Draining shallow water from bilge

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cdogg

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Anyone know of an inexpensive 12 volt bilge pump for draining water too shallow for normal bilge pumps? Probably the in-line type which I could just direct into a bucket or the sink. My fitted bilge pump only lifts down to the last inch of depth as the pumps filter guard lifts the intake up off the bilge floor. Although an inch doesn't sound like much water, over the large shallow hull area it takes some mopping up. Therefore, if I could simply direct a length of plastic pick up tube where needed I could probably get to most of it. Yes, I am trying my best to discover where the fresh water is coming from, but so far no success.
I have searched through Google, but most pumps seem to have the same filter guard problem as mine, or they are expensive in-line pumps over-spec'd for my purpose.
Thanks
 
One useful approach is to fit another bilge pump over to one side, then heel the boat a bit.
The dayboats I sail from time to time have twin manual bilge pumps so you can pump from the wndward rail when heeled. A Rule electric one is cheaper though.

I have a Rule electric bilge pump mounted on a length of rigid tube, with leads for the accessory socket. I use it for deck washing, but it would also pump the bilge in a crisis.
 
Thanks for the quick reply.
The LVM Amazon 12v pump is the type and price that would suit, but I need the pick-up end to have a length of plastic tube on it.
The Gulper would work a treat I'm sure, but it's a bit pricey.
 
I have used my Pela oil extractor for this job, obviously you have to clean it of oil first.
Other than that, a stirrup type manual pump followed by a sponge.

I think some people have spoken of using the sea toilet to suck up bilge water?
On one of my boats it had a diverter valve to suck the dirty water out of the sink drain.
You could extend that idea.

You might need long arms or an assistant though!
 
Are you picking up water from the inside of the hull or from an area which has been filled, eg a keel full of resin or some such. If the latter you could drill a shallow hole for a sump to put the existing pump in.
 
Can't help you with a bilge pump but am amazed that you are getting so much water in the bilge

You say it is fresh so obviously it's from the boat system, rain or washing down.

I'd be amazed if it was rain given the volume you are talking about.

Stop washing it down and monitor.

Two suggestions.

Power up the water pump and leave all the taps shut.

This may take some time so be prepared to live out of an alternative water tank.

If you have a leak downstream of the main water tank you will hear the leccy pump recharge the system. Just a 1 or 2 second blip.

It is then an easy job to wrap some tissue round all the fittings to establish where the leak is.

I had an annoying amount of water in my engine bay. Finally tracked it down to the transom shower head that had cracked.

If you don't want to sit on board waiting,you obviously know that when you turn off the water at the switch panel that the system is still under pressure so even without 12 volt power the leak will still show itself until the system is depressurised.

Another MINOR drip that we had was from the accumulator bottle alongside the leccy pump. 10 years of vibration had caused it to loosen. Just needed the smallest of clockwise turns to re-establish the seal.
 
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One boat I looked at had rain getting in via the mast.
It was amazing to watch, during a downpour, I saw water spraying out of rivets in the keel stepped mast 2ft above the cabin sole.
The owner would pump the bilge dry.
Next day there would be loads of water in the bottom of the boat. The bilge pump plumbing leaked into a locker, the water would slowly run back to the bilge as soon as the owner stopped pumping.
Enough water was being pumped out to make you think the bilge pump worked OK.
That was a very wet autumn, we have had a lot of rain lately too.
 
I'm not sure which type of boat you have but would it be possible that fresh water is entering through cockpit lockers then draining into the bilge?
If you have a fresh water "bag", try emptying it and see if the leak stops - they can often crack or wear, especially at the corners.
As has been mentioned, pressure up the system and listen for the tell-tale sound of the fresh water pump kicking in to top up your header pressure, that will rule out or confirm a leak in the fresh water system.
 
IMHO, you always seem to get trickles in through the strangest places- like thrudech glands, keelstepped masts, etc...
I just use a windscreen washer motor for hoovering up things that need more than, say, a sponge: places like the depth transducer compartment. I can't be arsed to spend 10 min getting it bone dry, so the pump slurps it all up into a bucket...
 
cdogg said:
The LVM Amazon 12v pump is the type and price that would suit, but I need the pick-up end to have a length of plastic tube on it.
Click to expand...

The description says "submersible or inline", so I expect it comes with a fitting that replaces the built-in strum box shown in the picture with a nozzle that would take a small hose.

Pete
 
sarabande said:
LVM Amazon 12v pump.

Not exactly giveaway cheap, but they do work well and self prime.

http://www.jabscoshop.com/lvm-pumps/lvm105-lvm-amazon-pump-12v.htm
Click to expand...

They are centrifugal pumps and do not self prime very well. If the hose above them is not empty they are no ever so good at lifting water to prime.
Might be OK for handheld use, but may not work if any water is going to be in the discharge hose on start up. Also when they start drawing in a mixture of water and air, the head they will pump to is greatly reduced.
An impeller or diaphragm pump is much better when there is any air around to be shifted, but impellers should not be run completely dry in general.
 
lw level bilge suction

cdogg said:
Anyone know of an inexpensive 12 volt bilge pump for draining water too shallow for normal bilge pumps? Probably the in-line type which I could just direct into a bucket or the sink. My fitted bilge pump only lifts down to the last inch of depth as the pumps filter guard lifts the intake up off the bilge floor. Although an inch doesn't sound like much water, over the large shallow hull area it takes some mopping up. Therefore, if I could simply direct a length of plastic pick up tube where needed I could probably get to most of it. Yes, I am trying my best to discover where the fresh water is coming from, but so far no success.
I have searched through Google, but most pumps seem to have the same filter guard problem as mine, or they are expensive in-line pumps over-spec'd for my purpose.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Get a downward facing strum box and attach it to a length of hose . Fit a non return valve close to it and attach it to an amazon inline pump . Prime the pipe first . Should work as long as you keep the strum box submerged . Alternatively bite the bullet and buy a diaphraghm pump for normal bilge / shower duties etc
 
Whale pump e bay about 10/15 quid, we use one at work to get all the coolant back into the engines.


Lynall
 
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