Cheap bilge pumps!

MagicalArmchair

MagicalArmchair

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My current bilge pump requires a bit of an upgrade. The current system involves dashing backwards and forwards, bucket in hand, muttering expletives. Thankfully, we have never had to engage said high tech system due to the fact our hardy 1970's Swedish Albin Ballad has never let a drop in, however, I wouldn't mind having something to resort to in order to allow the crew (viz, me) to move from having to bail, to being able to identify the reasons we may be taking on water.

Enter stage right a wizzy electrical bilge bump. Marine variants, like the Rule, cost over £100 (http://www.force4.co.uk/834/Rule-2000-Submersible-Bilge-Pump--27-gals-min.html), however, this one, from a perfectly respectable company, designed for a similar use, with no discernible differences, sells for a quarter of the price (http://dlgtools.co.uk/neilsen-tools/water-pump---2000gph?page=101).

Does anyone have any experience with these pumps? Or should I stick with the bucket and save my dosh!?

Mark
www.albinballad.co.uk
 
How deep is your sump? If it's deep (mine's 5ft) you may need a self priming diaphragm pump to lift that sort of head of water. The rate at which centrifugal pumps pump water reduces with the height it has to lift the water. I use a 500gph centrifugal pump to drain my water tank and it can only lift water about 2ft.
 
That is a Chinese copy of a Rule pump (which is also probably made in China!). Problem with many modern boats is that the bilge pump never does any work. The similar one in my boat built in 2000 died from lack of use last year - seized solid. Replaced with the £100 job, but operate it regularly to stop it from seizing (hopefully). However, it is sensible to have a manual diaphragm pump so you don't rely just on the electric one. On that basis the cheapy one might be worth considering but check that it works regularly.
 
aslabend said:
How deep is your sump? If it's deep (mine's 5ft) you may need a self priming diaphragm pump to lift that sort of head of water. The rate at which centrifugal pumps pump water reduces with the height it has to lift the water. I use a 500gph centrifugal pump to drain my water tank and it can only lift water about 2ft.
Click to expand...

Centrifugal pumps should pump much more than yours! The Rule 2000 is rated as giving half output at about 10ft head, so it would be fine for the OP's needs, even if he has a deep bilge. The cheapo copy will probably perform in a roughly similar matter.
 
A crude way of estimating the overall pressure head is to take the vertical height from pump to outlet and double it for all the kinks and bends and the pipe wall resistance. So, a 5' vertical head is 10' of total pressure head and your 2000 gph pump will do a bit less than half it's open flow capacity. Submersible centrifugal pumps lose capacity very quickly as head increases.
 
pvb said:
Centrifugal pumps should pump much more than yours! The Rule 2000 is rated as giving half output at about 10ft head, so it would be fine for the OP's needs, even if he has a deep bilge. The cheapo copy will probably perform in a roughly similar matter.
Click to expand...

Mine is a cheap copy of the rule 500. The water tank is just below the floor and even though it's connected direct to the battery on short leads it still hasn't the oomph to lift water into the sink (what, ~4ft up) and that's with a straight, 3/4 inch pipe about 5ft long. I'm not saying all submersible pumps are poor but just that imho they are not good for lifting water out of deep bilges. Also, a diaphragm pump capable of pumping a mixture of air and water will completely empty your bilges, a sub. pump will allow a flow of water back down the tube when the pump shuts off. Putting a non return valve in to stop this will again restrict the flow.
 
aslabend said:
Mine is a cheap copy of the rule 500. The water tank is just below the floor and even though it's connected direct to the battery on short leads it still hasn't the oomph to lift water into the sink (what, ~4ft up) and that's with a straight, 3/4 inch pipe about 5ft long. I'm not saying all submersible pumps are poor but just that imho they are not good for lifting water out of deep bilges. Also, a diaphragm pump capable of pumping a mixture of air and water will completely empty your bilges, a sub. pump will allow a flow of water back down the tube when the pump shuts off. Putting a non return valve in to stop this will again restrict the flow.
Click to expand...

I have a Rule 360 mounted on a length of tube, I use it for deck washing. It lifts water about 6ft. It perhaps helps that it is wired with fat cable?
 
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