Bilge Pump

[TrebleDesigns]

Hi,
I am currently working on the design of a motion powered bilge pump for a university project. The product is to be targeted for small day/ski boats, wooden boats, dinghys; basically any boat with a large cockpit area that drains to the bilges or slow leaking boats.
The product aim:
No need to worry about flat batteries
Perfect for use in boats with no other available power source
Reduced need to check boat
To displace volumes of water of large periods of time

I am looking for your opinions on what type of thing you would like to see considered in my product design specification, or what would you expect the product to do? a few things to consider could be:
- What would you be willing to pay?
- How big should it be?
- How long does it take to set up, or is it permanently fixed?
- How should it attach?
- What modifications would you be willing to make to your hull?
- Average pump flow rate?
etc.

I am looking for as many peoples opinions as possible so if someone has already put down something you agree with put it down anyway!

Many thanks for your time
Connel

If anyone owns the type of boat described above please contact me if you feel you could help, trebledesigns@hotmail.com



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[Talbot]

you might want to add a feature that enables an alarm circuit if the pump rate gets above a certain rate, or the power supply falls below a certain voltage

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[dickh]

I think there is already one on the market - I can remember reading about it some time ago, you might be able to search for it on google.
Good luck anyway

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[WhatHove]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jrsupplies.com/bilge-pump2.html>http://www.jrsupplies.com/bilge-pump2.html</A>

You could ask the manufacturer of this one for advice.

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[tim3057]

Mine is small, about the size of a marmite jar, with a separate float switch; goes on when the water is deeper than an inch or so. Still works OK on a battery kicking out 9.8v. Rated to pump 500gph.

<hr width=100% size=1>Wayfarer Woodie done, now I need a new fix..

 

[Thistle]

Interesting idea. I wonder how much motion - in the bilge - would be required. Would boats on swinging moorings or on marina berths move enough? Would water in the bilge dampen the movement - just when it was needed most?

I think I would need to be convinced about this sort of thing before I bought.

I might be more likely to look at a device which could contact me by mobile phone if there was a problem (eg water rising and pump not coping or battery level running down.)

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