Association Forum - Dump the Sump (water ballast) setup?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Dump the Sump (water ballast) setup?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

britinusa
Web Editor

Member Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/14/2005 : 08:25:31

We tried the water ballast pump option, I think Arlyn or Jim suggested it, and it worked great until our cheapo pump died (won't charge) so we are going to get a new one.
It occured to me that it should not be so difficult to install it as a permanent fixture.

Is there enough space in the area fwd of the anchor locker (where the tube for the ballast vent is located) to put a pump in there.

I was thinking of T'ing into the ballast hose, putting a one way valve in the extension tube and connecting that to the air pump, then wiring the air pump to a switch at the electrical panel. Then to 'dump the sump' just open the deck valve and flick the switch.

Sitting at the anchor locker pressing the pump into the vent hole is just another part of the journey to heat stroke some days in the heat of SoFla.

Ideas?

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2005 : 11:45:23

Paul, I agree that a permanent pump would be the way to go and it shouldn't be hard to install and I think the place to do that is in the forward area of the V berth locker. The tee should be made perhaps thru the access port behind the V berth pouch.

I'm not sure a check valve in the air line would be needed... I've often not inserted the vent plug with no seeming consequences.

The one caveat is that the pump should be a low pressure variety so that an accidental turn on doesn't cause any damage.

I purchased a pump with nicad batteries, which did the job the first year taking about five minutes to pump out the tank. It then lost its ability leaving me back to a hand pump. My pump has five batteries so is a six volt motor and fortunatly I've two six volt golf cart batteries in the V berth locker so power wouldn't be a problem.

For pumps that are six volts and only 12 volts are available, two can wired in series as they are quite cheap. With the outputs manifolded to the ballast tank vent line, pumpout time could be approximately three minutes.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2005 : 22:05:19

Arlyn, when you metion 'low pressure' type, are you thinking that it would be possible to blow more than the water out of the ballast

My concern and reason for the one way valve was if the water gushed up the vent it might gush up the air pipe to the air pump. BTW, I have gotten a great deal of value from visiting your website. Nice job.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.