Electric Bilge Pump Married To A Manual Pump

[Chris Cram]

On my CD 25D I have a whale manual bilge pump. This pump works great and I want to keep it. I want to install an electric bilge pump but don't want to open another hole in my hull. Can I put a "Y" in the outflow of the manual pump to facilitate the electric pump outflow? Can I make the electric pump just flow out thru the manual pump (will the water just pass thru?)?

Any suggestions Thanks Chris



cccobx@prodigy.net

[Neil Gordon]

>>Can I put a "Y" in the outflow of the manual pump to facilitate the electric pump outflow?<<

Don't see why both pumps can't discharge through the same hose. Be sure that the capacity of the hose will handle outflow from both pumps at once, though, just in case.

>>Can I make the electric pump just flow out thru the manual pump <<

Doesn't sound right. Even if it works, would it be good for the manual pump?


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Don S.]

I had a Y arrangement in my old folkboat (it needed every option possible to deal with water inside) and found that I needed a way for the pump outflow to be isolated. I used a plumber's ball valve and closed it everytime I set the electric pump to auto, but I think in-line checkvalves would work.
Don Sargeant
~~COQUINA~~
CD25D #189
Greenwich Cove

>>Can I put a "Y" in the outflow of the manual pump to facilitate the electric pump outflow?<<

Don't see why both pumps can't discharge through the same hose. Be sure that the capacity of the hose will handle outflow from both pumps at once, though, just in case.

>>Can I make the electric pump just flow out thru the manual pump <<

Doesn't sound right. Even if it works, would it be good for the manual pump?


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

Don@cliggott.com

[Joe Brown]

Hi, Chris: I just reinstalled/reconnected a manual (Whale)pump in my CD-28. The previous owner disconnected it and installed a Lovett electric pump using the original through-hull. The Lovett instructions cautioned against running two bilge pumps through the same through-hull, with a Y-valve. I think the reason for this is that in some cases one bilge pump will back-siphon into the boat while the other is being used. Being able to shut off one of the pumps while the other is running (a gate valve) is one way around the 2-through-hull system, but I punched through a second through-hull anyway. A lot safer, I think. -- Joe Brown, Rockport, Maine



joebrown@mint.net