bilge vacuum

22 10, 2025

Everglades Boats and Arid: Aboard the 395

By Alfred Baurley|2026-10-13T16:59:44+00:00October 22, 2025|Articles, Blog, Boat Builders, Boat Stories, Center Consoles|

Arid supplies Everglades Boats. A conversation aboard the 395 puts that relationship in practical terms: what happens in the bilge while a boat is being used, and how does that affect the spaces around its equipment?

In the interview published with our 2025 story, David Brown speaks as Everglades’ Vice President of Product Development and Engineering. He describes Arid as standard equipment on the 395 at that time. Captain Sean Hickey, speaking as a regional manager and company captain, brings an extended-trip perspective to the discussion.

A captain’s account from an extended trip

Hickey recalls roughly 2,500 miles over three months and reports finding the bilge dry when the boat came out of the water. He connects the condition of that space with the generators, stabilization equipment and other systems carried below deck.

That is his account of a particular trip. For another owner, it suggests a useful habit: make the condition of accessible bilge spaces part of regular checks, including after a trip. Record where water returns, and have its source investigated instead of assuming the same result on every boat.

The 395 combines fishing equipment with cabin systems

Everglades’ current 395CC description shows why access matters. The builder lists a finished hull liner, oversized rigging troughs and a cabin-floor bilge hatch. Its equipment list also includes conventional bilge pumps and a high-water alarm.

Arid’s contribution is residual-water collection at connected pickup locations. The conventional pumps and alarm retain their jobs. Brown’s interview explains the fitment described then; confirm the equipment specification for a new build or a different model year with Everglades.

A separate Everglades installation in our archive

Our original archive photographs show another Everglades: a blue-hulled center console with four outboards, paired with its installed Series 2 cabinet. They are not presented as photographs of the 395 interview boat. Our original installation feature keeps those two views together.

Blue-hulled Everglades center console with four outboards underway near a breakwater. — An Everglades center console featured in Arid’s installation archive.

Arid Series 2 cabinet installed among hoses and wiring aboard an Everglades center console. — Arid Series 2 installed aboard an Everglades center console.

Plan for coverage and future access

The cabinet photograph shows one part of the installation. Planning also needs to identify the separate areas where residual water collects and the route between those pickups and the unit. Bring photographs of the low points and access hatches to that discussion.

See how Arid collects residual water, then compare the service-access discussion in HCB’s Estrella interview and the attention to finished equipment spaces in our Bahama Boat Works story. The layouts differ; planning around the actual boat is the common starting point.

A shorter cut of the Everglades interview is also available.

See the water-routing animation

Illustrative Arid water-routing animation. Actual equipment placement and pickup locations vary by vessel and installation.

This silent animation shows pickups in separate low areas connected by tubing to a central Arid unit, with collected water moving through a discharge line.

The Everglades Boats interview

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.

Why builders choose Arid: explore the benefits for builders and owners, and read our boat-building story.

Bilge System Installation: The Preparation Guide

By Al|2026-10-13T14:39:16+00:00March 13, 2024|Blog|

Plan your bilge system installation

A useful bilge system installation starts with a clear picture of the boat: where residual water collects, where a central unit could fit, and how an installer can reach those areas. Gather that information before selecting a system or ordering parts.

A dry-bilge system handles residual fluid. Keep the boat’s conventional bilge pumps in place for their intended role. If an existing pump is underperforming, investigate and repair it; adding a drying system does not fix that problem.

An Arid Series 4 cabinet mounted above equipment with visible tubing and wiring routes. — An installed Arid Series 4 cabinet. Plan cabinet access, tubing routes and pickup locations around the equipment already aboard.

1. Map the separate wet areas

Start with the boat in its normal floating position. A vessel ashore, unusually loaded or missing an engine may hold water differently. Inspect the accessible low points and photograph each location where residual water remains.

Include compartments without conventional bilge pumps. Record whether nearby areas connect through drainage paths or appear to hold separate pockets of water. Do not assume every compartment drains to the same place. These observations help establish the number of wet zones the proposed installation needs to serve.

2. Identify an accessible mounting location

Look for space where the central unit can be installed upright, protected from flooding and reached for routine service. Record the available height, width and depth, including the room needed around the equipment.

The engine room or an accessible aft compartment may be a candidate, depending on the boat. Photograph possible locations and the route from each wet area. Leave the final mounting choice to a review of the current instructions for the selected system.

3. Plan discharge, power and tubing routes

Identify potential routes before making connections. Note existing discharge arrangements, available electrical supplies and obstructions between the proposed unit and each pickup location.

Electrical and discharge requirements depend on the equipment and vessel. Have the proposed connections checked against the current installation manual and applicable requirements. Avoid assuming an existing drain, through-hull or bilge-pump circuit is suitable simply because it is nearby.

4. Match pickups to the low points

A flat-bottomed compartment, a narrow corner and a V-shaped low point may call for different pickup choices. Clear photographs and measurements help an installer choose a pickup that fits and can be reached for inspection and cleaning.

Our bilge pickup guide explains the available shapes. Confirm compatibility with the proposed system and its current documentation before ordering.

Watch a six-zone Series 4 installation example to see how the wet zones, central unit and tubing routes come together on one boat. Follow the current manual for the system being installed.

Bring the plan to an Arid dealer

Take your wet-zone list, photographs, mounting measurements and access notes to an Arid dealer. For the system’s current instructions, use Owners’ Central. Good preparation gives the installation review a concrete starting point and helps keep the equipment accessible for future care.

A Guide To Boat Bilge Pumps

By Al|2026-10-13T20:16:50+00:00March 6, 2024|Blog|

What are boat bilge pumps?

Boat bilge pumps remove water that collects in a vessel’s lower spaces. If a bilge pump leaves water behind, the puddle may sit below its intake or automatic shutoff level, drain back from a hose, or collect in a separate compartment. This guide compares common pump types and explains where a supplemental dry-bilge system can help.

Arid complements conventional bilge pumping; it does not replace it. Keep the boat’s specified pumps, alarms and other safety equipment operational. Neither a dry-bilge system nor an ordinary bilge pump should be assumed capable of controlling flooding from hull damage. Follow the boatbuilder’s and equipment manufacturers’ instructions, and investigate unexpected water ingress promptly.

How do common bilge pumps work?

Compare the job before choosing the equipment

Conventional bilge pump: removes collected water according to the installed pump’s capacity and controls.
Remote-intake pump: draws water through an intake positioned away from the pump; capabilities depend on the model.
Supplemental dry-bilge system: removes residual water from designated pickup locations while the boat’s conventional bilge pumps remain in service.

For cleanup and contamination checks, read our guide to treating bilge water.

Centrifugal pumps

A rotating impeller moves water into the discharge hose. Many compact electric bilge pumps use this design. Pump placement, intake geometry and the automatic control’s stop point affect how much water remains. Water in a discharge hose can also drain back after the pump stops, depending on the installation.

Flexible-impeller pumps

Flexible blades change shape as the impeller rotates inside its housing, moving fluid from the inlet toward the outlet. Material compatibility and permitted dry-running time depend on the particular pump. Do not assume a pump tolerates oil, fuel, cleaners or running without water unless its instructions explicitly say so.

Diaphragm pumps

A moving diaphragm and valves draw water through an intake and discharge it. Some designs allow a remote intake at a low point. Self-priming capability, debris handling, dry-running limits and output vary by model; check the specifications and keep any required strainers accessible for cleaning.

Why does a bilge pump leave water behind?

A shallow puddle may sit below the pump intake or the automatic switch’s shutoff level. Separate compartments may hold water that cannot reach the pump. Hose drain-back and the boat’s trim can also affect the remaining water.

There is no single residual depth that applies to every bilge pump. Some low-profile pumps and remote pickups remove substantially shallower water than others. Compare the actual model’s specifications and your boat’s installation rather than assuming all pumps leave an inch or more behind.

Should you add a check valve?

Do not add one as a universal fix. A valve changes resistance and can affect priming or trap debris. Some manufacturers permit specific valves in particular configurations; others restrict their use. Follow the exact pump instructions. A check valve is not a substitute for a correctly designed anti-siphon arrangement.

Choosing a dry-bilge system for your boat

Start with a map of the boat’s wet zones. Compare the pickup locations a system can serve, its control method, permitted tubing routes, power requirements and access for service. Check the exact model’s instructions rather than assuming one specification applies to every installation.

Plan the installation around the wet areas

If your plan calls for two or three independently controlled wet zones, review the Series 2 configuration and installation guidance. For a different layout, compare the full Arid system range. Confirm the pickup and tubing requirements before choosing a model.

Choose the appropriate Arid Series and configuration using Arid’s model manuals, then bring your wet-zone map to an installer. Our installation preparation guide explains what to gather. Keep the boat’s specified bilge pumps and alarms operational.

How a dry-bilge system addresses residual water

Arid’s automatic dry-bilge system uses small pickups at connected low points and tubing leading to a central unit. Vacuum draws fluid into a collection chamber; air pressure then moves that fluid through the discharge line. The compressor moves air, while the chamber handles the collected fluid.

The number of zones, tubing limits and installation requirements vary by Arid model. Use the appropriate owner manual and installation resources when planning a system. Automatic operation does not eliminate inspection or maintenance.

Removing residual water reduces one source of below-deck moisture and can make new water easier to notice. It does not repair a leak, clean contaminated surfaces or solve every source of boat odor, mildew or corrosion. Our guide to standing bilge water, odor and moisture explains what else to inspect.

Fluid removal alone does not separate oil or make contaminated discharge clean. Review the appropriate Arid add-on devices and their maintenance requirements, or arrange suitable collection and treatment.

Watch the existing Arid system demonstration:

What to check before choosing or changing a system

Identify where water enters and which compartments collect it.
Check the pump’s intended use, installed output, controls and maintenance requirements with a qualified marine technician.
Keep conventional pumps and alarms operational. Address leaks instead of using automatic drying to conceal them.
Choose residual-water pickup locations and an Arid model suited to the boat.

Explore Arid dry-bilge systems or find a dealer to discuss the boat’s wet zones and installation.

Manufacturer references

For examples of why model-specific guidance matters, see the Rule Standard Bilge Pump manual, Rule LoPro check-valve guidance, and Whale bilge-pump specifications. These references are not endorsements of Arid by those manufacturers.