Dry bilge Solutions

I have a 3 gallon rigid shop vac with orange pro hose that I use in my stern and mid bilge every couple months. Fwd bilge never has a drop and that is where shower sump is which I think is pretty incredible. Other two I can get about a gallon that accumulates from OCD wash down with fresh water.

Came across this a few years ago.... Never got around to building one for my old Princess but looks like it is an affordable way to do it.

https://lifeempirically.com/2018/03/12/build-your-own-diy-arid-bilge-or-dry-bilge-system/

We've used the arid bilge dry for nearly 4 years. Been happy with it and boat stays very dry.

Installed this little 12 volt sump-pump a few years ago: (upper left corner)
It sucks from the bottom of a forward bilge and discharges the water into the shower box where it gets pumped overboard by an another 12 volt pump.
Works good and sturdy: Left it on overnight by mistake, it ran dry for 8+ hours and kept working forever after.

That's impressive!
Can't see the brand/model from your photo, do you mind telling us?
And do you possibly know if there is also a 24V version?

Looks like this one only comes as a 12 volt pump.

I've used the Arid units before. During the install/setup/operation I got to know the company principal pretty good. If I ever had an issue I could call or email and they'd talk me thru the issue. This was on a 120'. They make different sizes, depending on your needs. They do require some occasional maintenance/cleaning but other than that run quietly 24/7 in the background and cycle whenever needed.

That's why these DIY solutions make more sense, for less than $200 you can cobble your own system together. We've got to remember, the pump is not critical so any cheap pump works.

Interesting anyway, thanks for sharing it.
I must say it's the sort of thing that normally I would dismiss an cheap chinese cr@p, but your experience on its reliability is remarkable enough to consider it!

Yeah, pretty impressed with this little pump, it keeps on going like the energizer bunny, but it does not like to get wet: During the head/tank/plumbing surgery a few months ago the tech mistakenly turned a forward bilge pump to OFF instead of AUTO, or pulled a breaker, fuse or something the little pump got wet and died.
Strictly on a manual and guarded switch on a head bulkhead:

So your little set up is strictly manual on-off with no float switch ?

The arrid systems work......on boats with generally dry bilges.......but really some brands are never meant to and will never have a dry bilge......Sunseekers never have dry engine room bilges for example, and there's nothing wrong with that.

For the Sump Pump yes, but of course the 3 primary bilge pumps are on Auto at all times.
I am however on the run pretty much every day and if we had rain, I flip the switch and empty the bilge.
I have considered hooking up a float switch to the Sump Pump, but due to the V-shape of the bilge, I can’t get a float far enough down to be any useful.
In the meantime, I am Mr. Auto Switch.

What's common on these "dry bilge" systems us to have a manual switch along with auto based on a timer and not a float. You set a timer to run for X minutes every 24hours. Use a 3/8" pickup hose with a light sponge or some kind of filter.
Once you know your requirements simple adjust the timers as required.
And drainage into a shower sump is pretty common.

You're saying that as if it were a defect, but in my view that's the best way to connect and control a pump which is only meant to get rid of some residual liquid.
I mean, it's not a safety thing: there are (hopefully) better and larger auto pumps for that.
But for the odd occasions when you want to get rid of the last quarter of liquid, it makes sense to do it manually, because you can visually check what's going on, while you are at that.