dual bilge set up

[dajohnson53]

Can anyone advise me how to install two bilge pumps?<br /><br />This is a small, 21 foot runabout type boat. The bilge area is the length of the boat, but only a few inches deep (between the hull and floor boards).<br /><br />Right now, I have one small bilge pump with a 1 1/8 inch outlet pumping vertically about 30 inches to a through hull outlet well above waterline (near the top of a full height transom). It is of sufficient capacity for what I need it for - mostly to pump out rain water, or if I happen to forget to put in the plug (not that THAT would ever happen).<br /><br />I would like to add a second, similar pump, probably wired to a separate switch. The reason is this: There is a tall rib running the lenth of the boat at the keel. This essentially separates the bilge into two sides. Although there is a small drainage passage so that eventually water does flow from one side to the other, it is slow and makes the bilge pump less effective. Also, sometimes, the boat is listing slightly to one side or another or that little passage gets plugged with debris. So two pumps would be better, I think - not to mention the back up factor.<br /><br />If possible, I'd like to run both pumps through the same outlet.<br /><br />So the questions are:<br /><br />is this possible?<br /><br />If so, I'm assuming a Y type fitting should be used. Where should this go - as close to the pumps (low in the outlet tube) as possible, or as high as possible, close to the outlet?<br /><br />Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Terry H]

Re: dual bilge set up

I installed 2 seperate pumps in my current project, one on each side keel. I ran each pump on a seperate switch, and used 2 thru-hull fittings...in other words each has it's own system and can be run seperate or together. If you use the Y fitting and one outlet you might just pump water from one pump to the other, at least that was my thinking...just a thought

 

[ZmOz]

Re: dual bilge set up

If you use a "Y", you will just pump water to the other pump if one fails. It should work fine if they're both running, but you won't have the backup. 2 through hull fittings would be a better idea.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: dual bilge set up

That's what I was thinking, but wanted to see if there was an alternative. Thanks for the input.

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: dual bilge set up

Why not put a one way check valve in each pump line before the Y, that would prevent it from flowing back? My thoughts

 

[Bondo]

Re: dual bilge set up

tallman,<br />That's 1 More place for Crap to Plug Up the Works...........<br />2 Totally Seperate systems are the Only way to do it.........

 

[Scaaty]

Re: dual bilge set up

Originally posted by Bondo:<br /> tallman,<br />That's 1 More place for Crap to Plug Up the Works...........<br />2 Totally Seperate systems are the Only way to do it.........

Just thought I would post what Bondo said again. We sometimes tend to over engineer the simple things. I use 2 pumps too...one auto and one manual set a little lower, with the switch for the second run off the "not used alway hot" second wire from the first pump (which is always on). Switch is in the back where I do it while watching it drain so I don't get distracted.