DIY Dry Bilge System

Lenny3

Lenny3

Active Member
Mar 19, 2021
131
Selinsgrove Pa.
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 310 Sundancer
2006 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck (Previous)
Engines
Twin 5.7 350 MPI
5.0 Mercruiser Bravo III
BEECB1DB-EDB3-4BE9-93FA-BE1587AC52FD.jpeg
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Always had water in the bilge between the engines on the 310 so I decided to take a shot at a DIY project I seen online. I plan on plumbing it to the shower sump.

I’ll install it over the Thanksgiving weekend and report the results.
F9D24F51-D2AA-4A5A-B08A-A7E2F0B2FE50.jpeg
 
Details, please. Is that a timer we see in the second picture? Or, do you have a moisture sensor in the bilge?
 
All items purchased from Amazon.
Only have the timer setup for now. You can program it for 1 day or all 7 days or anything in between, 20 times a day on/off. I have it set for 3 days for 8 minutes a day. The timer was $10 bucks and I think a quality and reliable water switch could be $50 bucks so I went with the timer 1st and I can always add the water switch later.
This is was good information for me
https://lifeempirically.com/2018/03/12/build-your-own-diy-arid-bilge-or-dry-bilge-system/
 
Lenny3 said:
All items purchased from Amazon.
Only have the timer setup for now. You can program it for 1 day or all 7 days or anything in between, 20 times a day on/off. I have it set for 3 days for 8 minutes a day. The timer was $10 bucks and I think a quality and reliable water switch could be $50 bucks so I went with the timer 1st and I can always add the water switch later.
This is was good information for me
https://lifeempirically.com/2018/03/12/build-your-own-diy-arid-bilge-or-dry-bilge-system/
Click to expand...

Nice setup, probably better then this one: https://www.seaflo.us/product/dry-bilge-system/#undefined

Same sponge concept, they seem to work the best. I have been considering making one for a while, I just want one that senses water and gets rid of it. But the timer thing works I guess and you can connect it to the existing bilge pump constant 12v for an easy install. Great post, post back your experience with it.
 
It is not ignition protected however, this unit is small enough to be install outside the engine compartment. You can also mount the timer remotely near the helm if so desired.
 
i had the exact same timer on my 10 meter.

It's a 12 volt timer used primarily in the birding industry (chicken coops) that can easily run a bilge or other pump.

I had mine set to run twice a day for :30

worked perfectly for several years !

The idea of running the dry system to the sump is great !

BEST !

RWS
 
I bought a pump planning to make one, but we just finished our basement, and you can guess how many boat projects got worked on lately.

But for $140 for an off the shelf unit, I think I might just buy it. I would have to read up on it, see if its just timer activated, or if a water witch could activate it. Regardless, that might knock one more item off the list.

But to @Lenny3, nice work!!
 
SeaNile said:
I would absolutely do this if I had somewhere to run the discharge hose.
Click to expand...
I would think you could tee into one of the scupper deck drain fittings. Those are usually pretty good sized (1"?) which would allow you to drill and thread for a 1/4" barbed fitting to be screwed into it.
 
Nater Potater said:
I would think you could tee into one of the scupper deck drain fittings. Those are usually pretty good sized (1"?) which would allow you to drill and thread for a 1/4" barbed fitting to be screwed into it.
Click to expand...
That's a good idea. The only thing I'd add to that is to use a short upward loop right off the fitting to avoid some of the deck water "possibly" going down the little tube and back into the bilge.

Lenny, have you figured out WHY you're constantly getting water down there? In your boat, that should be a dry bilge. Getting water down there means there an issue somewhere. Personally I'd track down the reason rather than using what may be a "band aid". Unless you're talking about water from after washing the bilge? But a big towel can take care of that water.
 
dtfeld said:
... But for $140 for an off the shelf unit, I think I might just buy it. I would have to read up on it, see if its just timer activated, or if a water witch could activate it. ...
Click to expand...



If your referencing the one from the link I posted, it is the same thing, timer activated. I am also wanting a water activated system.
 
dtfeld said:
I bought a pump planning to make one, but we just finished our basement, and you can guess how many boat projects got worked on lately.

But for $140 for an off the shelf unit, I think I might just buy it. I would have to read up on it, see if its just timer activated, or if a water witch could activate it. Regardless, that might knock one more item off the list.

But to @Lenny3, nice work!!
Click to expand...
I'm not sure a water witch type switch would work for this application. The main purpose to get small amounts of water out of the bilge. The water witch and other field effect switches I've seen turn on at 2" and turn off at 3/4" or 1/2" of water. Seems like you need a much smaller range.

If you had a sensor that could detect a very low level of water, you might be able to add in an off-delay relay to run the pump for a time after the water level dropped. That would allow to keep the pump running to ensure as much water as possible was pulled out of the bilge. I just picked up a very small configurable relay board from Amazon to repair my solar powered dingy bilge pump - you can set the off delay in a wide range of times.

I wonder if something like a wireless Siren Marine water level sensor could work - for those that have this system. If the sensor goes off you can use the system to activate a DC relay. That relay could be for the small water pump. The sensor can be mounted however you want, and the water sensing contacts are at the bottom. Seems like you could mount is very low in the bilge, especially if paired with an off-delay relay to keep the pump running for a bit.
 
Lenny3 said:
View attachment 136926 View attachment 136925 Always had water in the bilge between the engines on the 310 so I decided to take a shot at a DIY project I seen online. I plan on plumbing it to the shower sump.

I’ll install it over the Thanksgiving weekend and report the results. View attachment 136924
Click to expand...
Really a sweet setup. I like the diaphragm pump as it doesn't require water to cover the inlet/sponge to remove every drop like a centrifugal bilge pump does. It'll pump air just as effectively as water.
 
Lazy Daze said:
That's a good idea. The only thing I'd add to that is to use a short upward loop right off the fitting to avoid some of the deck water "possibly" going down the little tube and back into the bilge.

Lenny, have you figured out WHY you're constantly getting water down there? In your boat, that should be a dry bilge. Getting water down there means there an issue somewhere. Personally I'd track down the reason rather than using what may be a "band aid". Unless you're talking about water from after washing the bilge? But a big towel can take care of that water.
Click to expand...
I do believe that one of my dripless seals is leaking. I have notice water in the bilge ever since I purchased the boat last year. My bilge pumps only remove part of the water. When I take the boat out of the water this January I will address the issue. Thanks
 
Lenny3 said:
I do believe that one of my dripless seals is leaking. I have notice water in the bilge ever since I purchased the boat last year. My bilge pumps only remove part of the water. When I take the boat out of the water this January I will address the issue. Thanks
Click to expand...
Sure - it was just a side comment as addressing that would help. But, yeah, regular bilge pumps aren't designed to take it all out. Neat idea!

FYI... you don't have dripless seals. You have outdrives. That's why I mentioned that your bilge should be dry.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Sure - it was just a side comment as addressing that would help. But, yeah, regular bilge pumps aren't designed to take it all out. Neat idea!

FYI... you don't have dripless seals. You have outdrives. That's why I mentioned that your bilge should be dry.
Click to expand...
This will be installed in my 2007 310 Sundancer with V-drives not my old 2007 Sundeck.......
 
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