AC drain sump/ Bilge Pump repair???

[Eddieclemons]

I have always had a bad smell in the center ac drain sump box. I decided to replace pump, hose, lever, and clamps and investigate. I found a big glob of failing silicone under the pump and lever. After vacuuming as much of the solid black water out of the old holes, I am looking to repair. I currently have a blower on it to dry. Should I just fill with epoxy or ??? The floor of the sump feels paper thin. Thanks. Location is forward and center of engines, directly behind the forward fuel tank.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Looks like a formed fit, may be to hard to replace or make new a whole new sump.
Is that paint in there? Strip it all out, scuff, clean, epoxy with cloth on the bottom.

Lots of options on how to mount a new float switch and pump, without punching new holes in the bottom.

 

[SEVEN]

I agree with ralph. Clean it up, patch all the holes, epoxy with cloth. You might want to replace the exit hose as well. I found mine to be full of garbage, and it had an odor as well.

 

[Eddieclemons]

I ended up adding three layers of glass and waterguard 300 on top in white. I started way too many projects this winter, almost killed me. so much more to share.

 

[bostonhatteras]

The center bilge on August was similar. Paper thin and ultimately porous layer of fiberglass creating the bilge floor over the keel foam coring. Contributed mightily to the 'Hatteras smell' Glassed it all in as you did and and smell problem solved. Getting the keel dried out was another matter though.

 

[Cricket]

Love it, nice to see what I consider an all the way proper repair done. Best of all installing an Ultra switch.

 

[Pascal]

Looks good. Some thickened epoxy would have been fine too. Ultra switch… very nice

 

[rwaldrop13]

I agree with ralph. Clean it up, patch all the holes, epoxy with cloth. You might want to replace the exit hose as well. I found mine to be full of garbage, and it had an odor as well.

I had a similar issue in the generator room on Pau Hana, and after cleaning it to bare hull, I skimmed it with epoxy and cloth, then mounted a new pump, float switch, discharge hose etc. I used a thin piece of starboard to mount the pump and float switch on, with a brace to attach it to a strut so it would be easily removable for future need. I had the same issue in the v-berth lazarette and did the same thing. Eliminated the smell, and by installing new discharge hoses I ensured best flow from the pumps.

 

[Captain Ralph]

I ended up adding three layers of glass and waterguard 300 on top in white.

Sweet.

 

[Eddieclemons]

The center bilge on August was similar. Paper thin and ultimately porous layer of fiberglass creating the bilge floor over the keel foam coring. Contributed mightily to the 'Hatteras smell' Glassed it all in as you did and and smell problem solved. Getting the keel dried out was another matter though.

Those holes were there a while and from time to time I would get the super smelly water come up from below. It would smell awful when you vacuumed it out. And sometimes It would stay dry for months. I am not sure where it will go now if it accumulates, it sounds like you may know?

 

[Eddieclemons]

Love it, nice to see what I consider an all the way proper repair done. Best of all installing an Ultra switch.

I did all of the bilge pump areas this winter. Clean, repair, paint, new pumps, hose, and ultras. We were back to cruising last weekend and it felt great. Did Cricket get any work this winter???

 

[Cricket]

Not to much for a change. Had to fix the floor in the master closet that had some rot from the AC condensate pan which turned into new plywood tabbed to the hull and sistering a few deck beams. Never going to rot again with all of the glass we added. Also inside doing some padded walls and wallpaper in the cabins and new vanity counters/tops. In the ER new fuel coolers, alternators, starters and some additional engine plumbing. Really would like to add a sonar but haven't been able to con myself into spending that much $$$$.

 

[rwaldrop13]

Those holes were there a while and from time to time I would get the super smelly water come up from below. It would smell awful when you vacuumed it out. And sometimes It would stay dry for months. I am not sure where it will go now if it accumulates, it sounds like you may know?

Well for what it's worth I chased a mystery water accumulation in my generator room from when we bought Pau Hana until about a year later - I sat in the gen room and ran the dishwasher, and discovered drain hose had a split on the back side against the hull about 6 inches before the thru-hull fitting. It only opened when the dishwasher was draining, I'm guessing due to pressure(?). Since this was also my galley sink drain, I replaced entire hose from coupling to thru-hull. That mystery leak was solved, which was what led to further repairs I posted earlier. But yours looks much nicer than mine did.