Electric Bilge Pumps

[Badger]

I noticed on another post on Scuttlebutt about water in the boat, a lot of people kept refering to electric bilge pumps of both the manual and automatic kind. Is this common on small yachts ? Could anyone recommend any particular brands and are they east to fit. Do you have them hard wired into the battery ? Any information / views welcome.Thanks.

 

[yoda]

Mine is a small Rule pump with a float switch, this is wired direct to the battery with it's own fuse and is intended to try and stop the boat sinking while I'm away. It is only a small capacity pump to keep up with a small inflow of waterand not a major problem. Don't think it's ever been called on to perform it's task but then the boat is still afloat! My primary pump remains the manual one and I would advocate the instalation of both rather than just an electric one.

Yoda

 

[tr7v8]

My new one is a Rule Auto, but doesn't use a float switch. Electronics switch the pump on briefly for a split second and detects any drag on the impeller and if it senses any runs until it's clear, then runs for another 30seconds. Then goes back to monitor mode. Apparently their are 2 versions 500 & 1100GPH. These are hardwired to the battery via a fuse.

Jim
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[zephyrsailor]

i have an electric inline pump. no float switch. button on "dash board" to switch it on. inline pumps remove lots of water real quick compared to submersable but cost about 5 times as much i think. i agree with you mustn't rely on electric pump. mines died a few times wouldn't be without a manual back up.

 

[paulrossall]

When I bought my boat two years ago I put it in the water and returned one week later to find water up to the floorboards because I did not know I had to tighten the greaser on the shaft. I then researched all the options and bought the 1100 version of the Rule pump which tr7v8 mentions. It does not have a float switch and it is reasuring to hear the pump whirl away every so often. From time to time I pour a load of soapy water down the bilge (it is a deep yacht bilge) and make the pump work hard. I also have a manual pump and also a standby electric one which I can plug into my 12 volt circuit and use in diferent parts of the boat should it ever be necessary. Rule pump is wired diect to battery via a fuse.
It is much better to have a few electric pumps rather than attempt to use a manual pump for very long unless you are super fit!

 

[tr7v8]

It's actually a condition of my insurance that I have an AUTOMATIC bilge pump. Hence buying the Rule, it already has a an electric one probably a 3000 and a manual one. Although reasonable deep Vee a small amount of bilge water can go a long way!

Jim
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