SO49 sump strainer

[GrahamT]

Our 2004 SO49 has a perforated metal screen installed around the deep sump. This has sufficient "lip" on it to prevent all the bilge water to drain into the sump which leaves a permanent few mm of water around the keel bolts. Is this standard on the SO 49 and if so is there a workaround to ensure a dry bilge?

Link to picture:

www.dropbox.com/s/9401z1aasisv3dc/SumpScreen.JPG?dl=0

[loredo]

Yes, same thing in my boat.  One thing though, where is the water in your bilge coming from? Is it sweet or salt water?

Mine is as dry as can be.  The only time my bilge pump cycles is when the AC is running.

I believe the thinking behind that bilge design is once the boat heels all water will collect in the recess for the bilge pump. (?)

[GrahamT]

loredo, thanks for the response. Slowly working through possible water sources but also found that the bilge pump float switch in the sump had gone open circuit - wiring at base of the switch underwater and eventually corroded through. Replacement switch is slightly larger (though screw holes were compatible) and needed "trimming" to clear the side of the sump. New switch also has top entry wiring so should be less vulnerable to corrosion. Since our genset is mounted directly over the sump it's also a job for a contortionist.

Bilge now dry. We'll see how it goes when we next go for a sail.

[velalibera]

hi GrahamT

I have the same problem...

I'm thinking of installing an additional small bilge pump in the area of keel bolts to keep it dry...

do you think this might be a possible solution to have it dry ?

any comment is appreciated

Fabrizio

[loredo]

Graham,

you know that you can slide the genset sideways towards the kitchen, right?  Moving the genset makes the access to the bilge sump & pump switch easy.  Have you checked the over pressure valve of the water heater?  That's often where the water in the bilge comes from.

Velalibera,

I don't think that another bilge pump in the keel bolt area is useful to keep the larger bilge area dry. Simple reason is, the pump would need to pick up a couple millimeters of water.  I know of no bilge pump capable of picking up a few millimeters of water...

When there is more than a few mm of water around the keel bolts then the water level will be above the screen and drain into the bilge sump area where the floating switch is.

[closequarters]

Agree with others to find source of water. When I purchased my 42DS the previous owner had removed the strainer possibly for same reason. No adverse effects that I can see.
Cheers.

[GrahamT]

After monitoring this for a while water source looks to be only from the AC. Now that summer's over in Aus that should be less of an issue for a while.


Thanks for all your replies.