Bilge Idea

[Hellacool]

So because I will be storing my boat at the marina and it could spend a day or two on the water before being put away I will install a second bilge, straight lined to the battery. Two questions / ideas:

Mounting - I am thinking of gluing a small piece of marine lumber or plastic to the hull then screw the bilge to that. I see many just glue the bilge straight to the floor. Anything wrong with that thought?

Outflow. From reading it is best to route a separate line because the stock hose can not flow enough for two. Would it be better to simply enlarge the stock hose (1.5 inch so I still only have one hole in my boat, just have to enlarge and not cut) and T into it from both bilges or is the two lines just the better option?

I plan to install a self sensing bilge, straight wired to the battery with in line fuse.

 

[Julian]

Mounting-no reason not to glue something to the hull--but why not just screw it down to the hull like the stock one?

Outflow-it won't be easy enlarging the existing hole, and 2 separate lines will work much better and there will be no risk of blowback from one pump to the other (if you have a Y connection).

 

[Hellacool]

Mounting-no reason not to glue something to the hull--but why not just screw it down to the hull like the stock one?

Outflow-it won't be easy enlarging the existing hole, and 2 separate lines will work much better and there will be no risk of blowback from one pump to the other (if you have a Y connection).

My understanding is the hull is thin at the bottom so it is risky. I just figured an extra inch (no pun intended) would be better.

Second line is easy, just wondering about having just one.

 

[ripler]

When you say self sensing does it have a float switch integral or is it the cycling type? If its a cycling type it will drain your battery unless you have shore power. You could use a float switch in series with your bilge pump and directly wired to you battery.

 

[Hellacool]

When you say self sensing does it have a float switch integral or is it the cycling type? If its a cycling type it will drain your battery unless you have shore power. You could use a float switch in series with your bilge pump and directly wired to you battery.

Integral float switch. The OEM is the cycling type and is why I can not leave it on, it is fine for a day or so but once the boat is put away, it would kill the battery.

 

[MrMoose]

@Hellacool
My dealer installed my second bilge pump (float switch) right beside the Yamaha one. It's a little higher than the Yamaha one, so the Yamaha one is the primary. Because of it's higher float position, the secondary only turns on if the Yamaha one has failed or is turned off via the battery switch. As far as outputs go, do not merge pump outflows. While you're down there, install a water alarm that is directly wired to the battery.
This setup enables you to turn the batteries off and still have the secondary bilge pump on float standby if needed.
Good luck