Sink Pump Question

[kjames]

Hi all
Finally taken delivery of our 28 y.o. 'new to us' Roberts steelie. Just learning how this boat works. The kitchen / galley sink drains through a hand pump to the through-hull as shown in the photograph.
I find it’s a bit hard getting rid of the sink water. I take it the pump stops water flowing backwards into the sink – is that correct?
Just wondering people’s view on this – is it better to have this or preferred to remove pump and just close off the valve when sailing?
PS, I don’t know the sea water level compared to the sink drain level just yet.
Cheers

[HopCar]

The only reason I can see to install a pump there would be if the sink was below the waterline. If you don't close the seacock, you are counting on the little rubber valves in the pump to prevent your boat from sinking. That pump should empty a sink with just a few strokes. Rebuild it, it's easy. If the sink is above the waterline when you are using it, get rid of the pump and close the valve when ever you sail.
Slightly off topic, it looks like you don't have a real seacock, just a ball valve screwed onto a thru-hull fitting. You might want to upgrade that next time you haul the boat.

[kjames]

thanks Hopcar, that all makes sense to me. Cheers

[svcambria]

I actually went out of my way to install something like that. There was very little drop between the bottom of the sink and sea level, so water, grease, and other unsavory things would hover just below the sink - reappearing occasionally and always smelling. I installed a maceration pump which actively removes water, acts like a garbage disposal, and as a check valve, keeping sea water away from the sink.
Before the pump, water would slosh around the bottom of the sink but never came even close to sloshing out or flooding... or even threatening to flood...

Michael

[HopCar]

Macerator pump, nice idea. Just push a button for a few seconds. No need to bend over and work that darn hand pump.