Bilge pumps and that last little bit of water.

[Obi]

Hi,
as a live aboard in the UK, ive had quite a bit of condensation on and off over the winter.

I also have replaced a leaky pump gard, and am slowly going through lots of plumbing that was recently installed and irradicating the additonal drips. Stern gland/rudder stock are all ok. Sea cocks are fine. Deck leaks are slowly being irradicated and I havent seen any for a while.

The aim - a dry bilge. Nevertheless, it might be unobtainable. If this is the case, what do other people with a similar soggy bilge do about the last cm of water that the bilge pump cant get at? Perhaps its a form of OCD and I should just relax about it - any thoughts?

Ive a pella pump which I am thinking of rigging up as a permanent fixture, as that is what I am regularly using to suck up the last of the water, if nothing else springs to mind.

Thanks
Mark

 

[bazobeleza]

a good sponge and a bucket, works every time.

 

[Salty John]

A primer bulb, like the thing that you use for pumping fuel to an outboard motor, and small bore tubing.

 

[lille_bee]

another vote for the bucket & sponge combo.

 

[Obi]

I like the idea of the primer and small bore hose, it would certainly improve my forearm strength. But then Id have a redundant pela pump ;-)

Does anyone just let the water stay where it is? Or is that a no-no ?

Thanks.

 

[Obi]

One would need Mr Tickle arms to use a bucket and sponge. The hose from my pela pump is about 2 metres long and its all needed to get to the hard to reach area where the water sits at the lowest point.

 

[Carmel2]

Couple of nappies.

 

[Obi]

Nappies: Free from Tesco's baby change rooms.

It would raise a few eyebrows; "Excuse me, Im just going to change her nappy"

A great idea thanks, what Im trying to avoid is a regime that involves me and being in the bilges regularly-they are a pain to get at.

 

[sunquest]

I use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner - an Erbauer around £50. Does an excellent job on small wet patches and is so fast. Of course it can double for normal vacuuming. Geoff.

 

[AndersG]

Does anyone just let the water stay where it is? Or is that a no-no ?

I leave it where it is since there will be more water in the bilge the next time I take a shower.

 

[michael_w]

Go to you local car breaker's yard and buy an old windscreen washer pump. A couple of lengths of hose, a bit of wire and a couple of crocodille clips later you have a handy roving pump.

 

[Cloven]

I use one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Syphon-Pump-H...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item2c52fc1ed0

 

[Carmel2]

If it's an access issue, try putting a good hand full of cat litter in a pair of tights, and dipping that in, you will get some odd looks, but it works.

 

[sailinglegend420]

I use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner - an Erbauer around £50. Does an excellent job on small wet patches and is so fast. Of course it can double for normal vacuuming. Geoff.

A wet/dry vac is the best answer - and also one of the most useful tools on our boat as our small 700 watt Ryobi also BLOWS as well as sucks. This makes it very useful for blowing out diesel lines or blowing out the engine cooling water when changing the anti-freeze.

 

[Grehan]

Cat litter and tights sounds like a really excellent wheeze. Haven't heard that one before.
What about cleaning up (as well as soaking up) under the engine when access (if you haven't got Twizzle's arms), is very limited?

Does anyone remember Twizzle? I don't. Too scary!