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Vista Shower Sump
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Author:  ChicagoTC [ Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Vista Shower Sump
In the process of winterizing I finally cracked off the last bit of the intake valves on my shower sump. They were both cracked when I bought the boat but there was enough to get a hose attached, not so much anymore.

Here is the current box

Image

You can see the outlet hose on the near side, the shower input hose on one side of the diagram and a cracked input on the far side. This is where the AC overflow went. I've always thought this box was a piece of junk and looking at the $125 West Marine wants for a new one, now I know it's an overpriced piece of junk.

Replacement Jabsco
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/263687/377%20710/0/shower%20sump/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=shower%20sump&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=shower%20sump&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=11&subdeptNum=27&classNum=298

My question is twofold. Is it possible just to buy a new box? If so where have you found one? Secondly, I think this Attwood box looks a bit nicer, plus I like the dedicated inputs and it's only $90.

Image

http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/Shower_Equipment-ATTWOOD_SHOWER_SUMP_SYSTEM.html

Anyone have any luck with this box?
Author:  firecadet613 [ Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
I'd go with that Attwood box.

Looks to be pretty decent. I wish I had the access you have to your shower sump! Mine is buried away under a hanging locker, and you can barely get to it with the access hole provided.

Here's the one on mine..

http://www.fourwinns.net/partbook/showp ... 02&stop=NA &mx=1

Image
Author:  ChicagoTC [ Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
Looks like you have the same one as me.

Image

Be careful when tightening those hose clamps. Whoever had the boat before me broke off most of the connectors and I finished the job. Mine is located in an access panel in my cabin floor right in front of the bathroom, really easy to get to for sure.
Author:  firecadet613 [ Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
Why'd you take the hoses off to winterize? I just poured some bleach water down my shower drain and let it sit for a bit, then followed it up with some pink until it pumped it out.

Get my PM about the spring trip?
Author:  ChicagoTC [ Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
I just removed the hoses so I could clean the bilge under it and the box itself, it had a lot of built up crap in it. The barely on hose clamps always bothered me anyways, so I'm glad they finally broke so I can replace it.

Just replied back to your PM.
Author:  wkearney99 [ Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
I can't recall which is which, but either Rule or Attwood sell a sump box that has clamps to close it, instead of screws. I'd go with the one that DOES NOT use the screws. Those make it an unnecessary hassle to get into the box for cleaning it.

I broke one of mine. I got a through-hull fitting to replace it. I just cut out the old one and put the through-hull into the new hole. It's worked great now for 3 seasons. Had I know about the better sump box I would've made the switch instead. C'est la vie.
Author:  Flyer51 [ Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
The Attwood sump you show is the same one that is in my 278. I had the pump go out during the summer so I purchased a new pump at the marina. When I opened the box to replace the pump I broke on of the ears that hold the cover on. No problem I thought I'll just pick up a new cover. I couldn't find the darn cover anywhere. I even had a part number and searched for it. I ended up buying the box and pump you show in your picture.
Author:  wkearney99 [ Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
I've gotten parts from Attwood in the past, albeit not for the sump cover. I did you try contacting them directly?

Good to know ahead of time to be careful with the lid. If it's not one thing it's another.
Author:  ChicagoTC [ Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
I'm going to order the Attwood one, probably won't install until April, but I'll take some pictures.
Author:  joetallyho [ Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
I have the Attwood in your photo on my 2001 298. Great unit. Great service from Attwood too. On my bilge pump, the discharge hose nipple broke off after about 3 years. They sent me a new housing for free.

Be careful with the clips on the cover, one of mine just broke off. Will call Attwood for a replacement.

A couple of suggestions:
1. It seems FW relocated the sump to where you cannot see it when you remove the deckplate. Unless you moved it to show us the nipple breaking off. You might consider locating it with the hoses facing forward. I moved the new Attwood further forward to allow easier removal of the cover.

2. Where did FW put your A/C condensate drain hose? In 2001, they put it in the engine compartment bilge, so the bilge always had water. I like to keep my bilges clean and dry - easier to detect something leaking. So, I rerouted the hose to the shower sump pump. I put a "T" and a shutoff valve, so in case the pump fails, I can still drain the condensate in the engine compartment. But, you have to remember to drain the line to the sump pump as part of winterization.

Joe
Author:  ChicagoTC [ Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
Joe,

Thanks for the advice. The existing sump on my 2003 was pretty much right where it is in the picture. It is nearly directly under the floor panel. For whatever reason it was never screwed down and I prefer not to drill any holes though the glass so I just held it in place with bungee cords.

The A/C condensate drain hose was routed right to the sump, you can see the white hose from the A/C in my original pic. The sump is probably only 4' from the A/C unit. I wonder why they went all the way back to the engine bilge in the previous years?
Author:  joetallyho [ Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista Shower Sump
Tom,

The platform the sump pump is sitting on is marine plywood, you should not fear drilling a pilot hole then fastening the sump with stainless steel screws. The holes where the old sump was sitting should be filled with epoxy if you fear water seeping in from an overflowing sump (rare, but may happen if the pump fails). Your new sump cover has easy to remove clips instead of screws. They did that for a reason - so you can wet vac dry the sump for winterization and if you use the shower, clean the strainer.

The location and orientation I suggested might allow the A/C drain hose from having to make a 180 degree turn, relieving stress on the sumps hose nipple. You have enough hose from the shower and the overboard to allow for a stress free 90 degree turn.

Something I found out winterizing the sump a few weeks ago is that the thruhull discharge side for the 298 is above the sump. And when I removed the pump to clean underneath it, water flowed from the discharge hose back into the sump. This means that water can freeze from the pump discharge plenum thru about 2 feet of the discharge hose. This could cause the pump and the hose nipple to crack over a few years.

My two cents.

I wrote FW in 2001 about this when I found out that ABYC recommended A/C drain to the sump pump. So, for a few years after that, when I went to boat shows, I specifically looked at the 298 A/C drain path. And I saw that they changed it a few model years later.

Joe
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