Mount Reversible Pumps | 2006 Malibu VLX

[addovox]

Hi all;

This year I purchased the Wakemakers Reversible Pump system to make filling/emptying my rear-locker 750# sacs much faster (and at the same time as the stock boxes fill). This will make switching sides for surfing much faster as well!

It seems the only space I have to mount these large pumps is on the back wall of each rear locker (no room in the transom as some others have done with other boats--these are tight compartments!). However, I'm worried about drilling into the back wall--does anyone know how far I could drill screws into the back wall without compromising it? There are 4 mounting holes for each pump and they're pretty heavy. I have various sized screws, up to 2" (just getting thru the pump's rubber mounting grommet is 1"), so I could drill 1/2" up to maybe 2" into the wall. :|

OR....do i even NEED to mount the pumps tightly back there?? Couldn't i just set them on the carpet in the back against the wall? I figure they would stay enough in place once both hoses are attached (making a T), and with the sacs back there as well, no??

Thanks in advance!

[mikeo]

You could mount them to the "static" engine panels at the stern of the boat (the ones that don't come out with the finger screws). I made a template from a scrap of wood and mounted the pump to the wood to get exact locations for the screw holes and height of the pump. I discovered that I could mount the pumps in the area under the center rear seat where the v-drive is. The major concern I had was the limitations of the radius for the hoses.

Check out this post for some good tips on mounting the pumps:

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?/topic/54906-247-johnson-pump-install/

[addovox]

mikeo, thanks for the reply and the lead to the post! I must not have checked closely enough back there, but I'll check and see if i can mount them there. Mounting them to a piece of wood or something (and then mounting that to the panel) is probably the way to go, as that space can get tight if you need to access the motor, winterizing, etc. That would make it easier to remove if you had to and less permanent. Do you have any pics?

I also thought of under the rear center seat, and saw the same issue--the hose angles might be tough. It's also tight there for these big pumps.

[mikeo]

I can post some pictures this weekend, but I'm away from the boats right now. I can show you how they're mounted in a '15 LSV and '13 VLX; I don't have any pictures of them in my (not mine anymore) '02 VLX.

For clarification, I used the wood as a template for sizing purposes, but mounted the pumps directly to structural materials in the boat.

The post referenced above shows an interesting rack assembly for a large number of pumps on the trim panel covering the the fill lines for the gas tank. What you may want to do is use the same trim panel, but you don't need to fabricate a bracket: make the wood template and mark where you want the pumps to be as a "final location". After you mark where you want the pumps, remove the trim panel and drill the holes (where you marked them) and then use long screws and fender washers to mount the pumps to the trim panel. If you mount the screws/fender washers with the screw heads "inside" the trim panel (when it is reinstalled) and the threads coming out through the rubber vibration dampeners, the screw heads are the only part inside the trim panel, that's only ~1/8" of material to be concerned about. The screw threads/shafts won't extend much past the rubber vibration dampeners so they won't cause any issues. You can even make it very "clean" by running the wires inside the trim panel so the only exposed parts are the plumbing.

Take a look at this post for some good info and tips & tricks:

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?/topic/39656-2012-vlx-integrated-ballast-install/

BTW: I used 1-1/8" hose on my pumps but had to use silicone tape to increase the diameter of the fittings and then secure them with hose clamps; 1" hose may be a better choice.

Edited July 28, 2015 by mikeo