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Shower Sump Question
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:22 pm
by aweimer
Quick question for you all. In my 36 Tri the Shower sump failed this fall. After pulling the floor board its not really a sump but more of just a pump. I was just thinking of replacing it with a simple water pump since thats all i see. A 1/2" hose going to it from the drain tray in the shower to a 1" bilge hose out the side. there was an inline filter too.
Thoughts? I was looking at the shower sumps out there and they seem more geared towards a traditional shower drain than this type of suction pump.
Anyone with an older tri have to replace theres, what did you do?
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:32 pm
by randyp
Hey
For what it's worth my teeny tiny F26 has a shower and it drains right on to the head floor, where there is a channel that runs into a drain hole connected to a water pump. The switch is on the head wall below the shower and it's worked perfectly for over 30 years. I think you could just as easily hook up a water pump with filter and you'd be in business.
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:18 pm
by JGedridge
Hello
In my boat the shower sump system was below the floorboard ahead of the aft bed. It was a plastic tray that the tub drained into, but mine was shot. so I took it out and threw it out. I am going to put the same thing in. It should work for you, its in the middle of the walkway in the center floorboard.
Joe
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:38 pm
by rossjo
Mine has the pump below the sink, so it has to lift (more expensive).
Mine uses a "lift pump", but not sure if that was original.
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:53 am
by rbcool
Mine is the same as JG. It's actualy a shower sump system - a fully enclosed clear plastic box that has inlet and outlet barbs. It has a bilge pump in it that has the float built in. No need for a filter since the shower drain has a screen over it. These self contained units are awesome but the Problem with these are that if you just take a shower then let the soap scum dry on the float it stops working. So I usualy tell people to run some extra water after finished.
Ron

Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:17 am
by S.A.M.
In my 10M, there is a drainhose to a water pump, with an inline filter between the drains and pump. Which I hate having to clean, not because it's gross, but because it's PIA to get to.
To state the obvious, without the filter the pump will burn up eventually.
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 10:18 am
by rossjo
What do others have in their F32?
I'm not sure if my setup is original.
It works OK, but there is NO float system - just a pull switch above the sink. There is always some water sitting in there - I pour bleach in from time to time.
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 4:00 pm
by rickalan35
My 1977 TriCabin shower drain system is a hose from the floor drain to a pump to a hose and out of the boat. No filter. Has worked for the past 12 years. This is the first time I have even heard of the filter arrangement - where have I been?
My buddy's 2007 44' SeaRay (read expensive) has already had a shower sump fiasco. Give me the simple route anyday.
Hey, is there anything better than a great hot shower on a cool morning? We are one spoiled bunch. Sometimes I just do it - because I can.
Rick

Re: Shower Sump Question
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 4:20 pm
by k9th
aweimer wrote:Quick question for you all. In my 36 Tri the Shower sump failed this fall. After pulling the floor board its not really a sump but more of just a pump. I was just thinking of replacing it with a simple water pump since thats all i see. A 1/2" hose going to it from the drain tray in the shower to a 1" bilge hose out the side. there was an inline filter too.
Thoughts? I was looking at the shower sumps out there and they seem more geared towards a traditional shower drain than this type of suction pump.
Anyone with an older tri have to replace theres, what did you do?
Aaron -
I have the exact same setup. Is the pump completely shot? I believe that you can get rebuild kits for them but I have found they are hard to kill. I have an extra one but the boat is up for the winter and it is inaccessible till spring or I would offer it to you.
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 5:14 am
by aaronbocknek
tim. my tri has a similar set up to yours. just in front of the aft bunk there is an access hatch. below, is what looks like a square open pan with a pump and float switch. the tub drain hose goes into this and as the water is drained from the tub/shower, the float engages and the water is pumped out the transom. not a huge fan of the open pan system, but it works and i see no need to spend the 102.00 to upgrade to the enclose system that was standard on models after 1985. as for aaron in chicago.... the tri cabin that my family had used your system. a trough at the lowest end of the shower (facing aft) with a small hole that connected to a sump pump that was operated by a pull switch. never ever had a problem with it in the nearly 40 years we owned the boat. the one thing that dad and i did just before we used it was to fabricate a drain screen that went from one end to the other in the trough. the screen we got at a hardware store and made it into an upside down U and placed it in the trough. dad did not want the pump to clog when my mom and sister took showers. like i said, we never had a problem with it. as for mine, i fabricated a mesh screen using cheese cloth and put it on the end of the drain hose using a hose clamp. that way, if it clogs, all i have to do is remove the cloth, rinse, and replace.
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 9:29 am
by k9th
aaronbocknek wrote:tim. my tri has a similar set up to yours. just in front of the aft bunk there is an access hatch. below, is what looks like a square open pan with a pump and float switch. the tub drain hose goes into this and as the water is drained from the tub/shower, the float engages and the water is pumped out the transom. not a huge fan of the open pan system, but it works and i see no need to spend the 102.00 to upgrade to the enclose system that was standard on models after 1985. as for aaron in chicago.... the tri cabin that my family had used your system. a trough at the lowest end of the shower (facing aft) with a small hole that connected to a sump pump that was operated by a pull switch. never ever had a problem with it in the nearly 40 years we owned the boat. the one thing that dad and i did just before we used it was to fabricate a drain screen that went from one end to the other in the trough. the screen we got at a hardware store and made it into an upside down U and placed it in the trough. dad did not want the pump to clog when my mom and sister took showers. like i said, we never had a problem with it. as for mine, i fabricated a mesh screen using cheese cloth and put it on the end of the drain hose using a hose clamp. that way, if it clogs, all i have to do is remove the cloth, rinse, and replace.
Aaron -
Mine does not have the float switch and is operated by a lighted rocker switch on the wall under the port side medicine cabinet in the head. Mine also has the in-line filter and I, too, installed a screen in the shower to pre-filter the water going into the pump. It clogged once this summer before installing the screen but cleaning the inline filter solved the problem.
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:47 pm
by Dennis Carpenter
rossjo wrote:What do others have in their F32?
I'm not sure if my setup is original.
It works OK, but there is NO float system - just a pull switch above the sink. There is always some water sitting in there - I pour bleach in from time to time.
My 77 is set up the same as yours with the pump located under the sink. I think it is original.
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:03 am
by rossjo
Dennis,
Where do you keep a 77 F32 in Timmonsville, SC?
and - welcome aboard!
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:32 pm
by Dennis Carpenter
rossjo wrote:Dennis,
Where do you keep a 77 F32 in Timmonsville, SC?
and - welcome aboard!
I live in Timmonsville. Boat is in Conway for now. Looking for something closer to the coast.
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:05 am
by rossjo
Conway? or Myrtle Beach? or is it on the hill?