Hi All,
I have a 1976 32. As other owners may know, and I don't know if it is an 'Ericson' thing, the bilge on the 32 is only
about 6 inches deep and and about 6 inches wide and shallows up at the forward end. Really not much of a bilge.
My question is around adding an automatic bilge pump.
I have just installed a Lewmar ProFish FF 700 windlass and Manson Supreme 25lb anchor to the bow of my boat. With this came the requisite hole in the deck for the chain and rode to pass through. Up until now, I have not had an automatic bilge pump in place. But now, with the hole in the deck, the question of water entering the bilge is now a reality.
I can add one, with a float switch, but my question/concern is tying the discharge of the pump to the existing Whale pump that is installed in the cockpit. I thought I had read somewhere that you shouldn't put a 'check valve' in the discharge of a bilge pump.
I want to tie into the existing discharge, but how do I keep the discharge from the manual pump from coming back into the bilge through the automatic bilge pump or vice versa? I don't get a lot of water in the bilge, but now with the hole and the occasional rain shower or storm, I'm anticipating more than before, and I want to ensure that water is pumped out.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
I have a 1976 32. As other owners may know, and I don't know if it is an 'Ericson' thing, the bilge on the 32 is only
about 6 inches deep and and about 6 inches wide and shallows up at the forward end. Really not much of a bilge.
My question is around adding an automatic bilge pump.
I have just installed a Lewmar ProFish FF 700 windlass and Manson Supreme 25lb anchor to the bow of my boat. With this came the requisite hole in the deck for the chain and rode to pass through. Up until now, I have not had an automatic bilge pump in place. But now, with the hole in the deck, the question of water entering the bilge is now a reality.
I can add one, with a float switch, but my question/concern is tying the discharge of the pump to the existing Whale pump that is installed in the cockpit. I thought I had read somewhere that you shouldn't put a 'check valve' in the discharge of a bilge pump.
I want to tie into the existing discharge, but how do I keep the discharge from the manual pump from coming back into the bilge through the automatic bilge pump or vice versa? I don't get a lot of water in the bilge, but now with the hole and the occasional rain shower or storm, I'm anticipating more than before, and I want to ensure that water is pumped out.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.