3rd Bilge Pump for 220 SD

[surfinjoe]

So last summer I decided to add a second bilge pump to my boat (Rule 1100 auto water detect model). My initial test was to launch the boat without the drain plug in the hull. Both the factory pump and the second pump were enough to keep the water out of the bilge.

After some thought, I am wondering if it would be good to add a 3rd and larger pump. Say a 2000 or 3000 GPH pump for 'just in case'. My thought is taking a wave over the bow, or in the event that one of my pumps fail. Is this overkill? I am planning some big water trips this summer, and want to have some level of redundency and extra safety.

Other questions: should each bilge pump have it's own battery? Should I have manual switches for each pump at the helm, or is it OK to rely on the 'auto water detect' to cycle itself? I only have two batteries on my boat, so adding a third bilge would mean adding a third battery and replacing the selector switch. I would appreciate any feedback.

 

[surfinjoe]

Does anyone know if these boats have flotation foam?

 

[Lazy Daze]

In my opinion, yes, adding a 3rd pump would be overkill. But then again, there's that saying that "3 pumps is 2 pumps, 2 pumps is 1 pump and 1 pump is no pump". Either way, I wouldn't worry about installing a third battery.

Your boat won't sink - it has what it referred to as "positive floatation" which means it won't sink past the gunwales. If you get a huge wave (or waves) into your boat that causes you to swamp, a few bilge pumps aren't going to make much of a dent. Besides, at that point your engine would probably have ingested water and is out of commission anyway.

Now, if you're really concerned about it, you could install a selector valve into the inlet hose on your raw water pump. This way you could turn a valve and instead of sucking water from outside the boat to run it, you would suck it from inside the boat. I haven't actually done this myself, but I've looked into it enough to see that it's not too involved. The two biggest concerns is making sure the valve is set to draw from outside under normal conditions and that you use a full-flow selector valve (doesn't "neck down" inside the valve). Obviously this would come in handy before the water gets too high that the engine sucks water into the intake.

Honestly, I think you're fine with 2 pumps. Not that adding another is necessarily a "bad" idea, but if it was me I would be happy (and feel safe) with two. But in the end, you need to do what feels right to you.

If you do add a third pump, I'd probably just use a manually selectable (on/off switch) one. Keep it simple. Wire it direct to a battery, through a fuse and then a switch. The switch wouldn't even have to be mounted at your dash. Heck, you might not want to even mount the pump permanently. You could mount it on a small base (enough to keep it upright), with the hose and wiring already attached - but use alligator clips... now you have a portable, high capacity bilge pump that could be dropped in the bilge, ski locker or wherever. Even hand it over to another boater that is trouble. Put it all in a nice little box and tuck it away safely onboard.

 

[zboaterctf]

I added a 2nd pump to my 290 SD a few years ago after the float switch failed and the pump would not pump. I think a 3rd would be an overkill. If you wanted to put in a 3rd I agree with others - simply hard wire a 3rd pump to a switch.

 

[chuck1]

IMHO - It would be overkill.

 

[surfinjoe]

As always Dennis, great advice! I will look into adding a selector valve to the engine water pump. That's a great idea and I don't think it would cost alot. I remember on my Alpha when I burned up the impeller and i had to 'prime' the engine by removing one of the radiator hoses and pour in water. If I had a selector valve, I could also use it as a way to prime the engine cooling system in the event of impeller failure.

I have actually seen a portable bilge pump that connects with alligaror clips. I really like your idea of mounting a high capacity pump to a base and having the ability to loan it out.

I guess I am just parinoid from when my factory strainer was full of leaves and it wouldn't pump. LOL

In my opinion, yes, adding a 3rd pump would be overkill. But then again, there's that saying that "3 pumps is 2 pumps, 2 pumps is 1 pump and 1 pump is no pump". Either way, I wouldn't worry about installing a third battery.

Your boat won't sink - it has what it referred to as "positive floatation" which means it won't sink past the gunwales. If you get a huge wave (or waves) into your boat that causes you to swamp, a few bilge pumps aren't going to make much of a dent. Besides, at that point your engine would probably have ingested water and is out of commission anyway.

Now, if you're really concerned about it, you could install a selector valve into the inlet hose on your raw water pump. This way you could turn a valve and instead of sucking water from outside the boat to run it, you would suck it from inside the boat. I haven't actually done this myself, but I've looked into it enough to see that it's not too involved. The two biggest concerns is making sure the valve is set to draw from outside under normal conditions and that you use a full-flow selector valve (doesn't "neck down" inside the valve). Obviously this would come in handy before the water gets too high that the engine sucks water into the intake.

Honestly, I think you're fine with 2 pumps. Not that adding another is necessarily a "bad" idea, but if it was me I would be happy (and feel safe) with two. But in the end, you need to do what feels right to you.

If you do add a third pump, I'd probably just use a manually selectable (on/off switch) one. Keep it simple. Wire it direct to a battery, through a fuse and then a switch. The switch wouldn't even have to be mounted at your dash. Heck, you might not want to even mount the pump permanently. You could mount it on a small base (enough to keep it upright), with the hose and wiring already attached - but use alligator clips... now you have a portable, high capacity bilge pump that could be dropped in the bilge, ski locker or wherever. Even hand it over to another boater that is trouble. Put it all in a nice little box and tuck it away safely onboard.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I guess I am just parinoid from when my factory strainer was full of leaves and it wouldn't pump. LOL

I know what you mean. It's funny how things work, sometimes. Odds are, if you never had that problem then you might not even have started this thread!

Tim... "factory strainer"???

 

[surfinjoe]

The factory bilge pump strainer was full of leaves. Since this pump is 1/2 way under the motor, I couldn't get the leaves out (as my boat was sinking). My boat had so much water that it wouldn't plane out. Long story short, I had to beach the boat and try and snorkel my way to the the drain plug (that I forgot to install). If you know my boat, you realize that the drain plug is under the outdrive and has a huge swim platform above, making this literally a 'blind' install (literally reaching under the outdrive in the dark). All this was in 45 degree water and made for a very bad day.

Anyhow, I have managed to 'idiot proof' (me being the idiot in this case) my drain plug.

I know what you mean. It's funny how things work, sometimes. Odds are, if you never had that problem then you might not even have started this thread!

Tim... "factory strainer"???

 

[surfinjoe]

My float switch isn't working very well either. I really wish Sea Ray would put the switch and pump where you can service them.

I added a 2nd pump to my 290 SD a few years ago after the float switch failed and the pump would not pump. I think a 3rd would be an overkill. If you wanted to put in a 3rd I agree with others - simply hard wire a 3rd pump to a switch.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The factory bilge pump strainer was full of leaves. Since this pump is 1/2 way under the motor, I couldn't get the leaves out (as my boat was sinking). My boat had so much water that it wouldn't plane out. Long story short, I had to beach the boat and try and snorkel my way to the the drain plug (that I forgot to install). If you know my boat, you realize that the drain plug is under the outdrive and has a huge swim platform above, making this literally a 'blind' install (literally reaching under the outdrive in the dark). All this was in 45 degree water and made for a very bad day.

Anyhow, I have managed to 'idiot proof' (me being the idiot in this case) my drain plug.

Ah, gotcha. I thought you were referring to possibly having a thru-hull raw water intake.

Yup - been there done that a few times - I know exactly what you mean!

 

[Lazy Daze]

My float switch isn't working very well either. I really wish Sea Ray would put the switch and pump where you can service them.

Actually they can be serviced quite easily. You just have to move that big black thing out of the way, first.

Often times, we don't even mess with a malfunctioning pump - we just install a new one in a better place and leave the old one there to rot. But even doing that on your setup isn't the easiest thing to do since the engine is shoe-horned in there so tight.

 

[surfinjoe]

My second bilge pump is directly in front of my motor, so I can easilly remove and clean it in a few seconds. I finally got the factory pump cleaned, but I had to remove the fiberglass panel in front of the motor. It pretty much took me the better part of a day to get it cleaned and back together. While I was at it, I replaced my impeller...but that is a another story for another time

Ah, gotcha. I thought you were referring to possibly having a thru-hull raw water intake.

Yup - been there done that a few times - I know exactly what you mean!