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Author Topic:   305 Conquest: Adding Second Bilge Bump

SouthFla posted 07-13-2009 11:13 AM ET (US)
I have a 2005 Boston Whaler 305 Conquest 305. For the LIFE of me, I can't figure out why it has only ONE bilge pump. I want to add a second completely independent bilge pump, which will require drilling the hull for an additional thru-hull.
I'm assuming [making a hole in the hull for a through hull] will possibly void the hull warranty, but as a boater who frequently travels far from land for days at a time, having only one bilge pump is completely unacceptable. I've never drilled through a Unibond hull, so any thoughts or pearls of wisdom which may help me in this endeavor would be most welcomed. Thanks.--John
RevengeFamily posted 07-13-2009 02:01 PM ET (US)
John--Not sure it would void the warranty, call Whaler or the dealer where you purchased it. They could let you know.
I have a 1999 280 Conquest. My Conquest has a forward bilge pump as well as the one in the stern. I really don't want to have to rely on the forward bilge pump as a back up. Don't really want that much water in the bilge before a secondary pump fires up.
I installed an additional pump in the stern. Installation wasn't bad, getting into the bilge where the pump was located was a bit tough, but it was doable. I used a 2-inch hole saw to drill through the inner hull. I let the pilot bit drill through the exterior hull to make locating the thru hull easy. I then removed the inner glass and the foam. Laid in a layer of glass and resin to seal the foam from water intrusion into the foam. Used a 1-inch hole saw to drill for the thru-hull fitting on the outer hull. Installed the thru-hull fitting, hose and pump with float switch. I now have three bilge pump switches at the helm as well as peace of mind.
Redundancy is very GOOD thing.
Norm
jollyrog305 posted 07-13-2009 02:13 PM ET (US)
Is it because you are worried about the single one failing, or not being able to keep up with a lot of water entering the bilge area? There should be actually a second pump (third if you count the shower) located forward under the stairs. Anyway, my friend and I rigged an emergency or backup pump for his boat by buying a standard 12-volt bilge pump, adding a length of hose and connecting the wire to some alligator clips. When needed we just threw the hose over the side, clipped it on the battery terminal and dropped it in.
SouthFla posted 07-13-2009 03:52 PM ET (US)
Thaks for the input all. Yes, there's a second pump under the cabin next to the shower, but that really doesn't count as a bilge pump, even though Whaler calls it that.
The addition of a second pump is strictly for peace of mind. I have no water intrusion, and obviously don't plan on having any.
But when I'm in the middle of nowhere, 60 miles from land, caught in a sudden thunderstorm and heavy seas, the last thing I need to worry about is my lone bilge pump failing should it be called into action.
Jolly, that's a pretty good idea for a spare pump without doing anything permanent to the hull. I'll give it some thought. Thanks.--John
high sierra posted 07-13-2009 10:10 PM ET (US)
Hi SF, put the biggest one you can fit in the hole. A 1100-GPH pump will not keep up with a garden hose flowing freely. I put a 2000-GPH pump in the rear sump of my Outrage 18 to go along with the 1100-GPH in the rear transom area. Believe me you don't have time to think about bilge pumps when your tackle is floating over the transom. high sierra
jimh posted 07-14-2009 07:37 AM ET (US)
If you are worried about making a hole in the Unibond hull for a through hull, even for a through hull that will be well above the water line, you could always route the exhaust hose from the sump pump to the engine splash well. The exhaust hose could either dump water into the splash well to drain to the sea via the splash well drains, or the hose could be routed over the transom and drain directly to the sea.

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Author	Topic: 305 Conquest: Adding Second Bilge Bump
SouthFla	posted 07-13-2009 11:13 AM ET (US) I have a 2005 Boston Whaler 305 Conquest 305. For the LIFE of me, I can't figure out why it has only ONE bilge pump. I want to add a second completely independent bilge pump, which will require drilling the hull for an additional thru-hull. I'm assuming [making a hole in the hull for a through hull] will possibly void the hull warranty, but as a boater who frequently travels far from land for days at a time, having only one bilge pump is completely unacceptable. I've never drilled through a Unibond hull, so any thoughts or pearls of wisdom which may help me in this endeavor would be most welcomed. Thanks.--John
RevengeFamily	posted 07-13-2009 02:01 PM ET (US) John--Not sure it would void the warranty, call Whaler or the dealer where you purchased it. They could let you know. I have a 1999 280 Conquest. My Conquest has a forward bilge pump as well as the one in the stern. I really don't want to have to rely on the forward bilge pump as a back up. Don't really want that much water in the bilge before a secondary pump fires up. I installed an additional pump in the stern. Installation wasn't bad, getting into the bilge where the pump was located was a bit tough, but it was doable. I used a 2-inch hole saw to drill through the inner hull. I let the pilot bit drill through the exterior hull to make locating the thru hull easy. I then removed the inner glass and the foam. Laid in a layer of glass and resin to seal the foam from water intrusion into the foam. Used a 1-inch hole saw to drill for the thru-hull fitting on the outer hull. Installed the thru-hull fitting, hose and pump with float switch. I now have three bilge pump switches at the helm as well as peace of mind. Redundancy is very GOOD thing. Norm
jollyrog305	posted 07-13-2009 02:13 PM ET (US) Is it because you are worried about the single one failing, or not being able to keep up with a lot of water entering the bilge area? There should be actually a second pump (third if you count the shower) located forward under the stairs. Anyway, my friend and I rigged an emergency or backup pump for his boat by buying a standard 12-volt bilge pump, adding a length of hose and connecting the wire to some alligator clips. When needed we just threw the hose over the side, clipped it on the battery terminal and dropped it in.
SouthFla	posted 07-13-2009 03:52 PM ET (US) Thaks for the input all. Yes, there's a second pump under the cabin next to the shower, but that really doesn't count as a bilge pump, even though Whaler calls it that. The addition of a second pump is strictly for peace of mind. I have no water intrusion, and obviously don't plan on having any. But when I'm in the middle of nowhere, 60 miles from land, caught in a sudden thunderstorm and heavy seas, the last thing I need to worry about is my lone bilge pump failing should it be called into action. Jolly, that's a pretty good idea for a spare pump without doing anything permanent to the hull. I'll give it some thought. Thanks.--John
high sierra	posted 07-13-2009 10:10 PM ET (US) Hi SF, put the biggest one you can fit in the hole. A 1100-GPH pump will not keep up with a garden hose flowing freely. I put a 2000-GPH pump in the rear sump of my Outrage 18 to go along with the 1100-GPH in the rear transom area. Believe me you don't have time to think about bilge pumps when your tackle is floating over the transom. high sierra
jimh	posted 07-14-2009 07:37 AM ET (US) If you are worried about making a hole in the Unibond hull for a through hull, even for a through hull that will be well above the water line, you could always route the exhaust hose from the sump pump to the engine splash well. The exhaust hose could either dump water into the splash well to drain to the sea via the splash well drains, or the hose could be routed over the transom and drain directly to the sea.