Articles

14 11, 2025

EC Ruff Marine and the Arid Bilge System: A Testimonial by Ed Ruff

By Alfred Baurley|2026-01-18T22:18:39+00:00November 14, 2025|Articles|

At Arid Bilge Systems, we take pride in building high-performance solutions trusted by professionals across the marine industry

From military vessels to luxury yachts, reliability and precision matter—and no one understands that better than Ed Ruff of EC Ruff Marine.

With decades of experience servicing everything from residential marine equipment to commercial vessels and government applications, Ed Ruff brings an unmatched level of expertise to every installation. Based in South Florida, EC Ruff Marine has become a leading name in bow and stern thruster systems, stabilizers, and high-tech marine electronics. Ed’s insight into performance, durability, and long-term reliability made him an early advocate of the Arid Bilge System.

In this testimonial, Ed breaks down why Arid Bilge Systems are a must-have—explaining how the system not only keeps bilges dry, but also actively protects high-value equipment, prevents failures, and increases vessel safety. From hour meters to hose routing, he shares real-world applications and engineering advantages that only a seasoned marine technician could provide.

EC Ruff Marine Interview Transcript

“Alfred: Here to talk to you with Ed Ruff from EC Ruff Marine. He’s going to go ahead and tell you about the Arid Bilge System and the wide application that he installs these units in—from residential, commercial, to luxury marine history, to commercial marine history. These are more for the bigger boats. Normally, you would get on a boat and have the bow and stern thrusters installed. This unit would accommodate all your other zones. And with this, we also have the hour meters, which make it easier for you to keep track of oddities on the boat.

Ed: The hour meters are nice because the customer can go to any hour meter and if they see a high number, that’s an indication that there’s a fault or failure that needs to be looked at. Maybe we have a broken hose, a faulty pipe, or some type of leak that this device is picking up.

The nice thing with this product is that in all the applications we install it in, we don’t have complaints or failures, because of the way the manufacturer builds it—with hour meters, pumps, stainless steel components, marine-grade tinned wire. Other companies don’t use this quality, and that’s why you see higher failure rates compared to the Arid Bilge System.

We often see an air conditioning system that hasn’t been used in a while. Then someone turns it on, the pan overflows, and that zone ends up pumping more than the others. So this zone is active and running more. We’re starting to see this as a protection device within the boat. It helps us and people in the field after installation, telling us there’s a problem when one hour meter runs more than the others.

Alfred: The system can go up to 100 feet in distance. Instead of having multiple units for multiple zones, you can just have one centralized system for all the zones. You have your bow thruster up forward, stern thruster aft, and the system is installed somewhere central—typically in the engine room. It spiders out through the whole vessel and returns to one central discharge point. So instead of having multiple pumps, you just have one system.

Ed: Installation is super easy. You want to route the hoses properly and zip-tie them in place. You need clean flow in the hoses and proper wire sizing with an 18-inch fuse spacing for the power source.

Alfred: There’s a big difference between Series 2 and Series 4 units. Ed sells a lot of Series 2 units for center consoles, which usually require two or three zones. It’s recommended to have a pickup for every location where a bilge pump is, for a longer-lasting, dry boating experience. The Arid Bilge System delivers a clean and fresh boating experience the first time and every time—just like it came from the shop.

Ed: We started installing it in the marine industry to keep thrusters dry in the bow and stern of the boat from bilge, rain, and wash water. We’ve also used it in military applications for the Coast Guard and Customs where there are computers and electronics that must stay dry.

Alfred: The Arid Bilge System usually lasts 5 to 10 years or more without needing service. Your bow and stern thrusters, gyro stabilizers—they’re all high-quality products but can go bad because of bilge water. Removing that bilge water extends the lifespan of these components.

Ed: Because of the harsh conditions—motors, wiring, computers in government and private vessels—the Arid Bilge System’s longevity is a big help. It keeps customers on the water longer, using their electronics, stabilizers, and thrusters more reliably and safely. Bilge pumps normally go bad over time. They sit underwater and don’t pick up everything. A bilge pump leaves 2 to 3 inches of water before it triggers. The Arid Bilge System is a supplemental safety feature that removes water 24/7, preventing mildew and wiring damage. This stabilizer, for example, is exposed to bilge water inside the boat. The Arid Bilge System protects it. The application usually has boxed-in stringers taller than the unit, so water gets trapped. That water causes rust, failure, and fault. The Arid Bilge System keeps it water-free. These stabilizers start around $150,000 installed. The Arid Bilge System—for about $2,000—can protect that investment. You already have time and money invested. Usually, the main reason components go bad is bilge water. It could be bilge water, AC condensate, shower water, or other leaks. The Arid Bilge System, built for industrial use, keeps those areas dry at all times.

Alfred: Our pickups don’t have electronic parts exposed to bilge water. The Arid Bilge System creates vacuum suction—it doesn’t replace bilge pumps. It coexists. Bilge pumps handle high-volume emergencies. Arid Bilge handles the continuous, small stuff. It also includes an eco-friendly feature that separates oil from water. From hydraulic fluid, diesel, or antifreeze—everything is separated automatically. The eco-friendly feature, alarm system, and standard Arid Bilge unit are all part of this package.

Ed: It works well when there’s a transmission or engine leak. The client avoids getting cited or arrested by the Coast Guard for discharging contaminants. It helps the captain and crew identify problems early. Some applications include side-power systems and other electronics that Arid Bilge keeps dry. Moisture causes corrosion and equipment failure. We’ve installed Arid Bilge Systems in basements, elevator shafts, grow houses, aircraft, and throughout the marine industry. This is the new SX unit, out for three years. It’s a large unit we’ve been installing on ski boats in the transom. The motor is external, and now it comes with proportional control—not just on/off, but multiple speeds for longer runtimes. We’re working with ZipWake, a trim tab stabilization system. It integrates with your boat’s electronic monitoring. In the test tank, it shows how the gyro blade compensates to level the boat. This is another example of why keeping your stabilizers dry is critical.No rust, no moisture—everything works the way it should. The Arid Bilge System ensures your stabilizers remain operable and your vessel stays clean, dry, and protected.”

Whether it’s a Coast Guard patrol boat or a luxury sportfish yacht, Ed Ruff knows what it takes to keep vessels running clean and dry under pressure. His firsthand experience proves that the Arid Bilge System isn’t just a bilge solution—it’s a critical investment in long-term vessel performance, safety, and reliability.

As Ed says, when it comes to protecting $150,000 gyros, sensitive electrical systems, or simply extending the life of your boat’s key components, the Arid Bilge System delivers every time. One centralized unit, multiple protected zones, and no more water damage.

Arid Bilge Systems – Dry. Fresh. Protected.

Watch the Full Video

13 11, 2025

Thomas Marine x Arid Bilge Systems: The Next Generation of Boat Protection

By Alfred Baurley|2026-01-18T22:19:36+00:00November 13, 2025|Articles|

Arid Bilge Systems is The Next Generation of Boat Protection

How It All Started

Before the buzz of the boat shows and the showroom displays, Arid Bilge Systems and Thomas Marine had already established a connection. With years of familiarity and mutual respect, it was only a matter of time before a collaboration began to take shape.

Thomas Marine saw firsthand the power of Arid Bilge Systems’ revolutionary technology — and knew it needed to be part of their offerings. That’s why they’ve partnered with Arid Bilge Systems to bring this breakthrough into their front showroom — giving boaters across South Florida direct access to the dry bilge revolution.

What Is Arid Bilge Systems?

Arid Bilge Systems is the Dry Bilge Machine — a fully automatic, vacuum-powered solution that removes hidden water from the deepest, hardest-to-reach pockets inside your boat — from bow to stern. Unlike traditional bilge pumps that wait for water to accumulate, this system cycles every few hours, vacuuming moisture from multiple compartments and sending it to a central discharge point.

Whether it’s salt spray, rainwater, melted ice, or leftover washdown fluid, Arid Bilge keeps your bilge Bone Dry — preventing rust, mildew, odors, and premature aging of wiring, engines, and onboard systems.

Why Every Boat Needs One

Leaving water in the bilge isn’t just inconvenient — it causes real long-term damage. Moisture accelerates corrosion, mold, and electrical failures, which can cost thousands to repair. When the sun beats down on the deck, it creates a damp, corrosive microclimate below that shortens the lifespan of nearly everything onboard.

Arid Bilge Systems solves this. It’s the only 24/7 automatic vacuum solution on the market — removing trace moisture before damage begins. Built to withstand acids, oils, and harsh marine environments, it’s the next big thing in marine tech, and boaters of all levels are lining up to get one installed.

Our Connection with Thomas Marine

We’ve known the Thomas Marine team for years — and their reputation for excellence in the marine space speaks for itself. When they saw Arid Bilge Systems in action, the alignment was immediate.

Thomas Marine now features a branded showroom display with Series 1, 2 and Series 4 units — supported by a commercial video produced in collaboration with our team and in-store product literature to help educate their customers.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It — Hear from the Builders

Over 100 boat builders trust Arid Bilge Systems as a must-have onboard upgrade. In our video content, you’ll hear directly from:

These builders understand the importance of moisture elimination — and why a dry bilge is foundational to long-lasting boat health.

Visit Thomas Marine to Learn More

Whether you’re picking up a new vessel or retrofitting your current setup, Thomas Marine is your go-to destination for Arid Bilge Systems. As a preferred installer and sales partner, their team is fully equipped to walk you through the system and handle installation start to finish.

Arid Bilge Systems – The Dry Bilge Machine.

Dry. Fresh. Protected.

Watch the full video Now

13 11, 2025

The Future of Bilge Maintenance: Meet Arid Bilge Systems at Tuppen’s Marine

By Alfred Baurley|2026-01-18T22:20:07+00:00November 13, 2025|Articles|

Meet Arid Bilge Systems at Tuppen’s Marine

How It All Started

At the Miami International Boat Show, something innovative caught the attention of serious boaters, captains, and service professionals alike: Arid Bilge Systems. Designed to completely eliminate standing water from the bilge — not just reduce it — this technology is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about upgrades in the marine world.

Tuppen’s Marine saw this firsthand and knew it needed to be part of their in-store offerings. That’s why they partnered with Arid Bilge Systems to bring this breakthrough technology into their front showroom — giving South Florida boaters direct access to the dry bilge revolution.

What Is Arid Bilge Systems?

Arid Bilge Systems is the Dry Bilge Machine — a fully automatic, vacuum-powered solution that removes hidden water from the deepest, hardest-to-reach pockets inside your boat — from bow to stern. Unlike traditional bilge pumps, it doesn’t wait for inches of water to accumulate. Instead, it keeps the bilge Bone Dry at all times by cycling every few hours, pulling moisture from multiple zones and sending it to a central discharge point.

Whether you’re dealing with saltwater spray, melted ice, rainwater, or leftover cleaning fluids, Arid Bilge prevents corrosion, mildew, electrical failure, and the musty odors that every boater dreads.

Why Every Boat Needs One

Leaving water in the bilge isn’t just inconvenient — it causes long-term damage. Moisture accelerates rust, mold, and wiring corrosion, leading to expensive repairs. When the sun beats down on the back deck, it causes an intensely humid, corrosive environment that ages everything in the boat prematurely.

The Arid Bilge System is the only solution that proactively dries the bilge 24/7 with zero user input, protecting your investment and extending the life of your vessel. This technology is necessary for every boat — period.

Our Connection with Tuppen’s Marine

We first met the Tuppen’s Marine team at the Miami Boat Show, and the alignment was instant. Known for outfitting South Florida’s top fishermen and boaters, Tuppen’s Marine is a trusted destination for premium gear, local service, and expert advice.

We partnered up to produce a Tuppen’s Marine commercial, and their front showroom now features a dedicated Arid Bilge Systems display. Right next to the Series 1 and Series 2 units, you’ll find a looping video showcasing the product in action — along with testimonials and endorsements from some of the most respected names in the industry.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It — Hear from the Builders

Installed by over 100 boat builders and counting, Arid Bilge Systems is endorsed by the very people who build the boats themselves. In our in-store video at Tuppen’s, you’ll see testimonials from:

These builders know firsthand how vital it is to keep bilges bone-dry — and why every boat rolling out of the yard should have this system onboard.

Visit Tuppen’s Today to Learn More

Whether you’re outfitting a brand-new center console or upgrading your current setup, stop by Tuppen’s Marine to see Arid Bilge Systems up close and experience the technology that’s raising the standard for boating cleanliness and protection.

Arid Bilge Systems – Dry. Fresh. Protected.

Watch the full video NOW!

23 10, 2025

Midnight Express + Arid Bilge Systems: A Quick Conversation with Eric Glaser

By Al|2026-02-03T02:09:03+00:00October 23, 2025|Articles|

Alfred: Eric, can you tell me a little about your experience—how the Arid Bilge System has worked across your Midnight Express boats?

Eric: Yeah, absolutely. We offer Arid Bilge Systems across all of our models. It helps keep the bilges dry and clean, so you’re not worried about all the corrosion and the mess you’d normally find down there. It’s a great option. You guys have a bunch of different versions—some different power supply options—and it works for us depending on which way we’re powering the boat.

Alfred: Where is the system mounted on the boat?

Eric: We mount them in the rear bilge of the boat on every model.

Alfred: What locations does it vacuum from?

Eric: So we do one in the rear bilge, one in the mid-bilge, and then depending on what the customer asks for, sometimes we do one up by a bow thruster, where it might catch a little bit of water—just to help keep everything dry in those areas too.

Alfred: And this has improved your boats by keeping everything nice and dry versus having a wet, moldy environment—especially when you think about protecting your Seakeeper, your generator, and all the sensitive components that are down in those compartments.

Eric: Of course. It’s all good things. Water messes everything up, and we’re in a wet environment on a boat—so it just makes sense to dry it out.

Alfred: Eric, I really appreciate your time.

Eric: No problem. Thanks for making a great product. Keep it up.

Why It Matters

When a builder like Midnight Express chooses to include this system across their lineup, it shows the real-world value that comes from eliminating hidden moisture.

This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about protection, longevity, and customer satisfaction.

With Arid Bilge Systems installed, you get:

Fewer maintenance issues
Cleaner components
Happier owners
A truly professional finish

It’s more than just dry—it’s Dry. Fresh. Protected.

22 10, 2025

Everglades Boats + Arid Bilge: A Standard for Dry, Protected Performance on the Water

By Alfred Baurley|2026-01-18T22:20:36+00:00October 22, 2025|Articles|

Everglades Boats – Known for its Commitment to Innovation, Reliability, and Performance

From their smallest 245 model to the flagship 455, every vessel is engineered with cutting-edge features and premium components. In this testimonial, we speak with David Brown, Vice President of Product Development and Engineering at Everglades Boats, as well as Captain Sean Hickey, a seasoned regional manager and company captain. Together, they share how the Arid Bilge System has become a crucial addition to their boats—delivering a cleaner, drier, and more protected boating experience for every customer.

Arid Bilge Systems Conversation with Everglades Boats

Alfred: Here to go and talk about the Arid Bilge System on the 395, and how the Arid Bilge System makes the Everglades a better boating dry experience. Here to talk about it with David.

David: Yeah, thanks for being here. You’re on the 395. I’m David Brown, the Vice President of Product Development and Engineering. We partnered with Arid Bilge Systems, and it is now a standard feature on this boat. It really helps keep all of the below deck bilges nice and bone dry.

David: It’s been a huge customer satisfaction item—especially for people who keep their boats in the water. Everglades has been building center consoles for years. We offer a full range of boats from our 245 up to our 455, packed full of technology and patented features. So, we’re really proud to be a partner here with Arid Bilge Systems.

Sean: Hi, I’m Captain Sean Hickey with Everglades Boats. I’m one of their regional managers as well as the captain of the company. At Everglades, our philosophy is using nothing but the best parts we can find on the marketplace.

Sean: The last trip I did was a long trip—over about 2,500 miles over the course of three months. We pulled the boat out of the water at the end of that, and there wasn’t a drop of water in the bilge. And that’s imperative these days with Helm Master systems down there—Seakeepers, generators, you name it.

Sean: The Arid Bilge System delivers as promised. It keeps your bilge dry and keeps your electronics safe.

From long-distance journeys to day-to-day reliability, Everglades Boats trusts the Arid Bilge System to keep every compartment bone dry—no mold, no odors, no corrosion.

It’s a testament to how premium engineering and proven innovation come together to create a better boating experience. When you’re designing boats for the future, every detail counts. That’s why Everglades chooses to stay

See the full video here: https://youtu.be/nZHmrzSJS-s

22 10, 2025

Scout Boats x Arid Bilge Systems: Family-Built, Dry, Fresh, and Protected

By Alfred Baurley|2026-01-18T22:21:02+00:00October 22, 2025|Articles|

Scout Boats has long stood as a beacon of American craftsmanship, performance, and attention to detail. Founded in 1989 by Steve Potts and still operated by the Potts family today, Scout builds vessels that aren’t just made to perform—they’re made to last, shine, and stand out. From their unmatched fit and finish to their high-performance capabilities, Scout boats are renowned throughout the industry.

So when it comes to maintaining the same standards below deck, Scout turned to Arid Bilge Systems.

In this testimonial, we caught up with Josh Slayton of Scout Boats to hear about his personal experience with Arid Bilge and how it enhances the Scout boating experience—helping protect the vessel’s value, equipment, and owner satisfaction.

Transcript: Onboard With Scout Boats

Alfred:
Josh Slayton is going to go ahead and tell us a little about his personal experience, a little bit of the company history, how they’ve been in business for so long—and you get, obviously, the high quality and keen detail on all these boats. They are sharp, they are beautiful, and they last for a long time.

We’re an American-made system, keeping that boating experience nice, fresh, and clean. Josh?

Josh:
Yeah, thanks Alfred. Appreciate the opportunity.

Scout is a family-run business. It was founded in 1989 by Steve Potts, and from then until now, it is still owned and operated by the Potts family. Whether you’re talking about Steve Potts, his son, his two daughters, his son-in-law, his other son-in-law—they’re all part of the family-run company.

Originally founded with high fit and finish, high performance, and high styling. And with the fit and finish, we really appreciate the opportunity to have partnered with Arid Bilge to help enhance that feature of the Scout boats—the fit and finish.

Alfred:
It’s not easy producing a boat, and with the Arid Bilge System, we go ahead and keep that boating experience fresh and clean, just like it came out from the box.

That’s what the Arid Bilge System does. It gets rid of your odor, it gets rid of your mold, it gets rid of your corrosion—the rust, potentially, as well. All that stuff gets sucked out at the source, as opposed to just sitting down there.

We suck it out. A bilge pump doesn’t have to run anymore—only for the emergency. That’s what the Arid Bilge System does, and that’s what the Arid Bilge System experience is. We just vacuum it up and throw it overboard.

Josh:
Right now, our largest boat in the fleet—soon to be 67′ in the fleet—both of those are wet bilges because they have seacocks and sea strainers in them.

And in both of those sections, we utilize the two-ported Arid Bilge System.

Alfred:
So the Arid Bilge System sits in the lazarette of that boat right over there, and it goes and vacuums the fluid from that zone and the cabin zone—is that correct?

Josh:
Yeah, both zones get vacuumed together into the collection box, and then discharged overboard once the collection box is full.

Alfred:
So the Arid Bilge System sits on the aft of your boat. You’ve got some expensive equipment down there. You’ve got your generator, you’ve got your gyro, and just everything in the local environment.

Josh:
Yeah, your ice machines.

Alfred:
So you like to go and see the boat having a nice, dry, clean experience—because as opposed to that water sitting down there, it’s just causing a little bit of mold.

Josh:
Oh, it’s fantastic. And particularly on our quality of boats, we get a lot of boats as tenders to yachts. The crew are responsible for cleaning the top deck, but are actually responsible for also washing and cleaning the bilge areas.

So when they do wash and clean the bilge areas, the bilge pump itself leaves a little bit of water at the bottom that it can’t suck out—but the Arid Bilge is utilized perfectly in that situation to completely dry it out.

Alfred:
Yeah. Thank you so much for your testimonial. Appreciate having business with you.

Josh:
Yeah. Thanks, Alfred.

Alfred:
Thank you.

The Scout Experience, Enhanced by Arid Bilge

Scout Boats are engineered for excellence above and below deck—and Arid Bilge Systems help protect that quality by ensuring bilges stay dry, fresh, and protected.

From removing odor and corrosion to reducing mold, rust, and component failure, our system is quietly working in the background to preserve every vessel’s value and performance. With OEM partnerships across dozens of top boat builders, Scout’s endorsement is a testament to the reliability and effectiveness of Arid Bilge.

Together, we help ensure “Dry. Fresh. Protected.” isn’t just a slogan—it’s the new standard.

📺 Watch the Full Scout Boats x Arid Bilge Testimonial
🔗 Watch on YouTube

22 10, 2025

Keep Your Regulator Bone-Dry: Why Arid Bilge Systems is the Ultimate Longevity Upgrade

By Alfred Baurley|2026-01-18T22:21:28+00:00October 22, 2025|Articles|

When you invest in a Regulator, you’re not just buying a boat—you’re investing in top-tier performance, comfort, and craftsmanship. With every detail onboard designed for excellence, your bilge should reflect that same standard. That’s where Arid Dry Bilge Systems come in.

Arid Bilge Systems is a patented smart vacuum system that keeps your bilge completely dry. No puddles, no smells, no dampness, no mildew, no corrosion. It eliminates the hidden water buildup that most boaters have simply learned to live with. Whether it’s from condensation, shaft seal spray, or cleaning water runoff, Arid quietly and efficiently removes it, zone by zone—all automatically!

Why Owners Love It Ask any captain or owner who’s experienced a truly dry bilge and they’ll tell you: they’re never going back. A dry bilge means a cleaner boat, a healthier boat, and a boat that holds its value longer. It also means less corrosion, no lingering mildew odors, and less damage to sensitive electronics and systems. It’s the kind of upgrade you never knew you needed—until you have it. Arid keeps your bilge dry, fresh, and protected.

Top Benefits of Arid Dry Bilge Systems

Completely Dry Bilge Zones: Arid removes all standing water across multiple zones, even the hard-to-reach places pumps can’t touch.
Fully Automatic: Once installed, the system monitors and activates itself—no switches, no guesswork.
Whisper-Quiet Performance: Arid operates silently in the background, never disrupting the onboard experience.
Preserves Value: Protects against mold, rust, and degradation, helping your Regulator stay cleaner, longer.
Simple to Maintain: Designed to run continuously with very minimal upkeep.

Why Factory-Installed Makes a Difference Getting your Arid System directly from the factory ensures the cleanest installation, the best layout, and peace of mind knowing it’s covered and supported from day one.

Which System Is Right for Your Regulator?

Series 2 is the go-to choice for most Regulator owners. It covers up to 3 independent bilge zones.
Series 1 is a great option for smaller, simpler layouts and covers a single intake zone. Ideal for smaller Regulator models.

What About Maintenance? Most customers enjoy maintenance-free use for 5 to 10 years, with only occasional cleaning of the pickups. Diagnostics are built in, and service points are easily accessible for technicians or owners alike.

Why This Matters Dry bilges aren’t just about convenience. They’re about preservation. By removing the #1 source of hidden wear and corrosion, you extend the life of your boat’s systems and finish. When paired with Regulator’s elite build quality, the result is unmatched. Clean from the inside out.

Looking Ahead We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Regulator on a full video rollout of this partnership, featuring a walkthrough and installation that brings the system to life. Stay tuned for that second wave of content—and in the meantime, we invite you to reach out to your dealer about equipping your Regulator with Arid.

25 06, 2025

HCB Yachts + Arid Bilge Systems: Interview with Dalton Teeter of HCB Yachts

By Ariana|2026-01-18T22:21:54+00:00June 25, 2025|Articles|

In the world of high-performance center consoles, HCB Yachts stands tall, literally and figuratively. Their vessels are bold, luxurious, and purpose-built to deliver unforgettable boating experiences. From the mighty 65′ Estrella to their entire custom lineup, HCB has made a name for itself by blending size, power, and elite craftsmanship.

As Dalton from HCB explains in our interview, that high standard extends all the way down to the bilge, a place most boaters rarely look but where details matter the most. That’s where Arid Bilge Systems comes in.

We had the honor of catching up with Dalton aboard the Estrella at the HCB booth to learn more about how our permanently installed system enhances the HCB experience. From keeping bilge areas spotless and rust-free to preserving mechanical components like gyros and generators, Arid Bilge helps boat owners protect what matters most.

See below the video for a transcript of Alfred’s interview with Dalton Teeter of HCB Yachts.

Alfred: Hello, I’m Alfred Baurley here with Arid Bilge Systems, with Dalton at the HCB booth, and he’s going to tell us a little about the Arid Bilge System, his personal experience, and how the Arid Bilge System coexists with his line of boats.

When you take a look at these boats—these HCB boats—they build exquisite boats. They’re massive in size, and they are superbly fast. They have on this boat, Estrella, so much customization. Here at HCB, the customer will have the best boating experience possible.

At Arid Bilge Systems, we keep that boating experience dry, fresh, and clean—just like when it came out of the factory. That’s the point of the Arid Bilge System. That gyro, that generator, all these expensive marine technologies down in your bilges—all that stuff is being kept fresh and clean, as opposed to getting rust and corrosion buildup. No more mold, no more odor.

Dalton, tell me a little about your experience and what you all do here at HCB.

Dalton: First off, welcome aboard the 65′ Estrella, a center console yacht, which is truly amazing. You’re talking about the cockpit area, how wide she is. This is a 16-foot beam, which is massive. I’ve had customers put 14-foot jet boats in here as tenders.

Alfred: I mean, you’ve got a lot of poles too, I can see.

Dalton: Yeah, so funny enough, this one is a 65-foot vessel, top speed of 65, has 65 rod holders, and of course—six 600s. The ‘65 Estrella launched in 2018, and it really launched HCB into the yachting industry. We rebranded into HCB Center Console Yachts in 2018 because of this Estrella, and it put us in a new league. And to be honest, we have rocked that league, I believe.

Alfred: So would you say that the Arid Bilge System really improved your overall quality of boats?

Dalton: Yes. So the dry bilge system—we will not build a vessel without it. It’s too important for the bilge to be dry to not have it in the boat. Having a dry bilge is very important to make sure you’re not only keeping things maintained well, serviced well, and overall cleanliness.

So honestly, on the HCB, which is a high-end center console—it’s a luxury center console, right? We have to have the best of the best, our nature of the beast. We always think, we try to over-engineer things. So the Arid Bilge, for us, is a dry bilge.

A dry bilge is a happy bilge.

We have three sea chests actually in this 65, meaning fewer thru-hulls in the bottom of the boat. Everything’s going into the centralized tank system and feeding it throughout the whole vessel. So, very minimal areas to leak, but if something does get water into the bilge, that dry bilge that you all offer us keeps it a nice, dry bilge.

And it is, like you stated, in three areas: it is in the aft bilge, midship, and right underneath the master stateroom as well—just to keep everyone happy and clean. Honestly, most of the work’s always in the aft bilge pads, and it’s worked really well for us.

Alfred: Would you say that what the Arid Bilge System does—it stops the rust buildup on things like your generator and your gyro?

Dalton: It helps overall maintenance of the vessel—serviceability, things of that nature. You’re keeping the condensation out of the bilge, which is immensely important here in the marine industry. You’ve got a captain, you’ve got someone servicing your vessel—they’re really going to appreciate a dry bilge area.

If I can keep that moisture out of there, I’m going to have less service problems, as well as an overall nicer bilge area.

Alfred: Would you say that it’s a really durable system?

Dalton: I love the serviceability of the system, honestly. It’s easy to work on. It’s easy to clean. You just literally undo the hose, do some air—clean out your hoses if you’ve sucked in some dirt or debris. Because it is more of a pad on the bottom—it is sucking to the bottom of the bilge area, and you do get dirt and dust. The dry bilge system gets all that into a centralizing area, and it might get clogged.

Five minutes, quick air-clean—it’s done. That’s amazing, right? That’ll also help save our bilge pumps in the future, without getting all that dirt in our bilge pumps and having to replace bilge pumps. That Arid Bilge—you’ve pulled it in there to a central location, you’re cleaning it out—your service guys are very happy about that.

Alfred: Dalton, thank you so much for your time. This has been an amazing experience on this boat. I love all your boats, to tell you the truth.

Dalton: I hope that we’ve educated all boaters that it is important to have a dry bilge. A dry bilge is a happy bilge.

A System Worthy of a Yacht Like HCB

At Arid Bilge Systems, we’re proud to be featured aboard every HCB yacht. Their attention to detail, dedication to performance, and passion for reliability align well with our own mission, which is to protect boats from the inside out.

With a dry, fresh, and protected bilge, maintenance becomes easier, systems last longer, and the boat feels better, year after year.

If you’re building or owning a vessel like an HCB, there’s no better upgrade than an Arid Bilge System.

4 06, 2025

Customer Success Story: Captain Chris Zasky and the Arid Bilge on 77’ Custom Sportfish

By Ariana|2026-01-18T22:22:34+00:00June 4, 2025|Articles|

Captain Chris Zasky of the 77’ custom sportfishing vessel Divine Intervention shares his firsthand experience with the Arid Bilge System in this exclusive testimonial. Built by Sculley in Wanchese, North Carolina, Divine Intervention is a robust, ocean-going powerhouse that underwent extensive retrofitting to elevate performance, comfort, and cleanliness onboard. Among the critical additions? The Arid Bilge System and its eco-friendly oil alarm companion.

In this testimonial, Captain Chris walks us through the technical and operational value of the system, focusing on moisture management, odor elimination, and leak detection. With eight pickups installed across key compartments, the system quietly and efficiently maintains a bone-dry bilge, protecting sensitive components like gyros, generators, and chillers.

See below for a transcript of the entire testimonial.

Good afternoon, this is Captain Chris Zasky aboard the 77-foot sport fishing vessel Divine Intervention. This is a 2008 Sculley Wanchese-built boat out of North Carolina. I’m here to talk to you today about the Arid Bilge System and why we selected it particularly for this boat.

This is a 77-foot custom sport fishing boat, 80 foot overall. It’s a big boat, so it requires a lot of air conditioning. We have two big chiller systems onboard, which is necessary to get the temperatures we’re looking for and keep the boss comfortable on the inside.

The downside is that there are chiller pipes that run throughout the boat that sweat. Even with two-inch-thick insulation around those pipes, they still create a lot of condensation. All that water and condensation drains down into the dark depths of the bilges. I was adamant when the boss bought this boat two years ago, that we find a system that would operate automatically to get the water out of the boat and keep water out of the boat.

It keeps the inside of the boat smelling nice. There are many areas in this boat that you can’t get to on a daily maintenance routine. There are plenty of other, more important things to be doing than climbing into the bilges every other day to disinfect and clean out water.

Another big reason we wanted the Arid Bilge System installed was to keep those bilges clean. It’s important for leak detection in the engine room. Again, this boat’s so big, it’s hard to access every bilge regularly. The smell in the boat when we got it was pretty horrific. Might’ve been mildew. We did a lot of mold remediation on this boat—spent tens of thousands of dollars cleaning and finishing the bilges with Awlgrip paint.

One of the big retrofits we did was we put gyros in the back end of this boat in the lazarette, which was a black hole when we bought the boat. We put about $400,000 into that lazarette between paint, sanding, fairing, fireboy, the two Mitsubishi gyros, and an AC system so we could not only manage the humidity but also maintain ambient temperature down there.

The Arid Bilge System was a perfect complement to what we were trying to achieve in that lazarette. Watertight hatches, keeping the moisture out. We spent quite a bit of time and money down in that lazarette. This system really completed that by keeping the bilges perfectly dry.

One of the other big components with this system was the Eco Oil Alarm System, which will allow me to focus on other things while I’m running the boat, especially offshore during tournaments. If I have an oil leak or some sort of contamination leak, whether it be hydraulic oil, which we’ve had. We blew out a hose on the bow thruster and I was notified within minutes that I had a leak by that Eco Oil Alarm System.

So if I have a diesel, oil, hydraulic leak, or any kind of contamination in any of the eight bilge sections where we have those pickups, I’m notified within minutes by an audio alarm at my helm. That’s invaluable to me.

The other big plus is that nothing goes overboard. If we were to have a big diesel leak, the Eco Oil system picks it up, I’ll be notified and we can shut everything down and take care of the leak before it ever makes it into the ocean or intracoastal.

We’ve had this boat for two years. One of the reasons why I was adamant about having this Arid Dry Bilge System put in was, it’s a big boat first of all, it’s got a lot of dark, hidden crevices and bilges that you can’t really get to. The boat is cooled by two chiller systems. Throughout this whole 80-foot boat are chiller pipes that sweat. There’s a lot of condensation. It’s not exactly an efficient system to cool the boat, but for a yacht this size, in order to get the air conditioning, the BTU’s that you need, you’ve got to have the chiller system. The downfall of that is you have a lot of sweaty pipes that run through this boat. That’s a lot of extra condensation water down into the bilges in places you can’t really get to. My initial investigation into bilge drying systems led me here. I talked to the boys and laid out a pretty good plan of how and where we were going to install it. You know as well as I do that these boats can hide water on you and have wet spots you just can’t get to on a normal daily maintenance routine. We installed eight pickups in this boat automatically picked up and dried out by the system.

One of the major problems that we had with this boat when we bought it, one of the big discoveries, was regarding the chiller pipes that run through the ceiling and sweat terribly, especially when the salon door was open. We found that these lights [in the ceiling above the salon] were filling with water. There was no drip pan, nothing to stop that water or pick that water up or even to get the water to shed off of this cathedral ceiling.

So we custom made a drip pan to catch the condensation from the chiller pipes and put one of the pickups in that pan up in the ceiling. When we first opened it up, it was black and wet in the ceiling. So once we custom built that pan and put the Arid Bilge System in there, it’s bone dry. You could open this up, it’s dry, beautiful, you can work with it, it keeps the smell down. There’s no other way we could have achieved what we were looking to do, to stop all that damage that was being done up here. That pickup in here was absolutely necessary and still works fantastic.

We are in the machine room, this is where kind of the brains of the Arid Bilge System is. It was a great location to put it, we have plenty of room down here. You can hear it just kicking on now. Here is your central vacuum system. All the seven pickups throughout the boat are picked up from here and then discharged into the Eco Friendly box.

This is basically a contamination and clean water separating box. Everything gets dumped into here and gets separated. The water gets separated out, goes into a sump box, and the clean water then gets put overboard. Any of the contaminants that you might pick up in any of the seven locations in the boat will get deposited into this Eco Friendly box. Once they get to a certain level, it’ll set off the sensor and shut the whole system down. Once that contamination makes contact with the sensor, the whole system will get shut down and you will get an audio alarm at the helm. At that point, obviously, you’re notified that you have a problem and you can go fix the problem before anything goes overboard. Not a single drop, which is really invaluable.

For the cost and efficiency of the system, if you didn’t have it and you got caught discharging diesel or hydraulic fluid or anything overboard, I don’t even want to begin to imagine what the fines would be like. Of course you don’t want to put that stuff in the water anyway.

The system is very efficient. You can hear it running right now. Looks like it’s picking up from the forward machine room right now. This room, when we bought the boat, was very dirty. Had a lot of mold. All these chill pipes you see on the ceiling were moldy. The stagnant air down here stunk to high heaven, but as you can see now, I mean you could almost make a crew’s quarters out of this area now. It’s very clean. It smells wonderful. It’s dry. It’s an amazing system.

Keeping the engine room dry and tidy will help maintain all components

Captain Chris Zasky’s experience aboard Divine Intervention is a powerful case study for how the Arid Bilge System can transform even the most complex marine environments. Any vessel with sensitive onboard systems can benefit from precision moisture control and proactive leak detection. Not only the systems, but also all the surfaces including headliners and painted surfaces, benefit greatly from moisture protection.

With its low power draw, automatic reliability, and optional eco-protective features, the Arid Bilge System is a smart safeguard below deck.

17 10, 2024

Customer Success Story: Chuck Casagrande, Owner of Seasucker

By Al|2026-01-18T22:23:15+00:00October 17, 2024|Articles|

Alfred Baurley of Arid Bilge Systems interviewed Chuck Casagrande at a recent boat show, and Chuck explained exactly why the Arid Bilge System is a game-changer aboard his 40-ft Catamaran. The system protects all his electrical systems and wiring by keeping them dry all the time. Between the electric and the odor, Chuck is enjoying his boat a lot more with the Arid Bilge System on board, and he can focus on the more fun parts of maintenance on this custom Cat.

See below for a transcript of the entire interview.

Alfred: Chuck Casagrande. He’s given us a testimonial review about the Arid Bilge System on his personal boat. He sells thousands of Seasuckers, and I wanna hear from him directly. What was your experience like?

Chuck: It was good. We’ve been working with you probably 4 or 5 years. And we put that system in, and that was great. It’s a big difference. I have a big boat. I have a 40-foot Catamaran. It was an older boat that we bought and we redid. And initially, we had some problems with the tank. We had moisture issues down below. It was water everywhere, even fuel for a while. Keeps it dry. We’ve got pucks in the back, and we’ve got pucks in the front. Since we have a Catamaran, you’ve got separate system on both sides. So the tubes will run over to the other pontoons forward and backwards. So it’s a pretty big system, and it works beautiful.

Alfred: First of all, you have a series 4, how many zones on that?

Chuck: But there’s, like, 4 something. I’m not technical on the actual product, but it works. It’s great.

Chuck: [At Seasucker] we’ve got a full machine shop, injection molding, tons of engineers. So I got an older boat, and we built it up from scratch, and a lot of custom stuff on there, but they really helped us fix that part of it.

Alfred: What do you mean by you have your engineers work on the boat directly?

Chuck: Well, I also have the engineers. I drag them in from Seasucker sometimes to the boat. So people laugh about a little bit. Sometimes it’s a Chuck’s boat day. Some special work on the boat together. We put a diving board on the boat. We’ve got a full de-sal system, 500 pounds of ice a day. It’s got a bathroom, sleeps 4. We’ve added all these things to it, so engineers are engaged here and there to make it work.

Alfred: Right. So did you experience any sort of humidity? That happens on Catamarans in the first place. Did you experience any odor?

Chuck: We had a ton. I mean, like I said, we had a fuel issue. So we had a big smell with the tank leaking. We had to replace the tank. But besides that, the boat still had water down there, which I didn’t like. When you have that moisture just sitting down there with all the hatches closed, you’ll see a film of moisture on all the electronics, on all the wires. Everything corrodes quicker then, so then you’re replacing stuff every year or two. With this system, everything stays dry down there. If I see it’s dry, I know my wires, my connections, everything’s gonna last a long time, and that’s what this system helps you do.

Chuck is excited about Arid Bilge Systems because of how it supports the longevity of all the other onboard systems. Arid Bilge Systems is here to support you in your boating journey, and customer satisfaction is our utmost goal.

Keeping the engine room dry and tidy will help maintain all components

Check out Seasucker’s Marine line of products. And we’d like to note that their “About Us” page sounds pretty familiar to us at Arid Bilge Systems… we’re also a family company based in Florida, we have been producing all our marine products right here since the mid-2000’s, and we keep delivering innovative and carefully engineered products to market.

Check out this 2019 article on Seasucker’s work bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., their family business operations, and their roots in Florida: Made in America: Bradenton’s SeaSucker makes all its bike racks, marine accessories in US

See Chuck Casagrande on LinkedIn

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