Water in Aft Bilge

[Rosemary]

After running the aft bilge how much water should be left in the bilge. I always have about 2 inches of water remaining. Is something wrong ?

 

[it4llc]

I usually have an inch or two as well.

 

[SJI Sailor]

That seems to be normal. AFAICT it comes from water running back down the hose as well as the shape of the bilge vs the way the pump is installed.

 

[bill46]

I often find an inch or two in bilge aft of generator on our 31. Think it is rain. Use a rag to soak up.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

That sounds normal. In my tug the pump is installed on top of a small piece of wood or starboard so it would be impossible for it to get all the water. There may also be some back flow from the check valve depending on how far from the pump it is located in the exit hose as well. Gary

 

[Chimo]

There may also be some back flow from the check valve depending on how far from the pump it is located in the exit hose as well. Gary

That put a question in my head. How often should I change that check valve? I had noticed that, after 5 years, I was getting a little bit of back flow each time the pump does it's periodic 'check'. When I think back to my days at our weekend place in MD when we had a 13ft Whaler at our dock as a runabout I put a bilge pump in the stern well and fitted the same check valve. It was to clear rain water from the boat. The hose would fail because of sunshine after a couple of years. The check valve lasted maybe 5 years and then the pump died, probably from going into continual cycling. No problem with a Whaler; just pull the plug and most of the water would drain, leaving an inch or so in the stern to drain. Not so easy in a tug!

The hose in the RT is not getting sunlight but the check valve is still aging and is rather 'out of sight/out of mind'. How often do others change this cheap item? I will be changing ours this afternoon.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

How often do others change this cheap item?

Because it is easily accessible and an important part of a boat's mission of "keeping the water out", I plan to check yearly on the hard. Mine is a round flat piece of rubber with a semi-circular cut out creating a flapper valve that only allows water to flow one way based on the construction of the plastic housing inside of which it is fastened. Its the gray plastic thinga-ma-jiggy in the corrugated hose to the right in the picture with the black valve body showing in between the two halves. If yours is the same, I'd appreciate knowing the product ID and website where you purchase your replacement for when mine needs replacing. Thanks, Gary

Bilge pump check valve: https://share.icloud.com/photos/00UdEGh ... h7rnjPBq-Q

 

[nboyer]

I often find an inch or two in bilge aft of generator on our 31. Think it is rain. Use a rag to soak up.

Or a small shop vac. Cheers. -Norm