bilge hose path

Posted By: Marty Chafkin
Date: 5/5/08 5:13a.m.

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I have a 1976 Catalina 27, outboard, traditional interior, that came with a manual electric bilge pump. I want to add an automatic pump, and keep the manual one as a backup. Seems reasonable, no? The existing pump has a corrugated hose that runs into the engine space under the cockpit, so I though (foolish me) that I could parallel another hose. That seems impossible, now that I have bought the hose. Is there a secret method? My next thought was to use just the one hose and "y" both pumps into it. But then I will need check valves, right? Gets to be a lot of items in that skinny little bilge. I have searched the forum, but the only method seems to be some sort of trick involving getting the hose into the settees, which seems impossible without exposing the hose to foot traffic. Has anyone solved this in another way? Am I overlooking some simple, easy answer?