Bilge pumps

[zoidberg]

The good, the bad and the ugly....

Am about to fit a RuleMate 1100B unit, which offers 3 choices of switchery. Am also likely to fit a modest manual pump, firstly 'cos I have one ( or two ) but secondly because it was part of the way things were done 'back in the day', to pump manually what had accumulated and log the number of laden strokes - thus giving some indication of a developing problem somewhere.

Is that thought still valid? Or is it about as outdated as shipping a pot of tallow for 'arming the lead'?

 

[Moodysailor]

I still have a manual pump, and always will. I must admit I don't do the manual pump and count anymore. With relatively shallow bilges, I can look and see quite easily.
I also have two electric bilge pumps with float switches (one fwd, one aft) with auto/manual switchs, and have fitted a high water alarm. The HW alarm has no moving parts and is my peace of mind.

 

[fredrussell]

Is that thought still valid? Or is it about as outdated as shipping a pot of tallow for 'arming the lead'?

I think the thought of having a manual backup to an electric pump is definitely still valid. Mainly because electric bilge pumps are mostly shite and seem to last about ten minutes when put in a damp environment. Just as charts feature the “not to be used for navigation” disclaimer, I really feel electric bilge pumps should have a “do not get wet” sticker attached.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have 2 automatic electric bilge pumps backed up with 3 manual bilge pumps 2 inside then boat under the saloon bunks and one that can be operated from the steering station

 

[Stemar]

We have a couple of cheapy automatic bilge pump that work well

This sort of thing from eBay

 

[zoidberg]

I think the thought of having a manual backup to an electric pump is definitely still valid. Mainly because electric bilge pumps ...seem to last about ten minutes when put in a damp environment. .....I really feel electric bilge pumps should have a “do not get wet” sticker attached.

I DO have one of these somewhere....

....which some may think is a tad OTT.

I was thinking of something just a little more 'genteel'.

 

[rogerthebodger]

In My vies you don not need a genteel bilge pump you need one that will shift large quantities of bilge water in a hurry to stop the boat sinking.

you also need backup in case the water hits the fan in a big way

My manual pumps are Hendersen Mk V pumps as well as high volume electric pumps.

My boat is a stel hull boat so is less likely to be holed in the case of an Orca ram or hitting rocks or a reef

 

[Refueler]

I have to agree that the general quality of electric pumps seem to have gone same way as many other products - DOWN !

Years ago - a pump would last for ages ... now I seem to be replacing every 2 - 3yrs ....

The Whale Sureflo is a PoS ... it may have the lowest cut off level - but its auto detect is unreliable ... its pump rate is abysmal ...

I like manual pumps if only to be sure I have something to use !!

Don't forget that your loo can also be a pump ... length of pipe and seal it into the bottom of bowl ...

 

[rogerthebodger]

I had on my boat what I call noddy donkey pump switches that kept on going faulty. I replaced all of mine with the Jabsco pneumatic operated lvel switch with no further issues

 

[PabloPicasso]

So which electric bilge pump is worth getting? Perhaps there is a type that sits a length of pipe back from the bilge to be pumped, so it lives in the dry?

 

[neil1967]

So which electric bilge pump is worth getting? Perhaps there is a type that sits a length of pipe back from the bilge to be pumped, so it lives in the dry?

I have a whale gulper that sits in the dry, with a short length of pipe into the bilge (where there is also a level switch) which is a good way of getting most water out. This is a low volume pump, so I also have a high volume automatic pump, mounted slightly higher, to cope with a bigger problem, and then a Henderson Mk5 manual
Pump which is operated from the cockpit. The latter two pumps have never been used (except to test them), but I would not be without them.