adding auto bilge pump

[sparkyaber]

I have a ranger reata, which only has the standard switch on bilge pump, and would like to add a second auto bilge, for safety and back up.

What would I do with the plumbing on this?
Do I tap into the existing exhaust port for bilge water? Use check valves? Drill a hole in the side of my boat to add one more water outlet?

Anyone have one from the factory/dealer with one installed already?

thanks

[T Mac]

I have a ranger reata, which only has the standard switch on bilge pump, and would like to add a second auto bilge, for safety and back up.

What would I do with the plumbing on this?
Do I tap into the existing exhaust port for bilge water? Use check valves? Drill a hole in the side of my boat to add one more water outlet?

Anyone have one from the factory/dealer with one installed already?

thanks

It would be best to run a second outlet pipe (tube) and thru-hull fitting.
Doing so could require a bit of patience. I have installed them...but never did one on a Reata.

[ffishman]

If you do add a second pump, which is a good idea, then for sure, put new plumbing in for it.

[sparkyaber]

Thanks for the input, I figured I would need to add a second outlet. Just wanted to check to make sure.

[Hawker]

I certainly don't have a ranger reata, and while it is certainly a good idea to have a secondary bilge pump in place, you can convert your existing manual "on" only to an automatic/manual setup easily. It will only require a slight change in your wiring to the existing pump, a three position switch and a bilge pump float switch which will be installed in the bilge area. My Kenner is set up that way from the factory and my last two boats (Hawk & Charger) were both set up that way from the factory as well. Everything you need can be obtained from just about any marine dealer, Cabelas, even Wal-Mart! You'll have no new holes to drill or additional plumbing with this set-up.

In my boat, I carry another pump attached to a ten foot length of hose and long leads with clips to attach to a battery that I use to pump out my bait tank or pump in fresh lake water that can also be used for an emergency "extra" bilge pump or emergency back up should the built in one fail.

[darin]

I'm kind of with Hawker on this one. I have two outlets on my Champion (one on each side) and a manual switch at the switch panel. If I have water in the bilge and turn on the switch, water pumps out both sides of the boat. I also have a float switch operated autobilge hooked up as well. It is always hot and when enough water gets in there to trigger the float switch, water comes out both sides as well. It came from the factory this way.

[Hot Runr Guy]

Here's a little trick my dealer taught me, if you are adding a float switch, or even an integral pump w/float switch, run the float switch wire directly to the battery (with a fuse of course). This way, even if you kill the "master" power switch, or forget to flip the dash switch to "auto", the pump still works when needed.
HRG

[T Mac]

Here's a little trick my dealer taught me, if you are adding a float switch, or even an integral pump w/float switch, run the float switch wire directly to the battery (with a fuse of course). This way, even if you kill the "master" power switch, or forget to flip the dash switch to "auto", the pump still works when needed.
HRG

Good reminder HRG.
In order to work as planned, an auto bilge has to be wired direct...no switches. (the float is the switch)

[larrym]

Hawker's appraoch is a logical one I think. Instead of the portable pump he talks about you can also purchase a spare cartridge for your pump which enables you to change it out quickly in case your's goes bad. That's what I have done and, of course, have also added a float switch to the existing pump. As HGR says, wire that float diectly to the battery. A relatively easy chore except there never enough room to work in those blasted bilges so get ready to cuss a little..... and keep small children away! :) Why hasn't anyone thought of a way to make those access holes bigger???

[rockpt]

In my boat, I carry another pump attached to a ten foot length of hose and long leads with clips to attach to a battery that I use to pump out my bait tank or pump in fresh lake water that can also be used for an emergency "extra" bilge pump or emergency back up should the built in one fail.

That's a great idea.

[REW]

Darin,
You indicate that on your Champion boat, the bilge water gets pumped out both sides of your boat.

Do you have one pump or two?
There is little reason to have water come out both sides of the boat, unless you have two pumps.

Then it makes total sense to have water come out both sides of the boat, because if you don't have separate plumbing, it would be very easy to take the bilge water and simply pump it back into the other pump plumbing - This would especially true if one of the pumps had failed or was not working.

Take care
REW

[Planocat]

I won't own a boat without 2 bilge pumps. (preferably 750 gph minimum with one being automatic and wired to the trolling motor batteries). Honestly think that 2 pumps should be a mandate, but that's just me. Granted it's rare, but I have been in situations where 1 pump just wasn't enough.

[mrbreeze]

I had a 2001 619 and it came factory with a single. I added a second 1000 and ran the hose out of the back of the boat, through the "conduit" that the motor controls ran through. I also put an inline one-way valve on it. Not sure if that was necessary, but it at least kept the last four feet of hose from draining back into the boat. If you didn't know it was there, you would never have seen it. I did it in a hurry, but if I were going to do that again, I think that I would've "tee'd" into the existing line with some type of sweep-style fitting, and along with an inline one-way valve, I would've sent the water out of the same hole. The only issue there is whether one hole would be big enough, capacity-wise, if you were in a situation where both pumps came on. I think that drilling an additional through-hull is a good idea, I just didn't want to do that.

[darin]

"Darin,
You indicate that on your Champion boat, the bilge water gets pumped out both sides of your boat.

Do you have one pump or two?
There is little reason to have water come out both sides of the boat, unless you have two pumps.

Then it makes total sense to have water come out both sides of the boat, because if you don't have separate plumbing, it would be very easy to take the bilge water and simply pump it back into the other pump plumbing - This would especially true if one of the pumps had failed or was not working.

Take care
REW

Here's how mine is set up (I just checked because what you said did make some sense): Both pumps (the manual and the automatic one) are hooked up to run on the switch AND on automatic. So, when I turn on the bilge pump, both pumps come on (that's why water shoots out on both sides). But, when the automatic bilge pump kicks on, the manaul one does too, and water still comes out both sides (because both pumps are working at the same time). Not sure if this is how anyone else's is (sounds like it's not!) but I don't mind. Water gets out quicker (twice as fast!)with two pumps working... can't imagine it doing too much damage in terms of draining the battery that much faster... anyway, there you have it!!