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I have a 2000gph rule automatic bilge pump. For a boat my size I really should have a 2500gph but then comes the amperage drain. I am only using one type 27 size battery, not two because one battery provides more long term current and as my motor will have a pull start it should be ok. The bilge pump will use about 8 amps and as the battery goes down I suspect 1 to 1/2hr before it becomes useless. The larger pumps take almost double the current. One of the debilitating factors is hose construction. Almost all purpose built bilge hose is thin wall corregated. Pushing water through a corregated hose is difficult and a smooth wall hose would give me that equal output to the corregated 2500gph hosed pump. Also the corregated bilge hose does not recommend below water level use.
What has made me stop to think is that the hose is 1 1/8" and while I can buy 1 1/2" hose by the foot I can not purchase 1 1/8" hose buy the foot. I must purchase 50ft and that is expensive compared to $1.00ft for corregated. So the question is this.....why are they trying to prevent the sale of smooth bore bilge hose and why are all the major brands corregated? Why corregated? Is there some reason?

Stuart

with the corragated hose you can make a tighter bend with out it kinking the ace hardware here has clear hose from 3/4 up to 1 1/2 by the foot if you have one close by you could look there

Hi Stuart

I think it is to do with the ability to route the hose to avoid kinks, as to why they are all corrugated.

Cheers

Mark C

Stuart

What about a second 300 gph pump. It could take care of routine rain water or a minor leak without running the battery down so quick.

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

Bill, a smaller bilge pump is often recommended but I decided not to go that route. With the big automatic 2000gph pump it does not turn on until the water level is 2 1/2 above its base then it runs until their is no significant water and then turns off. Add to that, I can't fit the thing in the low part of the bilge because mine is a centre board sloop. So there would be maybe 4 inches of water in the bilge before the pump even turns on. This however is not much volume, perhaps half a gallon.

If I were to put in a second pump, once again where to put it and the cost, the 2000gph pumps are about $300. Then there is the hose and how to keep it from flowing back into the other pump or put in another through hull and that sort of thing. The structure of the keel is such that there will always be some water the pump can't remove. AND..the hose runs up 4 ft, when the pump stops, that 4 ft of head will come right back down into the bilge I bet?

I'm of the belief that the only water that will enter the cabin could be from the open companion way, or perhaps an open portlight or hatch so thats not that often. But how much condensation will build up in the bilge, thats what I am uncertain about.

Thanks to red....I am going off to the Home Depot and see if they have suitable bilge hose.

Can you put a check valve in it? I am thinking like the simple check (or one-way) valves used in sump pumps or ejector pits. That would be useful for either a 2-pump system on one exit or for preventing the head from draining back into the bilge. Don't know if this is kosher or not....

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Ken Hundley
http://www.nocturnalguitars.com

So, my big brother was playing guitar and I figured I'd try it too.
- Stevie Ray Vaughan

I have one in the factory bilge pump system installed in my Morgan 38

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

I have seen those pumps with the check valve in them...I think they are Johnson? Johnson appear to make a good pump but Rule seem to have the loyalty and they do not. In any event I was told not to put a check valve in the system and they even suggested that a vented loop was also not a good thing. Add to that the experts suggest not to even fuse the power line.

Why, the check valve reduces the flow and from what I have read gph is all important. Go figure they then put a corregated hose on it. Not sure why they said not to use a vented loop but there is a chance the system may form a siphon but when the water level comes up, the pump would turn on and would that not break the siphon? The absence of fuse, they claim that problems come in three's and often the fuse goes just when things are getting interesting. I thought about using a fuse link wire but have not decided yet.

Stuart

Note; just finished putting in the thru hull fitting for the bilge pump outlet 1 ft below the deck level. That gives me a 1 foot loop so I hope I have it right cause that hole is a hole.

1 1/8", 'smooth wall" marine hose, sold by-the-foot is readily available.

It's not 'bilge specific', and likely not as flexible as the corregated stuff, but would be a good choice to maximize the performance of your bilge pump.

See, for example:

http://www.go2marine.com/product/164607 ... -foot.html

MW

Thanks for the link Mark. Believe it or not I found a source locally which had 4ft and I needed 8 but they said they would try and get more. Same hose type as what you have suggested but $1.00 cheaper per foot so I am a happy camper. BTW the 1 1/8" hose listed in your link says...."LIMITED AVAILABILITY".

Stuart

I think that is among the hardest mental part to deal with.....you spend all this time and effort trying to make the hull as strong and as tight as possible - agonizing over every joint and seam.....then near the end you have to make holes in it!

Cheers

Mark C

Ya but at least the holes I put in are worthy of admiration.

Stuart

I'm sure they are a thing of rare beauty!

Launch date targeted yet?

Cheers

Mark C

I can't say when it will launch. I'll try to finish it this year but I don't know if there is time to get it wet. I'll post some pictures soon of things as they are being completed so keep an eye open. Ya know, I really need to hunt around for a glamour girl to stand in the pictures to give a sense of scale.

Stuart


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