Can anybody help please - Microplus 502

[Samantha]

Good Morning,

I am relatively new to boating and am hoping that some kind person(s) can help me please.

I have searched on the internet for information regarding my boat - Microplus 502 - the only website I have found is the owners club website - however there is very little information given on that site. I am wondering where I would find my bilge pump on the boat as I believe it not to be working - the channel beneath my boat filled with a little water the other week and I switched my pump on and heard it working - however it didn't suck any water out and I ended up using a turkey baster lol.

Does anybody know where I can get further information about my boat or is it a case of just asking on forums like this one to see if anybody can help.

Any information would be really appreciated as I am a lady boater and not very mechanically minded!

 

[fred247]

These we're not fitted at the factory, so any pump fitted is by a previous owner ( could be anywhere) try following the outlet pipe back to the pump. Most pumps will not completely empty the boat. Should be in the lowest part of the bilge

 

[R400]

A retro fitted pump is bound to be somewhere with easyish access.
as previous message it should be at or near the lowest point
turn on and listen
the MicroPlus was very common in 70s and 80s so I’m sure someone with personal experience will be along soon
popular for fishing ,could try some of their sites

 

[sogood]

I had a Microplus 502 Explorer which I gave a pretty full makeover. As previously stated, the bilge pump was retrofitted. The original deck, as fitted by the previous owner was simply a section of plastic flooring from a garden shed and the pump sat below it, back at the transom end. If you hear the pump running without any obvious water discharge, either there's no water to discharge or the outlet hose is possibly split or disconnected.
Does your boat have an enclosed deck that makes access a problem?
In the meantime, welcome.

 

[Samantha]

These we're not fitted at the factory, so any pump fitted is by a previous owner ( could be anywhere) try following the outlet pipe back to the pump. Most pumps will not completely empty the boat. Should be in the lowest part of the bilge

Thank you very much Fred for your information and a very Happy Christmas!

 

[Samantha]

A retro fitted pump is bound to be somewhere with easyish access.
as previous message it should be at or near the lowest point
turn on and listen
the MicroPlus was very common in 70s and 80s so I’m sure someone with personal experience will be along soon
popular for fishing ,could try some of their sites

Thank you very much for your advice. I will keep looking on the web for some further information regarding general info about my little boat. Seems very sparse.

 

[Samantha]

I had a Microplus 502 Explorer which I gave a pretty full makeover. As previously stated, the bilge pump was retrofitted. The original deck, as fitted by the previous owner was simply a section of plastic flooring from a garden shed and the pump sat below it, back at the transom end. If you hear the pump running without any obvious water discharge, either there's no water to discharge or the outlet hose is possibly split or disconnected.
Does your boat have an enclosed deck that makes access a problem?
In the meantime, welcome.

Hi, thank you every such a lot for your information. I really really appreciate it. I am a total novice where boating is concerned and obviously being a lady as well - am not too mechanically minded I believe it to have an enclosed deck - but what I will do is as per other comments - turn on the pump and listen to whereabouts it is coming from and try and locate it. She has always been bone dry since day one of having her and recently being subject to some thugs trying to steal my outboard engine where they pushed all my canopy open at the back - thus letting in lots of the joyous rain water we have had recently. My bilge area was quite full and when trying the pump on the dash board - it did sound like it was switched on but no water was coming out of the boat. I ended up using a turkey baster to drain the water out (it took about 50 cups of water!)

With you being a previous Microplus 502 owner - did you manage to find any useful websites that I could get information regarding my lovely boat please?

Thank you once again and a Merry Christmas!

 

[sogood]

Hi and thanks for the response and kind words. There was a Microplus owners site that I often visited and unless I'm mistaken it was based in the Holland or some such place. The boat itself is a fairly generic cabin cruiser with some variations between models. I posted a blog on an Irish forum which documented my refurb. In case you might be interested in on a site called "boards. ie". If you go to the topic "sports" then onto "sailing and boating" you should find it, entitled "Let the games commence". I use the same name, sogood. You might find it of interest. Sorry to hear about your outboard problem. Its no harm to bolt it through the transom and not just depend on the motor clamps. Does your boat have a drain plug? If not, it's no harm to fit one and leave it out when the boat is ashore, so any water that gets in will drain out. But don't forget to install it before you launch! Best of luck with it and keep asking questions. PS, Happy New Year.

 

[PCUK]

Where are you based Sam?

 

[Bajansailor]

Here is a copy of a catalogue for the 502 from 1975 - is yours of similar vintage Sam?
It might be useful for general reference.

The price list gives the cost of a standard cruiser as GBP 750 then; the Bank of England inflation calculator notes that GBP 10 in 1975 is now worth GBP 82.40 today, so in today's prices your boat would have cost approx GBP 6,200.

Navigation lights were optional; they cost GBP 25, plus GBP 5 for fitting.
Or in today's money, GBP 206 for 3 lights, and GBP 41 for fitting.
They don't mention electronic equipment like a VHF radio or a depth sounder, as these items were horrendously expensive in the 70's - only really posh yachts could afford them then!

 

[Samantha]

These we're not fitted at the factory, so any pump fitted is by a previous owner ( could be anywhere) try following the outlet pipe back to the pump. Most pumps will not completely empty the boat. Should be in the lowest part of the bilge

Thank you for your advice. x

 

[Samantha]

Where are you based Sam?

Hi, I am based in Derbyshire.

 

[Samantha]

Here is a copy of a catalogue for the 502 from 1975 - is yours of similar vintage Sam?
It might be useful for general reference.

The price list gives the cost of a standard cruiser as GBP 750 then; the Bank of England inflation calculator notes that GBP 10 in 1975 is now worth GBP 82.40 today, so in today's prices your boat would have cost approx GBP 6,200.

Navigation lights were optional; they cost GBP 25, plus GBP 5 for fitting.
Or in today's money, GBP 206 for 3 lights, and GBP 41 for fitting.
They don't mention electronic equipment like a VHF radio or a depth sounder, as these items were horrendously expensive in the 70's - only really posh yachts could afford them then!

View attachment 82917View attachment 82918View attachment 82919

Thank you so so much for this information on the Microplus 502 - yours has been the most informative yet that I have seen. It is an interesting read. Also to read that only posh boats had the radio equipment installed.... must mean mine is posh then! I did see the sticker on board saying it was manufactured at Chrisidon Marine Limited in Worcestershire.. i wonder if the company is still there? I will have a google at it. I have my first boat safety certificate coming up in March, just hoping everything will be ok with it. What boat do you have now? My boat is from 1985. It is my pride and joy and am really looking forwards to taking her out when the weather gets a little brighter and the wind drops and also the river trent levels decrease - with me still relatively new to boating.

One thing I did notice last summer is how lovely the boating community is and how they are willing to help you out should you require any help. Like this forum - it is a brilliant way of getting to know people and if able to offering advice. Thank you ever such a lot for taking the time out to send me the information you have - I really do appreciate it.

Happy New Year to you! x

 

[Bajansailor]

Excellent re you have a posh Microplus Sam!

I never had a Microplus, but when I was a teen in the 70's I used to write to all the boat builders (power and sail) requesting copies of their catalogues - I borrowed my Dad's typewriter and the boat builders all cheerfully spent fortunes on postage to mail me nice catalogues, hoping for a sale, and not knowing that they were communicating with a 14 year old.

Please do post some photos of your boat on here Sam - everybody on this Forum loves to see boat photos.
You will probably get comments and opinions about what is visible in the photos, and these are always useful to have.

 

[Samantha]

Excellent re you have a posh Microplus Sam!

I never had a Microplus, but when I was a teen in the 70's I used to write to all the boat builders (power and sail) requesting copies of their catalogues - I borrowed my Dad's typewriter and the boat builders all cheerfully spent fortunes on postage to mail me nice catalogues, hoping for a sale, and not knowing that they were communicating with a 14 year old.

Please do post some photos of your boat on here Sam - everybody on this Forum loves to see boat photos.
You will probably get comments and opinions about what is visible in the photos, and these are always useful to have.

Thank you. I will do.
Nice to meet you (virtually)