Bilge Pump and Check Valves

[Janae]

Luckily, our boat is super dry. Only water we really have to worry about is from our incredibly inefficient fridge dripping ice melt into the bilge. Here in the Keys, we go through a 20lb. bag of ice daily! We have a manual bilge already on the boat, which has (for the time being) saved our boat from already becoming fish apartments. Hurricane season in the Keys is lightly a match under our ass to get the boat securely ready for a tropical storm. Investing $200 for some decent pumps is good insurance for our multi-million dollar yacht. And by multi-million, I mean $15k. A girl's gotta start somewhere!

[chala]

Some bilge pumps come with check valve inbuilt. Otherwise Whale manufactures a line check valve. The valve is similar to the one they install in their manual pump. If using two bilge pumps each must have its own discharge line. In a common line check valves are required to prevent one pump pumping back to the bilge through the other pump.

[zeehag]

my 2200 gph pump has a loop to deck level...... works well. form0sas dont heel that far, unless a maniac is at helm.. then fun begins..LOL

[Exile]

Originally Posted by chala

Some bilge pumps come with check valve inbuilt. Otherwise Whale manufactures a line check valve. The valve is similar to the one they install in their manual pump. If using two bilge pumps each must have its own discharge line. In a common line check valves are required to prevent one pump pumping back to the bilge through the other pump.

What about a 3-way ball valve installed b'twn the pump & the in-line check valve? This set-up would only be for having a backup pump at the ready in the event of a failure (vs. having a primary & secondary potentially running at the same time).

[skenn_ie]

I suggest a check valve, but make a small hole in the outlet of the pump. This allows the pump to bleed air, otherwise, the pump may not be able to prime and develop enough pressure to push the valve open.

[gonesail]

my rule 1000 handled a check valve with 1" hose fine .. never a problem. water exited the boat above waterline so no siphon problems either.