To Thru Hull or not.

[downwinder]

Im installing another bilge under the coupling of my beneteau to drain that little leakage that always happens. I was thinking of just putting a T connector and connecting that to the already existent hose. I was told its better to make another thru hull and put a separate hose for that bilge. Apparently if you put a check valve in the T connector the other bilge can't power through it. It hurts to make a hole on a boat, those to words don't go together in a sentence imo. Any advice/recommendations are greatly appreciated.

[Jim Cate]

How about putting a very small auto bilge pump in your new bilge and direct it's output into the main bilge, to be discharged by the main bilge pump through the existing through hull?

Jim

[Toothless]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...mp-128123.html

I posted a similar topic, with the exact same concern for more holes in the boat. What I ended up doing was installing a check valve above the bilge, larger diameter hosing, and a larger outlet (so widening an existing thru-hull) for my cockpit drains. The automatic secondary pump routes into this system, and not that of my existing manual pump.

I don't recommend this for a long-term solution, and am convinced that I will drill another hole should long distance cruising become an option. The installation was for my coastal day-sailing and marina regulations piece-of-mind.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Toothless

...What I ended up doing was installing a check valve above the bilge, larger diameter hosing, and a larger outlet (so widening an existing thru-hull) for my cockpit drains...

Never install a check valve in any bilge pump line. And never share a bilge pump discharge line.

[downwinder]

Should i drill the tru hull from the outside of the hull inwards? Or from the exterior to the inside? Cheers for the info.

[HopCar]

I'm with Terra Nova, avoid check valves in bilge pump discharge lines and don't share a discharge line.

I think people are too afraid to put holes in their boat. If it is done correctly, there is almost no chance of a problem. In your case you're looking at a 3/4" thru-hull for a small bilge pump. Mount the thru-hull where water can't flow back in even heeled (transom?) or if you can't do that, put a vented loop in the hose higher than the heeled waterline.

I'd drill a pilot hole through from either direction where you want the thru-hull, then use a hole saw to cut part way through from the outside, then the rest of the way from the inside. This just makes a little neater hole.

There is no rule that says you can't install a seacock on a bilge discharge if it worries you.