Your thoughts on pump plumbing...

[T Race]

On our 215 Explorer I am replacing the fishwell pumpout with a run-dry macerator pump.

With that dern V8 sitting right there taking up lots of "working room" and the pump being slightly larger than the previous pump, I am

condsidering removing the Y Diverter valve that allows you to choose which fishwell you want to evacuate.  

I am considering replacing the Diverter valve with a T hose adapter the will feed both fishwell drain hoses into the intake side of the

macerator pump.  This will, in essence, drain both tanks simultaneously, continuing to drain until both are empty or the switch turned

off.

Have any of ya'll done anything like this or do you see any reason why this should not be acceptable?  I really don't care about the

convenience of choosing which tank to empty first.  The macerator should make short work of anything heading its way.  

Please give me you thoughts about this plan.

Thanks very much in advance, T.

[seabob4]

Trace,
As long as you have one of the newer "run dry" capable pumps, you won't have to worry about burning up the impeller.  A very small problem with macerators is that, when draining two boxes through a tee, when the first box gets emptied, air in introduced, and the second box doesn't drain.  So when the first box drains, put a plug in the drain hole.  From there, you should be good to go...

[T Race]

Ah HA !!

The old "Plug in the first fishwell empty trick..."   ala Agent 86


Dang it.  Why can't we all be back in the first grade when a Superman lunchbox and a home-made sling shot was all you really needed

to solve the pressing problems of the day ?


Thanks, Bob.  It's those little things that you just don't see coming...

[seabob4]

Ah HA !!

The old "Plug in the first fishwell empty trick..."   ala Agent 86


Dang it.  Why can't we all be back in the first grade when a Superman lunchbox and a home-made sling shot was all you really needed

to solve the pressing problems of the day ?


Thanks, Bob.  It's those little things that you just don't see coming...

Conquer the world...at least until lunchtime...

[T Race]

Oh yea... the Journey of 1000 Tears ain't in it compared to that long walk home from first grade, with your triple decker PB&J from lunch

long since burned off.... when every passing squirrel or blue jay was a potential feast, enough sustenance to get you to

your tree fort, where prior planning provided a half-eaten box of stale Cracker Jack's; allowing you to see again the light of another day.

[Double Trouble]

Check out Whale pumps they make a macerator just for fish boxes that can run dry.I am installing one in my 275 Explorer as soon as my pump kicks the bucket tired of replacing them every other year.My pump empties both boxes at once with no problem.Ialso installed a check valve to stop back wash.

[T Race]

Double,

      Thanks for your thoughts and before I go a step farther, it must be said:

Your boat looks SWEET.... it looks like a True Asskicker.  Just how fast will that thing go ?   Geez.

I am installing one in my 275 Explorer as soon as my pump kicks the bucket tired of replacing them every other year.My pump empties both boxes at once with no problem.Ialso installed a check valve to stop back wash.

I am confused with your comment.  Does the pump you have NOW - is it connected to a simple T hose adapter and it empties the two tanks fine?   Or you ANTICIPATE that the new Whale pump will do the trick.

Thanks for clarifying.  Also, are you impacted by the potential problem mentioned by Bob up above....air sucking in there?  

Thanks for your thoughts, T.

[Double Trouble]

Double,

      Thanks for your thoughts and before I go a step farther, it must be said:

Your boat looks SWEET.... it looks like a True Asskicker.  Just how fast will that thing go ?   Geez.
 

I am installing one in my 275 Explorer as soon as my pump kicks the bucket tired of replacing them every other year.My pump empties both boxes at once with no problem.Ialso installed a check valve to stop back wash.

I am confused with your comment.  Does the pump you have NOW - is it connected to a simple T hose adapter and it empties the two tanks fine?   Or you ANTICIPATE that the new Whale pump will do the trick.

Thanks for clarifying.  Also, are you impacted by the potential problem mentioned by Bob up above....air sucking in there?  

Thanks for your thoughts, T.

First thanks for the compliment. With 100 gals. of fuel and three people I had it up to 36 knots @5000 RPM I top out at about 5600 RPM and 41knots.

The pump I have now drains both tanks with no problem. As far as sucking air the pump is the lowest point it is below the boxes and lower then the drain hoses so by the time it sucks air the boxes are empty, I also have a check valve after the Tee to stop any backwash. Hope this helps.

[T Race]

Double,

   Yes thank you, your comments help a lot.  Where I will place this pump, the intake port will be just like yours - below level of the fishwell drain as well as the hoses.  

So, I'm just gonna plumb it and see what happens.  

I'll report back with the exciting results:  Clouds parting, Angels singing, golden glory upon my shoulders.  Or ankle deep in back-flushed

fishwell sludge and pelican crap dripping off my favorite Bass Pro Shop hat.  


Thanks again, Double.

[T Race]

Double,

   Yes thank you, your comments help a lot.  Where I will place this pump, the intake port will be just like yours - below level of the fishwell drain as well as the hoses.  

So, I'm just gonna plumb it and see what happens.  

I'll report back with the exciting results:  Clouds parting, Angels singing, golden glory upon my shoulders.  Or ankle deep in back-flushed

fishwell sludge and pelican crap dripping off my favorite Bass Pro Shop hat.  

Pump Re-Plumbing Results as follows:
 
No pelican crap on the Bass Pro Shop cap; the Sperry's are clean enough for cocktails down to the Yacht Club; the Cumulo AND the

Nimbus both got out the way; the angels brought in the FAT LADY and together they all sang a Tammy Wynett medley (awsome);

and yes, I am wearing a satin sheet of Golden Glory... you see, the pump works and all is right with the world.  


That dern macerator pump sucks better'n a twenty dollar whore...   it empties BOTH fishwells fast like you can't believe - an'

buddy I mean FAST -     and spits the water straight out the side of the boat in a steady steam that doesn't hit the water

for 4 or 5 feet.  It looks like some type of dern fire engine boat.... its almost kind of embarrassing.


Eliminating the Y Diverter valve seems to have caused no ill effects, the pump does not draw air until the last fishwell with water has

emptied, and through sheer luck only (no contribution of mental agility on my part) no backwash occurs after I shut the pump off.  

So, in essence, I am left with the residual infamous Aqua-inch of water down there.  

But I have some interesting ideas a'bubbling ...

[Double Trouble]

Happy to hear all went well what brand pump did you use.

[seabob4]

Trace,
The backwash deal, that's the difference between centrifugal pumps (bilge pumps) and diaphram or impeller type pumps (macerators).  Diaphram pumps can be run dry, not so with impeller pumps, as they need that flow of water to lubricate and cool the impeller.  One of the reasons a macerator pump should be on a momentary on/off switch, so that the operator doesn't turn his macerator pump on and walk away, with the stereo blaring and after have consumed many a Maker's Mark (in your case).  Can't hear the tone of the pump change when there is no longer water flowing through it, and, viola, burnt up impeller...

[gran398]

Trace, keep us posted friend. Like you style and special sayings.

Hoist a #12 for me this Christmas :santa:

[T Race]

Trace,
The backwash deal, that's the difference between centrifugal pumps (bilge pumps) and diaphram or impeller type pumps (macerators).  Diaphram pumps can be run dry, not so with impeller pumps, as they need that flow of water to lubricate and cool the impeller.  One of the reasons a macerator pump should be on a momentary on/off switch, so that the operator doesn't turn his macerator pump on and walk away, with the stereo blaring and after have consumed many a Maker's Mark (in your case).  Can't hear the tone of the pump change when there is no longer water flowing through it, and, viola, burnt up impeller...

Bob,

Good thought concerning the stereo blaring while simultaneously having consumed a wee bit of the corn squeezin's - all for medicinal purposes, mind you.     So, not knowing the proper term for that type of switch (spring loaded, press against the spring load to close the circuit; remove finger pressure and the spring load releases and opens the circuit to shut it off. Whew !) what is it called and any suggestions on who I should purchase that from?  

Thanks for you help and knowledge, you are sort of a guiding spirit in the ethers, and I think you add confidence to some of us out here in the peanut gallery.

And I have to say, in all honesty, I don't imbibe out on the water. The ocean water here is between, say, 58 degrees and as low as 50, and there is very little room for error, if you suddenly find yourself in the drink. We live on the edge out here ...and that is why I like WARM WATER  

 

Here on the couch, the air temp is hovering around 75 degrees...

the Old # 12 is neat...
and there is quite a bit of room for error  

[skyliner4444]

I'm a little late to the game with my response, but my 2004 215 DC Osprey Sport has a T fitting on the hoses to both fish lockers. (no diverter) and it works great.