Easternshore
Senior Member
My new to me Beneteau Flyer 12 has manually operated bilge pumps, no float switches. That makes me nervous.
My bilge pumps are 12v Whale Gulper 220s mounted away in a separate mechanical pump room containing all pumps, hot water heater, etc. As these are relatively slow pumps, at 3.5 gpm, perhaps they should be called Whale Sippers.
I’m more comfortable with higher capacity bilge pumps thus perhaps a better route would be adding something such as Rule 1500 or 2000 pumps fore & aft with their own float switches and leaving the original manual pumps as they are.
The new pump discharge lines could “T-ed” into the existing overboard thru hulls with check valves to prevent pumping back into the original pump vs new holes etc. Naturally the new pumps would have their own breakers, float switches, manual switches, etc.
In the past with prior boats (all sail boats) I’ve used both electronic and mechanical switches with similar results. Was about to go with typical a Rule 40A or Attwood 4201 enclosed switch but thought I’d also consider an electronic switch like the Johnson electromagnetic switch.
As always I’d appreciate any advice and input from TF regarding my quandary and thinking or lack of thinking.
Regards, Ed
My bilge pumps are 12v Whale Gulper 220s mounted away in a separate mechanical pump room containing all pumps, hot water heater, etc. As these are relatively slow pumps, at 3.5 gpm, perhaps they should be called Whale Sippers.
I’m more comfortable with higher capacity bilge pumps thus perhaps a better route would be adding something such as Rule 1500 or 2000 pumps fore & aft with their own float switches and leaving the original manual pumps as they are.
The new pump discharge lines could “T-ed” into the existing overboard thru hulls with check valves to prevent pumping back into the original pump vs new holes etc. Naturally the new pumps would have their own breakers, float switches, manual switches, etc.
In the past with prior boats (all sail boats) I’ve used both electronic and mechanical switches with similar results. Was about to go with typical a Rule 40A or Attwood 4201 enclosed switch but thought I’d also consider an electronic switch like the Johnson electromagnetic switch.
As always I’d appreciate any advice and input from TF regarding my quandary and thinking or lack of thinking.
Regards, Ed