Shower Sump Brand and Design Recommendations

[SkiprJohn]

I'm wanting to install a shower sump to complete the shower in the head. Does anyone have a recommendation as to which sump and pump to use?

How about listing the ones that don't work well.

Any designs that you really like?

Any responses would be appreciated.

kind regards,

[vintageray]

I imagine any tank that will fit under the floor will work although it should be of sufficient capacity not to fill up too quickly. The pump on mine was mounted vertically on a structural member at the forward end of the tank with the pump at a level about half the depth of the tank. I replaced two pumps before realizing that water from the tank was syphoning past the rubber washer which is around the pump shaft and allowing the motor to fill with water. DUH!! Moved the pump to a higher location under the sink in the head. Not that you'd mount the pump too low, just a reminder not to.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha,
Thanks for the reply.
I do all my own stunts too and wouldn't be beyond mounting the pump where it shouldn't be.
I've seen the plastic tanks in catalogs and was wondering if that's the kind you have.
Don't know if you knew this but I used to have a Far East Mariner many years ago. All wood 35. Wonderful sailing and liveaboard vessel.
kind regards,

[vintageray]

Yes, it's a plastic tank. Original equipment, looks like about 30 gal. capacity. No compaints except where the PO mounted the pump. Maybe they never used it??
Great live aboard, beautiful boat. Lots of work, but worth it.

[anjou]

No need for a sump, just plumb the waste outlet into a Whale 220 Gulper.

Fit and forget.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by anjou

No need for a sump, just plumb the waste outlet into a Whale 220 Gulper.

Fit and forget.

That's one way to do it. But you will have less risk of water backing up and overflowing as the result of some brief lag in the pump coming on (which does happen) if you put in a small tank (10 liters or so should be enough), which can be remotely mounted, as low as possible. This will also make it easier to keep the system clean -- the sludge will collect there.

[anjou]

Yah, and once the sludge has collected there, its just one more maintenence job to be remembered and done before your in the shower one day and it wont pump out.

[Jolly Roger]

I have two Rule self contained shower sumps, one for the fwd shower and another for the aft bath. Both work fine and have the advantage of different size inlets and a one way valve outlet. I keep them clean with fresh water flushes from time to time.
See Rule Shower Drain Pump System

[GeoPowers]

I have two different shower sumps/pumps onboard for my A/C condensate lines. After one season of use the Attwood 750 GPH sump/pump has been trouble free. The Johnson 844 GPH sump/pump needs cleaining of the contact points it uses to determine water level. In my experience if even light slime goes over both contacts it thinks the pump water level is high and runs constantly.

For my showers, I have the standard for Beneteau where the shower stall is the "sump", and you pump out after each shower. Jabsco model pump, works well but you do need to clean the strainer regularly if anyone has long hair on the boat....

We also liveaboard FWIW so these systems see frequent use.

Frank

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by GeoPowers

For my showers, I have the standard for Beneteau where the shower stall is the "sump", and you pump out after each shower. Jabsco model pump, works well but you do need to clean the strainer regularly if anyone has long hair on the boat....

Frank

Same set up, and no problem with the Jabsco pumps, I did rebuild them last month as a bargain came up on ebay for two overhaul kits, but they were working fine.
Parts from Jabsco are at a reasonable price.
Second the comment about long hair and the strainer, plus I have the added hairs from a boarder collie, how they get to the shower is beyond me

[SkiprJohn]

Thanks for all the great input.

From your comments it seems that I should locate the sump and pump where it has easy access. My bilge is very shallow so that might be a bit of a problem but nothing I can't overcome.

I've checked the West Marine Catalog for different brands and the Rule is definitely the least expensive and it appears that Defender has it even cheaper.

Good to know about the level sensing of the Johnson 844. That one was on my list but I think I'll take it off my list. I don't want to be doing constant maintenance on it.

The Border Collie showers when you're not watching?

[Wainui]

I do not have space for a shower sump box so I use a Whale Gulper that gets switched on when needed and pumps overboard. You do not need a strainer with these pumps.

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

The Border Collie showers when you're not watching?

There was me thinking she had sloped off for a swim in the dock.

BTW, Defender have a special on the whale pump on the activecaptain site

[Bash]

I recommend a whale gulper 220 matched up with a whale gray waste water tank. The rule sumps are just not up to the demands of a liveaboard, and they need to be cleaned constantly--at least once a month. The gulper needs to be cleaned every three or four years.

[US1Fountain]

Both a buddy and myself each replaced our shower sumps last yr. with the Attwood shower box/sump. Both of us have had issues with the pump not kicking on when the internal float was raised by water level in less than a yr. We have both since replaced the pump/float units themselves with new ones. While studing mine trying to see whats up, I noticed the pump switch makes contact at the exact same time as the float raises to the max. height. A very fine line of working or not. So far our new pumps are holding up. Next shower box will be a Rule.