge through the outlet then the float switch would come on and pump it right back out.

My current boat I'm working on has the outlet on the starboard side too but it's way lower than my other boats, possibly to avoid the tangle of cables and wires up in the gunnel or maybe so the pump doesn't have to raise the water as high. The sides are very high on this boat and I doubt water would get that high and if it did it would be spilling into the splashwell.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I wouldn't feel to warm and fuzzy if my bilge overflow were only 1" above the waterline. I don't really care about the aesthetics of an overflow port. There have been more than a few times my normal waterline was at least an inch below the surface for a few reasons. Once my mooring cover blew off enough that a heavy rain got into her and another was when my plug was too loose and she sat overnight. My auto bilge did not come on because I think it was gungy. I clean it regularly now with a splash of 303 or Spray 9. Would not a "S" trap or loop as mentioned stop water infiltration if the overflow was indeed below water for any reason? Hydrostatic pressure perhaps too high to keep the water in the trap and reversing into the bilge?

Pusher, I think you meant to say the overflow on the Port side would make sense. The Starboard side is all of your control cables and electrics if it's an outboard. I don't know about a centre council set up. I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I've never had a boat with the bilge pump hose looped, that's for the fuel vent line. If you have water up that high on your gunnel to where water will come in the bilge outlet then you better start thinking about motoring or swimming to shore. If water did start coming in the bilge through the outlet then the float switch would come on and pump it right back out.

My current boat I'm working on has the outlet on the starboard side too but it's way lower than my other boats, possibly to avoid the tangle of cables and wires up in the gunnel or maybe so the pump doesn't have to raise the water as high. The sides are very high on this boat and I doubt water would get that high and if it did it would be spilling into the splashwell.

That is one good looking StarCraft. Are you doing it up now or an old picture of one of your restorations? What model is she? Off topic but that is one heck of a mountain view. We have a mountain in my hometown of Hamilton Ontario. I think it's something like 350 feet high! Officially the Niagara Escarpment which becomes the upper art of the Falls and ends in Western NY.

edit: I'm sorry I got so exited I didn't realize I high jacked this thread. Please delete mods.

 

[Pusher]

Sorry Old Ironmaker. You are right, thank you. I want my "port" on the starboard (right) side NOT the port side. Got my lefts and rights backwards. Thank you.

Watermann lives in a pretty part of Eastern Washington. River valleys, mountains, and lakes abound.

 

[Watermann]

That is one good looking StarCraft. Are you doing it up now or an old picture of one of your restorations? What model is she? Off topic but that is one heck of a mountain view. We have a mountain in my hometown of Hamilton Ontario. I think it's something like 350 feet high! Officially the Niagara Escarpment which becomes the upper art of the Falls and ends in Western NY.
.

Thanks OIM, that right there is the rare V5 model SS Starcraft made in 1978 & 79. It's my current project, the link to the restore is in my sig line. Pusher is right, here in the rain shadow of the Cascades of WA State we have 9k peaks, flat farmland, numerous big lakes and Grand Coulee Dam holding back a 100 mile long lake Roosevelt.

 

[mr 88]

A quick response, All discharge hoses should be looped if possible. A safety factor that all surveyors look for. Most boat over 21' have there discharge hoses slightly above the waterline. All 4 of mine were factory installed on a boat primarily designed for fishing off shore,as in 50-100 miles. Double checked my stern discharge and I was wrong, its at the waterline as well.Someone tell me why they would mfg it this way if there was a issue with them taking on water. The 29 Tiara next to me, the same way. Bertram two slips away,same

 

[Watermann]

Are you referring to the bilge outlet being low on the side of the boat? I would think so the pump doesn't have to lift the water so high which would be lowering the GPH. Or the lines to pump weren't looped upwards which could cause the same issue?