Shower Box in Bilge
 

Not sure if anyone has done this but...on our 292 the sink feeds into the bilge. personally i think its a silly design. since we just cleaned our bilge, took motors out, etc...we would really like to avert this in the future. anyone use a shower box or other self contained container with pump to collect sink water? Thanks.

My 330SS has a separate box in the bilge where the sink and shower water flows. There is a separate bilge pump for the shower box. So, the bilge stays dry(er)

I think that it would be an easy modification to your boat.

My sink in my 311 runs right out through the hull, same with the sink on my 232 captiva. The only difference was the sink was in the cockpit while the 311 sink is down below. That is odd it runs into the bilge though.

My 350 is also set up like the 330. I think it is weird that they would flow it into the bilge without a sump box. Makes me wonder if there is already a sump box down there but the float is stuck and it is overflowing into the bilge. We clean ours out periodically to keep gunk from forming around the float. The top of the box is just kept in place with a butterfly clip so it isn't really sealed. You may want to check your manuals or call Formula to see if there may already be a sump box there.

If not I would think about having someone put through hull fittings in and just run it overboard like many boats are set up.

I thought draining into the bilge was stupid too. A shower sump under the step in cabin would have made much more sense. However, you do have your bilge pumps down there so all you gotta do is flip the switch, however not sure if anyone else has ever noticed I can never get all the water out of the lines. As soon as I turn the bilge pumps off the water that hasn't made it out just rushes back into the bilge. I mainly rely on shamwow's to soak up the excess. I have a designated one for the engine compartment, as the water is generally a tad bit oily or greasy.

I've been trying to think of ways to add AC to my 292 without drilling any additional holes in the hull. I'm gonna try using the existing water pickups and lines from the drive and just install sea strainers with a spliter and ball valve to direct the water to the AC. Or maybe even run it off a hose, as I don't plan on using it away from the dock as I don't have a generator to power it. I've read that someone on here installed AC in their 292 and tapped into their bilge lines for the discharge. I'd be interested in seeing pics of that.

However, a shower sump might work as well. I know my dad's AC in his 31PC the discharge isn't a constant stream unlike others i've seen. Almost like his drains into a sump and then pumps out when full.

I have a "gray water" aka shower/ sink sump with pump in it. I havent seen a fastech with a sump yet. Maybe when you get up to the 353s when they have a shower they add one.

Brian, most of all ACs have an in and out loop for the pump. If sucks raw water in through thru hull source, goes through AC unit to dissipate heat and out it goes. Only when the AC kicks on will that pump come on unlike older models when the pump runs non stop. You also have to deal with the condensate drain that can be T'd into in a drain like the sinks as it has no pressure.

Understood. I know I would need another pump for the water in to the AC, but my question is would it be possible to use the pickups from the drive instead of drilling another hole in my hull below the waterline for a pickup. Be efficent and use whats there, again this is just a thought/idea that popped into my head.

Install a seastrainer on the water line from the drive. Then after the stainer split the line. One to the motor one to the AC unit. Could even control water flow with valves or something. Just got to remember to make sure the right ones are open when needed. Then a pump on the AC line that feeds the unit when AC is on like you said. Biggest question is would the pump be strong enough to pull the water from the drive, through the strainer, to the AC unit.

2nd option would be to just using a hose with city water pressure to feed the unit instead of seawater as I don't plan to use it away from the dock to begin with.

Getting back to the purpose of this tread, the sink on the 292's just drains into the bilge. Although they don't come with a sump, I see no reason why you couldn't add one, under the sink or even in the engine compartmnet inorder to keep bilge cleaner. Personally, I haven't used the sink in 3 seasons now, which is making me think to repurpose it for an AC unit as I would install it under the sink in my 292.