Bilge pump: automatic or non-automatic?

Just think of the moment when he stood back inside the boat, really proud of his new flooring. And the look when the boat came out of the water (weeks, months later looking at the corrosion) and he found out what that niggling water leak was.

Not even screws, plasterboard fixings!
 
Is there a single documented case of a GRP yacht being kept afloat by its own automatic bilge pumps?
Or a GRP yacht sinking which would have been saved by a 12V Rule pump?

I've logged some miles on wooden classics which don't have self draining cockpits. I've raced 60+ year old boats which 'work' a little. Bilge pumps earn their keep on such vessels.


The Island Packet yachts bilge pumps are powerful enough to allow changing of the stern gland packing material while in the water-it is a recomended technique on the iphomeport.

IIRC the instructions state that the rings of packing material should be pre cut-and the bilge pump checked for correct operation before the job is started!
 
The Island Packet yachts bilge pumps are powerful enough to allow changing of the stern gland packing material while in the water-it is a recomended technique on the iphomeport.

IIRC the instructions state that the rings of packing material should be pre cut-and the bilge pump checked for correct operation before the job is started!

It's good to wash the dust out of the bilge from time to time!
 
There's little point criticising lw395's reading ability unless you can read properly yourself, which it seems you can't. The link you gave has the 3700 pump's current consumption listed as 20A at 13.6v.

Whereas I was reading from the up to date, actual manufacturer's website....
 
It's good to wash the dust out of the bilge from time to time!

My dream - when I finally moved to a deck stepped masted boat after decades of keel stepped with resulting rain in bilges I was looking forward to dry. But litres of water slosh around and are cleared every day. It's all fresh I think but very annoying.
 
My dream - when I finally moved to a deck stepped masted boat after decades of keel stepped with resulting rain in bilges I was looking forward to dry. But litres of water slosh around and are cleared every day. It's all fresh I think but very annoying.

It would be worth investigating how it's getting in.
 
Quote Originally Posted by lw395 View Post
Whereas I was reading from the up to date, actual manufacturer's website....


Yes, Xylem say the Rule 3700 uses 15.5A at 12v, and 20A at 13.6v.

Yes, I made a mistake. Apologies. Simply reacting to the insult thrown at me. I still have not learned to not bite the bait.

At least I always supply the source of my info which gave you the ammo to correct me.

I still have not called anyone names which is what lw_ _ _ did; I don't think I am an idiot thinker in the least.

Perhaps lw _ _ _ he will give a link to the website he alludes to to prove what he says: "Whereas I was reading from the up to date, actual manufacturer's website".
 
Perhaps lw _ _ _ he will give a link to the website he alludes to to prove what he says: "Whereas I was reading from the up to date, actual manufacturer's website".

He might, but you won't be able to read it, as you blocked him :)

I wouldn't worry too much about the odd bit of name calling. I once told LW395 his post was nonsense and he got a little offended :) But, most of the time we all rub along together well enough.
 
It would be worth investigating how it's getting in.

Oh I have for the last 8 years - usually other things have taken priority, but I’ve checked water tanks and visible connections and used and endoscopic camera for less visible bits, isolated each water tank in turn and poured sudsy water down the fridge drain to see where that goes.

My conclusions so far - much more water appears when we are on board using pressured water system and fridge than when not on board (can leave full water tanks unattended for 3 months with bilge pump off and water still below floorboards) and the fridge does drain into the bilge but I don’t think all the water is coming from there.
 
Well, just to prove how unreliable these bilge pump manufacturers' claims are, if you download the 3700 data sheet ( http://www.xylemflowcontrol.com/files/950-0518.pdf ) you'll see it says 20A at 13.6v for the basic model 13A.

I'd imagine it varies according to the back pressure/head of water the pump is operating against.
The point stands that the number I gave came from the manufacturer.
The power of such a pump isn't remotely like a bow thruster is it?
 
I'd imagine it varies according to the back pressure/head of water the pump is operating against.
The point stands that the number I gave came from the manufacturer.
The power of such a pump isn't remotely like a bow thruster is it?

I think it demonstrates that bilge pump performance figures aren't to be trusted. As for comparing the power to a bow thruster, words fail me.:rolleyes:
 
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