Auto bilge pump and non draining cockpit

domlee

domlee

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The cockpit on my boat is not self draining and I intend to fit an automatic bilge pump to clear away rainwater when moored at the marina during my absences. I have access to shore power and my original intention was to connect the bilge pump to the battery and have the battery attached to an automatic battery charger so the charge on the battery would be at optimum level. Alternatively, I thought I could connect the bilge pump to the mains via a 12V DC transformer so the pump would always be at the ready. Could anyone advise on these choices and recommend a suitable battery charger and/or transformer. Or indeed, is there a better way of doing this?

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We have the same scenario with our wooden Nordic Folkboat. It has a Rule integral switch submersable pump connected via a three way switch (auto, off and manual) directly to the battery. No shore power and no charger. We visit every week through the winter to check all is OK, manually pump out and check the voltage of the battery. It has to be taken away and charged about twice through the winter.

We have thought of a solar panel charger, but never get round to it! Shore power to a battery charger would ensure constant state of charge in the battery, which would then power the pump.

Our pump is mounted half way up the bilge so it is not on very often and doesn't have to empty the whole lot!



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Your first idea was the better one imo, presumably the boat has a battery already fitted?

btw, a transformer just changes the voltage of ac & doesn't make it dc, the 240/12 converters you see have a rectifier to convert ac to dc and a capacitor to smooth the bumpy dc that results.

As you say, an automatic charger is needed, so's not to overcharge your battery if left on constantly. Re battery size....what size is the one you've got & does it need to start the engine when you get to the boat after a wet weekend?

small solar panel also an option, Nigel luther has mentioned here before that he uses one for just what you describe ,with good results.
 
Ive had the Rule automatic electronic ones on my old wooden boat for some four years now with no charger system other than the alternator on the engine and have never flattened the battery yet. Over winter when left in the water and unattended for up to a month at a time all I do is swap for a fresh battery once a month. A spare battery and a simple car charger at home is all that's needed. Simple and cheap, just like me according to the Rear Admiral.

<hr width=100% size=1>I have nothing to declare, except my genius
(Sorry Oscar)
 
Of course there is a better option!

Does nobody here run to a cockpit cover?

It is really NOT A GOOD THING to leave the battery of any boat connected when you are away from the boat - there is every liklihood of stray current electrolysis.

And it is much better if the rain water, being fresh, does not get into the bilge in the first place.

A cockpit cover keeps the rain out and preserves the varnish into the bargain.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
 
Re: Of course there is a better option!

Prevention is always better than cure and a weatherproof cockpit cover would be an ideal solution. In this instance, the existing cockpit cover was damaged in a storm and allowed the ingress of water which led me to my original query i.e. if a protective measure (the cockpit cover) is compromised then is there another way of dealing with the problems that may ensue? I had envisaged the automatic bilge pump being the only item connected to the power supply when the vessel was vacated which, in turn, led to questions pertaining to the most suitable power supply to maintain the efficient operation of the pump. I have also observed that some vessels do not lend themselves well to weatherproofing of the cockpit thereby requiring some method of draining the water a necessity rather than a luxury.

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The query concerning the battery charger arises from a news report I read concerning a battery charger going on fire and sinking the boat! - the recommendation was to put the charger in a steel box.

I assume I just don't go to Argos and buy an automotive variety and there may be something on the market that 'detected' the state of charge of the battery and switched on and off as necessary. The solar panel seems to be a potential (no pun intended) solution and I'll check Nigel's posts for same.

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Re: Of course there is a better option!

I am sorry, but after a scare with a dripping stern gland left for a week and leaving 12" of water in the port hull I will never again leave Top Cat without an auto bildge pump, I will take my chances with electrolysis; although I don't see how it could be a problem.

-12v goes to one side of bildge pump, +12v goes through fuse and into switch, then to +ve side of pump. No switching no current, all connections dry and switch is sealed unit, it is absolutely no different to the using a main 12v battery switch init. At worst overiding the auto switch with my 3 way switch should be melting away all the metal work under the waterline, but for heavens sake, a 10 second burst which is generally all it takes to clear out the bildge after cleaning with a bucket full of water is hardly going to cause problems.

The occassional switching to clear rainwater is really not going to be a problem is it, unless you are saying there should be no electrical power on the boat at all?

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Why not just fit a cockpit drain?, all you need is a drill, two plastic skin fittings and a length of hose, no electrics, no cockpit cover no hassle. Unless you have a solid boat from the cockpit down I can't envisage how you can't fit a drain.

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My experience is that the smaller bilge pumps will run on quite low voltage with less pressure and volume of course. I imagine you have around the house some of those transformer plug pack DC supplies. If you have one at 6 or 9 volts try your pump at home on the plug pack. Leave it running for an hour or so to make sure it doesn't get too hot before using in the boat. Find a physically bigger one if it gets too hot Leave the plug pack on shore and run the low voltage wiring with a fuse to thwe bilge pump and switch. If you had a 12 volt plug pack you could use it as a battery charger. You need to check the current it puts into your battery with a multimeter. You need about 50 milliamps for a small battery. The current can be reduced by use of a resistor about 10 ohms or a small light bulb 12 volt 3 watt. While solar panels are excellent and I use one myself they are more expense and trouble than shore power and only practicalwith no shore power IMHO. regards ole will

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Argos.. why not?

actually, argos sell (or used to) a cheap automatic charger made by gunsons which a lot of people reckoned was pretty good.

As others have said, you can manage without a charger....our previous boat let a lot of rainwater in & a 90AH leisure battery would last for a long time even in winter,w/o any charger.

Previous boat to that was open cockpit/no drains/no cover & the same battery coped with that too,although the outboard (only 80W charge system) topped up the charge each time we went out; I probably had to do a few runs at speed to charge it, but it was never removed & charged at home.
 
This how Luther does it ...

I have a Rule 300 auto pump connected to a normal domestic 100 A/hr battery. Charge is maintained by a small trickle charge Solar panel obtainable from Auto-Shops for about 29 quid.

I just leave the panel on the coachroof, leads in via the vent / companionway to the cigarette lighter socket fitted just for the purpose .....

Have left boat for over 6 months like that - worked a treat.

Many will tell you that a) if you need auto pump - sort out the problem not cover it with this, b) you'll need xxx amounts of charge and power ..... c) don't leave any live electric items etc.
Well having had non-selfdraining cockpits _ i know the problem well. The present boat is self-draining but that does not mean the leaves and shite that blocks my drains knows that !, the amount of power needed is actually a lot less than than you think - as the pump will keep the levels of water low and a few seconds pumping is enough to reduce it, the solar panel will then pick up that measly amount ..... just make sure that when you visit the boat - charge it from mains as full as possible .... trickle solar panels cannot charge a half flat battery - they maintain a battery ......

I have done it for more than a year now and I will continue with it - it works and saves me having to scrub out after the half full cabin I had before !!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by nigel_luther on 27/04/2004 10:01 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
The sole of the cockpit is at the waterline level and there is a waterproof 'step' into the main saloon about 2 inches high. In order to keep the water out of the saloon I would have to keep the water level in the cockpit at less that 2 inches. There is also a small bilge into which excess water collects. Even if the drain was at the waterline level I would have very little to 'play' with regards variations in water level a drain could effect.

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Tried it - have the tee-shirt !

My Snapdragon had a good cover - but still I found water collected ..... never could fathom out where it got in .... but get in it did.

Plus of course this guy has only 2" to play before cabin becomes swimming pool ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
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