CSY 33 Shower Sump

[Arlington (Sonny) Lambert]

Hello Everyone,
I have been working on my 33 for over a year now and am trying to figure out how to install a shower sump. My boat has the engine under the galley sink with direct shaft, no vee drive. I have room in the forward section of the bilge to install a sump, but I also have an A/C pump, gravity flow, and waterline level to consider. I have thought of installing the sump at the low level in order that the shower might drain via gravity flow into the sump, then pump overboard. If I raise the A/C pump to a higher level, then the water may not reach the pump because the thru hull fitting is lower. Has any other 33 owner installed a shower sump, and if so, I would appreciate knowing how you did the installation, especially if also have an A/C pump. The size of the two pumps prohibits them from being installed at the same level. I would not like to have to install another thru hull  as I think there are already too many holes in the boat. I would really appreciate the benefit of any of your experiences and expertise before I do something that may be a mistake. Thank you in advance

Sonny Lambert
S/V Sonrae
79 CSY 33 Hull #10
Jacksonville, FL

[Peter Roach]

I have seen Beneteau sailboats with a pump plumbed into the shower drain line. When you take a shower you flip a switch in the shower, it turn on the pump, and it drains directly from the shower pan. 

This does not solve the sink drain issue.

[David]

I have a standard shower sump from West Marine mounted at the forward end of my bilge (there is a 750 gph pump inside the sump). The top of the sump is removable for easy cleaning and/or repair. The sink and shower in the head both drain to the sump. There is a discharge line from the sump going back to the head, under the head sink, then to an overboard discharge thru-hull fitting with a seacock. There is a check valve installed on the discharge line side of the sump. Seems to work well.

[Jonathan]

That seemed like a good spot to me too.  Do you find the shower pan has enough 'downhill' to drain properly?  And how the heck did you get a hose attached to that shower pan drain?

Also, did you add a through-hull fitting, or use one of the ones already present?

[David]

My shower and sump were already installed when I purchased the boat. I have had limited use of the shower and sink in the head being a live-aboard in a marina. The drain seems to work fine as long as the float valve inside the sump box is adjusted to the proper height. If the sump float is not aligned properly or gets jammed with junk in the water then the sump will overflow into the bilge. Just something to watch for.

The sump is plumbed to a separate thru-hull fitting and seacock right at the waterline behind the head paneling. There is a check valve on the output line of the sump going to the overboard discharge thru-hull and seacock to prevent water from coming in and overflowing the sump box and spilling over into the bilge.

As far as how to hook up the shower drain under the pan; it looks like you might have to go through the bottom of the locker just to the port side of the mast in the main salon. It looks like this locker has a false bottom with the shower drain line to the sump, and the drain line from the sump to the head and seacock/thru-hull passing under this locker. It looks like you could access the drain to the shower from here but without opening it up I do not know for sure. It does not look like mine has ever been opened.

[Jonathan]

As far as how to hook up the shower drain under the pan; it looks like you might have to go through the bottom of the locker just to the port side of the mast in the main salon. It looks like this locker has a false bottom with the shower drain line to the sump, and the drain line from the sump to the head and seacock/thru-hull passing under this locker. It looks like you could access the drain to the shower from here but without opening it up I do not know for sure. It does not look like mine has ever been opened.

I guess I will eventually have to just look and see; in another conversation someone pointed out that the L of the settee is actually water tank under that floor (http://www.csyowners.com/forums/index.php?topic=169.msg901#msg901) - so who knows.

[Arlington (Sonny) Lambert]

David,
You said your shower sump is at the forward end of the bilge, correct? I am assuming it is mounted on the flat area right at the VERY forward end. I have a AC pump mounted there. I tried to fit the sump and the AC pump in the same area but it will not work. Also, I had concerns that there would be enough gravity flow for the shower to effectively dump into the sump.  Sounds like yours is working well, so all I have to do is relocate the AC pump, install the shower sump and install another thru hull, something I did not want to do. Peter Roach suggested installing a pump, turn it on when taking a shower and let it pump directly overboard. I believe he mentioned that the Beneteau folks do that on their newer boats. The only other problem that left me with was what to do with the sink drain. With the sump, both hoses go there.
I will check to see if I can tie in to the  toilet discharge thru hull and avoid another hole in the boat. Any suggestions from anyone? I had almost given up on the idea of installing a shower sump, even though I purchased one. I now have hope, since reading all of your posts.
On another note, I am working diligently to get this boat upgraded to the point where I feel comfortable taking it offshore. I have the Perkins 4108 engine and my guess is that it has somewhere around 3000 plus hours. Anyone had any significant problems with their engines?
Also, does anyone know if any rudder building companies has a mold for the CSY 33 rudder?  Sorry about so many questions, I have been away from the forum for a while.

[David]

Sonny,
That is correct, I have my sump mounted on the flat area on the forward section of the bilge.
I have my bilge pumps mounted on a weighted platform that is connected to a ss cable allowing me to pull them up, clearning the sump so I can access them if needed.

About the 4-108 Perkins engine. I have only had a leaking fuel injector pump that I am in the process of replacing.

I also have a problem with a leaking aluminum 60 gallon fuel tank. Had to cut the tank to get it out. Reduced the width by 12 inches (cutting out the section that was leaking) and then welded the end plate back on. I am attempting to reinstall at this time. I will post both issues in the appropriate sections