Putting in a bilge pump.

[MSmith3615]

I'm currently in the process of replacing my transom, floors, and stingers. The boat is a 1985 21ft cuddy. I currently have stripped everything out of the boat and I'm in the process of glassing in the transom and the new stingers. The question I was wondering was should I install a bilge pump in the front of the boat. I noticed when I ripped the floor up that water was getting trapped in the front of the boat right were the bulk head is or where the cuddy starts, even though there where drain holes to get the water to the bilge in the back of the boat. How would I run the hose the pumps the water out? Should I just make a new hole in the front of the hull to port the water out or should I somehow run the hose to the back of the boat and out the hole the bilge uses in the back of boat? Any help would be great.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

Most boats have a sealed floor for all of the boat's lenght except for the very rear transom area. They have a single pump in the rear. I would think that is how your boat was originally designed and built. If you have water in the bow, it would seem that the floor is no longer waterproof. This will cause your floatation foam to saturate or degrade and rot your support members.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

Why not? If you can put an access door in there so you can get at the pump later, that would be even better.<br /><br />As for where the water goes, how about running a hose back and just dumping the water in the rear bilge area, and let the rear bilge finish the job. You should be able to route the hose easily and you can avoid additional through-hull fittings.

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

A second pump is fine, but I would just add another hose and fitting, keeping the two seperate. Of course, if you find out why you have water at the bow,, you may not need one. P.S. what kind of boat is that you have, looks like mine, a Forester 21' Which they dont make any more,, they now just make pontoon boats

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

I don't see any reason not to install a 2nd pump, more is better on safety devices. I think I would definitely put a thru-hull fitting somewhere for the pump. That way if there were ever a problem with innundation, you would at least have a greater pumping capacity.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

Thanks everybody for the advice, I'm not sure how the water is getting into the front of the boat. This might sound dumb but how should I do the access door, and I think that I'm going to run tube down to the rear bilge, good idea CATtrans. What gph should I be using, and should I use automatic bilge pumps. And would a thru hull fitting be better than running to rear bilge. Mark, my boat is a 1985 21ft Invader with a merc/260. I got the boat for free. I'm also repainting the whole boat. The boat is completly stripped as of right now any help or advice would be great. The floor foam was totally saturated with water and the transom was mulch, hopefully it will be better that new when I'm done. with IBoats help of course. I will post some pics, I've been taking pics of every step by step process and all the screw ups. thanks

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

Just one more question, is there anyway I can make my ski platform bigger? Since its just made of fiberglass I didn't think it would be a problem, but I just don't know how.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

I would certainly port the 2nd pump to the outside. If something happens to the rear pump, you are just pumping the water around inside the hull. You can certainly make the swim platform larger, but I would imagine you'd want to change the bracketry underneath.

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

They sell round plastic access plates in different sizes. you get the size you want,lets say 8" diameter, cut out the circle, screw and caulk the flange in the floor and the cover screws into the flange.<br /><br /> Seadog Watertight Inspection Or Access Port <br />Deck Plate, 4", White, Screw-In<br />Deck Plate, 4", Black, Screw-In<br />Deck Plate, 5", White, Screw-In<br />… <br />Single start non-jamming extra strong buttress thread design eliminates jamming problems of … *** <br />List price:<br />$7.75 <br /><br />Starting at:<br />$6.58 <br /><br />In stock <br /><br /><br /> I found these plates in the iboats mega mall, there are pixs of them if you go to the site. There are other kinds too. I think 750 gph is good if you are using two.<br /> You sound like me. I also got my boat and trailer free, and rebuilding the whole boat from stem to stern.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

This probally is a dumb question but does it matter how I run the wires to the battery? I use two batteries if that makes a diff. Which one should I run the wire too or does it matter?

 

[Pst76]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

Just my 2 cents but I would run the power through the fuse panel and a switch. If your using a auto float switch on the pump you would just leave the dash switch on. Fuse to me would be a must. Dem wires get hot if a short ever goes direct to a 12VDC battery.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

So I should wire it into my current bilge switch? Thru the fuse panel? I'm using auto float on both. Do I just splice them in with the other bigle pump wires?

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

You could do that, you will probably want to run it directly to the fuse panel though. If you have an available open fuse, it would certainly be best to run it to an empty circuit to prevent fuse overload should both pumps start simultaneously.

 

[Pst76]

Re: Putting in a bilge pump.

Myself I would add a seperate switch.Would give you the best option to run pumps seperately.Transom pump would be operated in most cases more often. Why run the other if not needed.<br /><br />If fuse panel is full you could put an inline fuse set up. Any auto parts store would have one of these as well as a a toggle switch. Iboats may even offer a switch that would match current set up to keep same look on dash.