TAS
2446 posts
Hi all
I am replacing the manual electric bilge pump on my Sailmaster 845 with a auto electric pump and would welcome any thoughts on how i am intending to mount the new pump
At ther moment it has a 400 gph rule pump fitted in the bilge sump with the strainer screwed down to the bilge floor and the main body of the pump hose clamped to the bilge pump outlet hose
This makes it difficult to separate the pump body from the strainer to clean the strainer as it is a bit of a reach down through the cover panel in the cabin sole
I have purchased a 800 gph version of this pump http://www.spx.com/en/johnson-pump-marine/pd-marine-bilge-ultimabilge/ and what i intend to do is mount the strainer to a piece of 12mm white plastic cutting board cut to suit the shape of the bilge sump (approx 300mm long and 210mm wide at one end and 150mm wide at the other) and sit the cutting board in the bilge sump
The hose connector screws on to the outlet of the pump and if i need to clean the strainer i can unscrew the outlet hose and lift the pump and cutting board mounting plate out of the sump and separate it in the cabin
i can't see to much wrong with doing it this way as is it will be secure at all normal angles of heel but i am open to other suggestions if any one can see a problem with what i am intending to do
Thanks in advance
Regards Don
TAS
463 posts
If there is enough hose pressure keeping it down it should be alright, otherwise it might tend to float allowing stuff to get caught underneath it and quickly defeating the purpose of ease of access. The only thing I would really be wary of is by doubling the GPH you are effectivly doubling the amp draw. Some of those bigger pumps don't deal well with voltage drop, which ironically they cause when under full load. Not a worry when you have the engine to back you up but the most usual emergency usage of a bilge pump is a blown house/clamp flooding the bilge with sea water.. at that point you are relying in your battery bank. Also consider the wire guage and fuse would need to be upgraded to accomodate.
TAS
2446 posts
Hi
The cutting board floating issue was suggested on another forum i posted the question on so i floated the board in the kitchen sink and placed a object the same weight as the pump (660 grams unless the pump has some boyancy) and it easily sunk the board
What i might do though is when i have settled on the final position of the strainer on the board i will take to the board with a large holesaw in the areas that don't matter to reduce the amount of floatable material in the cutting board
Regarding the amp draw of the larger pump the instructions list a 5 amp fuse so hopefully it wont draw too much
The yacht has 2 batteries fitted and very little other electrical equipment so the load should be managable
Regards Don
