What is the ideal bilge pumping
installation? I have 1, 3 and 6 but plan to install the entire "best practice" on next haulout... then I'll truly be able to sleep!
Objective: dry bilges.
1. A standard main
bilge pump at the lowest level of the bilge activated by a level switch. I think the
Groco AS-100 are the best, very sensitive and the
electric switch is always above the water. Install an Auto and Manual switch. All recommendations I have read are NOT to install a non-return valve in the hose, so yes, water can come back down and re-activate the sensor, so...
2. A "sipper" style pump like the LVM Amazon with a pickup at the bottom of the bilge to leech out the last of the water, on a manual switch. Of course, this works best if there is a depression or "v" at the bottom to get the last of the water out, on my boat though the bilges are wide flat
steel bottoms which is a major pain.
3. A "High Level"
alarm switch a few inches higher than the main pump with an
alarm loud enough to wake up the sleeping dead or people outside the boat if docked and you are away. On my boat I have a
school bell in my
engine bilge and a car horn in the
salon bilge which make crew jump out of their skin when testing. It's a good idea to test alarms with a low voltage to see they operate even if the pumps have given up...
4. A manually operated backup
bilge pump preferably on a separate hose and outlet though in my
engine room I have a manually switched Y-valve. I really need to move the pump switch to the valve location with an instruction placard.
5. Where possible, have a "catchment area" where water regularly intrudes, such as the stuffing box, with a small automatic pump in its lowest point. This would be intended to catch intruding water before it actually overflows down into the bilge. I'd really love to have a completely dry flat bilge!
6. If your boat is large (mine is 78-feet on deck) a generator-powered crash pump is a good idea for emergencies, I have one in each main bilge.
7. Manual bilge pumps (like the Whale) in each main area, or a movable pump on a board with a hose that can reach down each bilge.