Electric Bilge Pump, saved a boat?

[Plum]

Sorry this post grew like Topsy but -....None of you have mentioned the instance of being aboard and needing MAXIMUM EFFORT to fight the flow. I can assure you it focusses the gluteous maximus. If all you are worried about is insurance - as it seems, you should contact directly... I think you will find that you should have taken sensible precautions, so if absent for an extended period there should be some system installed to cater for reasonable issues. When the fan turns brown however, you will bring every feasible water-moving machine into play, and a whale in the cockpit gets very slow very quickly once the adrenolin fades. I would fit the largest electric pump allowed considering : space in bilge, electrical capacity available and finally, price. The major functional issue appears to be the sensing of water ingress. I know some pumps have a whizz every few minutes and check current load (no water = low amps) but they apparently suck too much power when the boat is unattended if alternate charge is not good/available. Float switches used to be OK when they were mercury whetted but no doubt the safety police have banned them. I use a washing machine level sensor attached by a tube to a plastic bottle cut to a bell shape. I test it when the boat is lifted and the freshwater tanks are drained into the bilge - always works. It also has a buzzer fitted which tells me something is happening down there. Trust me, you shouldn't take this lightly, especially if you don't have the stamina to work a whale at full stroke for a prolonged period.

I too have a washing machine level sensor connected to a half inch hose (no bottle on the end like yours) which triggers at about 5 inches of water depth. The sensor is over 2 feet above the bildge. It is connected to a light and buzzer so giving me early warning of a problem. I switch the electric pump manually and nothing is connected to the battery when i leave the boat. The washing machine level sensor has been very reliable for 2 years now.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Kelpie]

Sorry this post grew like Topsy but -....None of you have mentioned the instance of being aboard and needing MAXIMUM EFFORT to fight the flow. I can assure you it focusses the gluteous maximus. If all you are worried about is insurance - as it seems, you should contact directly... I think you will find that you should have taken sensible precautions, so if absent for an extended period there should be some system installed to cater for reasonable issues. When the fan turns brown however, you will bring every feasible water-moving machine into play, and a whale in the cockpit gets very slow very quickly once the adrenolin fades. I would fit the largest electric pump allowed considering : space in bilge, electrical capacity available and finally, price. The major functional issue appears to be the sensing of water ingress. I know some pumps have a whizz every few minutes and check current load (no water = low amps) but they apparently suck too much power when the boat is unattended if alternate charge is not good/available. Float switches used to be OK when they were mercury whetted but no doubt the safety police have banned them. I use a washing machine level sensor attached by a tube to a plastic bottle cut to a bell shape. I test it when the boat is lifted and the freshwater tanks are drained into the bilge - always works. It also has a buzzer fitted which tells me something is happening down there. Trust me, you shouldn't take this lightly, especially if you don't have the stamina to work a whale at full stroke for a prolonged period.

Agree that an electric pump is a very good idea. It just doesn't have to be on an auto switch.

 

[ghostlymoron]

If you do have an automatic switch, it's worth fitting an hours run switch as well as a buzzer to let you know if you have a persistent leak while you're not aboard.

 

[fisherman]

I hate leaving anything switched on, alarm only in my case. If I had to I would have a dedicated separate battery to run an auto pump while away, not evenconnected to the neg. Someone once connected his alarm to a strobe ....."Fred, there's a light flashing on your boat......"

oh, and my alarm has the neg running through the reed switch so no pos in the bilge

 

[snowbird30ds]

I was told once that the best bilge pump is a frightened man with a frying pan, the look of fear kind of gave me the idea it was from personal experience....

 

[lw395]

I know several leak-prone wooden boats that have been kept afloat with electric bilge pumps.
Also open boats like RIBs and Dories, pumping the rain out.
I also know someone who seriously regrets having an auto bilge pump pump out a couple of gallons of oily water, after getting a very stiff letter from the river authority.

I'm not aware of any normal GRP yacht suddenly springing a leak on its mooring and being saved by an electric pump.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

Thanks all, I agree a decent pump to help fight the flow to at least source the leak, or fight against it it it was a hull breach would be a good shout and seeing that chaps you tube videos I'm sold they can shift a lot more water then I expected. That may buy time to plug it/call for help/get help there/prep the ditch stuff.

Taken in the tips on level sensor/alarm/timer.