Bilge hoses

[sully23]

Have a question-can I run two bilge pumps, using a Y or a T through one discharge hose? We are adding plumbing for our livewell and are using the previous discharge hole on the side of the boat. Thank you all.

[jpappleby]

I suspect your plan would work if you had check valves between both pumps and the Y to prevent the discharge from one pump from flowing back through the other.

[cdavisdb]

bad idea. If one isn't working, the water from the other pump will run back through the non working one, back into the boat. I've seen people try to use check valves to prevent this, nearly always causes problems. Check valves are notorious for failure in salt water, way too unreliable. Some big boats run several different kinds of water sources into a big plenum with one discharge. Also bad idea. If the single discharge gets clogged, they end up with water in places it ain't supposed to be.

[Blue_Heron]

What Connor said. Bilge pumps are designed to move volume at low head pressure. Most spring type check valves will create enough resistance that your flow will be substantially reduced. Been there, done that, removed the check valve.

[sully23]

Thanks guys-as much as I don't like punching another hole in the side of the boat, I think we'll put the overflow from the bait well on it's own line.