Other Mid-hull bilge location

[Pablo]

Any body run their bilge in middle of engine bay versus against the bulkhead/mid shaft area? It's too tight in that area for my liking. My Superfreak has the recessed front foothold and that combined with the battery already on one side and the water inlets and trim tube on the other it's just too tight for my liking in the normal locations. I'm thinking of running it like it sits in the pic with the plumbing coming under the chamber and exiting near the bulkhead on same side.

 

[oxnard111]

I use to run my second bilge in that exact location and believe it or not I would actually notice more water coming out of that bilge versus the rear bilge.

 

[matth113]

Its the perfect location for a bilge but down side is you got to have a bunch of water to pump from that location and the freestyle boats ride nose high at slow speeds any how. To me that location is more of a location to put a pump when ur worried about sinking your boat. I run duel 1100's pushed up against the fire wall !! so water doesn't have a chance to get that far forward...i think but it worked so far so im going with it

 

[Waternut]

If you're running a scupper, it's the perfect spot for a bilge pump. Think of it this way... When riding, the scupper dumps all of the water. When you aren't riding, the ski is always nose low because all the weight is in the front of the ski. The low point when sitting in water is around the fuel tank. The downside to running up there though is it makes it difficult to remove the flywheel cover and possibly the fuel tank as well without knocking the bilge pump out of place.

 

[ADDict]

Wouldn't recommend it for a surf boat. I rode Crab's SJ all week at the Surf Slam, the first few days it had only the mid mounted bilge hooked up, no scupper. When I would come down from a wave tail first and the ski went under it would take on a small amount of water. The couplers would thrash it around the bilge compartment causing the ski to take in water through the carbs (proks) even with the coupler cover on. I'd have to cruise around for a good 30-45 seconds to clear out the ski. We switched it to the rear mounted bilge and it would clear itself out within a few seconds each time.
Grant it in this situation a better sealing hood, scupper and stock flame arrestor could have helped but there is a lot to say for getting the water away from the couplers ASAP.

 

[nokfir]

when i had mine up there it never worked cuz all the water was always in the back. i would have to shut off and get off of it to get the water to slosh forward

 

[Pablo]

I'm running a scupper as well, but not willing to go bilge-less.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Are you going to run the stock siphon pickup at the rear still?

What about using a remote mounted bait pump up front hosed down to one of the siphon bilge pickups at the rear?
http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/20697-baitwell-pump-500-gph-seacock.html

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

If you ran a line off that bait pump in the right way it could get your hull drier than any bilge pump could.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I have a couple of the bilge pickups from the GP800's that have a larger hose size and would match up well if you wanna try it.

 

[Waternut]

Why would a stock siphon even be a consideration? Wouldn't a scupper be 100x better than any stock siphon? I mean both require the engine to be running and the ski moving. The only difference is the scupper drains a ski in a few seconds instead of a few minutes.

 

[NVJAY775]

I would be afraid to get separated from the ski and have it go upside down and displace air / water fast and go down using a scupper. Flatwater I think scuppers are OK. I'm very happy with my xmetal and aluminum window screen filter for flatwater. And dual 500's.

 

[Matt_E]

Why would a stock siphon even be a consideration? Wouldn't a scupper be 100x better than any stock siphon? I mean both require the engine to be running and the ski moving. The only difference is the scupper drains a ski in a few seconds instead of a few minutes.

Perhaps because a stock siphon won't sink an upside down ski in seconds.

 

[OCD Solutions]

That and if there's no room for a bilge pump at the back, the stock siphon would be better than nothing.

You couldn't pay me to put a scupper in any ski so while it may be tops on your list, it's not even an option on mine.

I wanna see what the bait pump with siphon pickup will do. I may pick one up from walmart tonight and do some testing...

 

[Waternut]

Perhaps because a stock siphon won't sink an upside down ski in seconds.

That and if there's no room for a bilge pump at the back, the stock siphon would be better than nothing.

You couldn't pay me to put a scupper in any ski so while it may be tops on your list, it's not even an option on mine.

I can understand both of these posts but the OP already said he has a scupper and that's why I was asking why people are recommending siphons...

 

[OCD Solutions]

Stock siphon was only mentioned once by me and only for added security, the other mentions of stock siphon are in reference to using the plastic siphon pickup connected to a remote pump that could be located up front somewhere. This way he could still have a pump and have the pickup at the rear where it will do the most good.

 

[Sanoman]

Bait pump? l'm heading to Walmart now. What is different about the bait pump Boyer?

 

[Aircraftsalz]

The Superfreak hulls are so tight and a dry ride. I never used my pump, ever!

I've lost my ski upside down for over a min.... Fired right up. Seen chris do the same thing.....

Tem builds a very tight hull, never seen a hull stay so dry..

Also the freaks are so light when upside down the scupper let's very little water in.

I rode a freak in the surf for 6 months!

That pump will be fine, you only want one to bullsh@t sitting in the water when your scupper leaks.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Instead of a basket strainer on the bottom it has an inlet tube. It is meant to install thru the side of a baitwell or cooler but i am thinking you could connect a short hose with a siphon pickup and it will work just as well. You could then remote mount the pump anywhere.

 

[Endo]

Not sure if that bait pump is self priming?