Front bilge - Express 30

dollarbill · Post by **dollarbill** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:05 pm

My AC condensate goes in to the bilge area under the front V berth and collects there until I take her out.

I have two solutions.

1. Bilge pump. Already have hose and thru hull in the front. BUT.. I would have to run wiring and relay to the battery and panel.

2. Put a T on my shower drain pump and run a hose to front bilge area. BUT I dont know what type of hose to run and how I would situate a pick up/strainer. Hose would probably be about 15 feet (guess) as it would run from under the dinette to the front bilge area.

I kind of have to pick my poison.. run hose or run wire BUT it looks like there are already places established (drilled) for hose to run to the front bilge. BUT is that too long of span for the shower pump? (15 ft)

As far as safety... not a problem... I have redundant Whales in the aft bilge so this new set up would be purely for periodically pumping out condensate while the boat is at dock.

Thoughts???

Thanks in advance.

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:18 pm

I have a pump in my bow area with a float switch. If your condensation water is staying in the bow and not draining to the stern pump then you should definitely put in a pump with a float switch in the bow area.......power always on...........JD

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Trojan's sit bow low at rest... so what about a hose failure aft while at dock? Water will run forward then fill the bow back to the aft bilge pump.
You should have a bow and aft bilge pump as minimum... since you have the difficult part a thru' hull why not wire in a pump and float?
That will handle condensate and be ready for any other possible water ingress.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:33 am

You need a front pump even with out the a/c I would wire it to the opposite battery that the other pump is wire to. that way you have a fully independent system as a back up

g36 · Post by **g36** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:24 am

on f32 as i guess others as well, the condensate dripped into the bilge. i didnt like that. i found each coil (the saloon and the vberth unit) had a barb underneath the coil to attach a hose i just added a small 1/2" thru hull to each and now drain that water out of the boat. simple, no wires no pumps, and now i keep my bilge drier. is this a possibility on yours?