Sump Shower Box Advice

MattB92

MattB92

Active Member
Nov 9, 2019
272
Barrie, Ontario
Boat Info
1997 370 Sundancer
Engines
454 Merc's
Hi All,

Hoping I can get some advice on my plumbing set-up. For some reason everything runs to the sump box under my cabin steps and pumped to my BLACK water tank (WHYYYY!?)

I want to get rid of the sump box. I have come up with a few options but hoping some others can chime in and give some advice. Planning on doing the work this fall.

Just doing some of my own research, a lot of people have went with a gulper220 diaphragm pump. Anybody use a different type or brand?

Here is my current situation

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OPTION A

upload_2020-9-10_11-7-11.png

OPTION B
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Option A would require 2 new through-hulls. Where as option B would require just 1. But is option B even possible? or is there the chance that the pump would pump the water out through the cockpit drain?

Hope to get some feed back,

Cheers!
 

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Ah actually.. after giving my head a shake Option B would just be dumb and probably not work properly. So I am left with option A unless there is a better solution.

I was just trying to come up with ideas to limit the amount of through-hulls I have
 
I have thru hulls for all my sinks

where is your condensate going from ac pan?...
 
There are actually some areas/lakes that require you to contain your gray water... probably why yours is like it is. Don't know what a gulper is, but I would go with option A.
 
Sump box to a through hull is how most are configured. That will bypass your grey water tank. I bet in the owners manual there is a section on grey water system and one without if you want the factory diagram.

As stated some places require a "grey" water tank (black is your holding tank for toilets) as they don't want oils, detergents and soap discharged into the water from the shower and sinks.
 
JimG said:
There are actually some areas/lakes that require you to contain your gray water... probably why yours is like it is. Don't know what a gulper is, but I would go with option A.
Click to expand...

Yea that's what I figured. Where I am we are not required to contain our gray water. Whale Gulper.. look it up. Diaphragm pump, less maintenance, hair and crap doesn't clog it up. Just a bit noisier from what I've read. I've just been doing some research and a lot of people have replaced their box with this unit.

Shaps said:
Couldn't you just drain the sump box to a new through hull? Option C?
Click to expand...

Yes Option C would be the cheapest. I just want to get rid of the box. Less cleaning and it never really gets all of the water out. This gulper pump would resolve this issue.. just a bit more $$
 
As mentioned, a "grey water system" was an original option.

BUT... I would highly advise to keep the box and just plumb it through a new thru-hull overboard. The box was specifically used to help keep messes and smell at bay. If you empty everything into your cabin bilge, it WILL get smelly and nasty in the entire cabin bilge. The box contains the mess. Plus, draining into the cabin bilge, which is a larger area than the box, means MORE drain water will be floating around that cabin bilge creating an even bigger mess/smell. The Gulper is a nice pump, but ANY bilge pump can not evacuate all water - there's always some left.

Use the box and just clean it (and the internal filter, which is "should" have) out every so often.
 
Lazy Daze said:
As mentioned, a "grey water system" was an original option.

BUT... I would highly advise to keep the box and just plumb it through a new thru-hull overboard. The box was specifically used to help keep messes and smell at bay. If you empty everything into your cabin bilge, it WILL get smelly and nasty in the entire cabin bilge. The box contains the mess. Plus, draining into the cabin bilge, which is a larger area than the box, means MORE drain water will be floating around that cabin bilge creating an even bigger mess/smell. The Gulper is a nice pump, but ANY bilge pump can not evacuate all water - there's always some left.

Use the box and just clean it (and the internal filter, which is "should" have) out every so often.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply Lazy.

The thing is, my galley sink also goes to that box.. any food and gunk that goes in there has the potential to clog up that bilge pump.. Yes I know there is the screen, but I think gunk still kind of gets through it.

I think you are mis-understanding. I didn't mean to dump all of the water into that bilge. The pump would be mounted in the bilge and the drains are plumbed directly to that pump and pumped overboard. No more cleaning the sump box, almost zero maintenance on the gulper.
 
MattB92 said:
Yes Option C would be the cheapest. I just want to get rid of the box. Less cleaning and it never really gets all of the water out. This gulper pump would resolve this issue.. just a bit more $$
Click to expand...

I assumed you were putting the gulper in line.... if so what turns it on?
I wouldn’t dump in bilge Either like Lazy interpreted
 
Blueone said:
I assumed you were putting the gulper in line.... if so what turns it on?
I wouldn’t dump in bilge Either like Lazy interpreted
Click to expand...

Correct. Some people have added a switch in the head to turn it on (that would be kind of annoying). Or there is a model that has an automatic sensor that turns it on. Not sure how that sensor exactly works yet
 
techmitch said:
Option D) Shower drain to sump box (it is low in the hull) to overboard. Head sink to overboard. Galley sink to overboard.
Click to expand...

That's actually not a bad option and most likely the cheapest. Just means 3 new through-hulls tho... Then Keep the box (we never use the head as a shower anyway)
 
techmitch said:
That's how it is in the 99 270 DA + the A/C condensate to sump box. Don't be afraid of through hull's above the water line.
Click to expand...

I was going to put them below the water line so I don't have to hear the water splashing into the lake.




Lol just kidding!! :D Thanks for the tips.
 
We have the Whale sump box with Gulper 220 on our boat. The box is sealed because the pump develops enough head to create negative pressure inside the box. That in turn actually improves drainage from the shower and pulls all of the condensate out of the four A/C drainage tubes.

the question I have is how does the water get out of your “holding tank”?
 
Henry Boyd said:
We have the Whale sump box with Gulper 220 on our boat. The box is sealed because the pump develops enough head to create negative pressure inside the box. That in turn actually improves drainage from the shower and pulls all of the condensate out of the four A/C drainage tubes.

the question I have is how does the water get out of your “holding tank”?
Click to expand...

You still have a sump box? What is the point of that? So with that negative pressure, you don't have any water remaining in the box?

We just pump the waste out of our holding tank overboard.

Relax, I'm just kidding again! It just means we have more regular pump-outs... tank fills up pretty quickly washing dishes etc.
 
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