Gusher 10 hand bilge pump, worth repairing?

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I have an old Gusher 10 hand bilge pump which I would need to replace the valves if I was to install it on the boat again.

The parts are not cheap for the Gusher 10 and I can buy a Gusher Titan for ~£80ish which pumps more water than the Gusher 10 and it is all plastic body unlike the Gusher 10 which is aluminium and naturally aluminium corrodes a lot.

The boat has two big automatic electric pumps, however, a reliable hand pump is necessary for just in case.

What is your experience with the Gusher Titan, is it any good?, what about some of the cheaper makes?

 

[Chiliblue]

I have an old Gusher 10 hand bilge pump which I would need to replace the valves if I was to install it on the boat again.

The parts are not cheap for the Gusher 10 and I can buy a Gusher Titan for ~£80ish which pumps more water than the Gusher 10 and it is all plastic body unlike the Gusher 10 which is aluminium and naturally aluminium corrodes a lot.

The boat has two big automatic electric pumps, however, a reliable hand pump is necessary for just in case.

What is your experience with the Gusher Titan, is it any good?, what about some of the cheaper makes?

Well just went through the same exact thing, my old gusher 10 wasn't working probably now that I have removed it from the boat because some growth around the outlet valve. It looks quite serviceable apart from the alu plate on the outlet side, it came with the boat and must be pretty old. Pricing it up it would be around the titan price to refurbish. However my Gusher 10 is installed through the cockpit seats and 2 of the mounting bolts are now under newly installed non-slip. The Titan looks similar but has different mounting so swapping over would be a pain.

However I found a OEM bilge pump at my local chandlers (plastimo stock apparently) for £85 which is a direct copy of the gusher 10. Which saves me all the work of installing the Titan. I will probably fabricate a new plate out of polycarbonate for my old gusher as the rubber flaps are fine, re-coat the body with epoxy and stow it on the boat if the replacement ever fails.

The best option would be for Whale to make a plastic version of the Gusher 10. So might be worth ringing round for old plastimo stock.

 

[doug748]

Me too.

In my experience the alloy corrodes under the flap valve assemblies and causes the thing to be unreliable. Once vacuum is lost you are stuffed. Some of the mounting screws have now corroded out and, to put a cap on it, my diaphragm mounting nut has turned to white powder. I have repaired it but the thing is stuffed. It is the second one I have had on this boat and I am not minded to fork out for another.

I E-mailed Whale last week and they cannot suggest a direct replacement, in plastic, that would not require extra drilling and cutting. So I will have to bite the bullet in the near future, I will probably look at the Titan as well.

PS

Just remembered I have and Henderson Mk 5 in the heads so I will look at that possibility.

 

[pvb]

It isn't a brilliant design. However, due to mounting bolt considerations, I replaced a Gusher 10 with a new Gusher 10.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Thanks for the reply; good choice getting the OEM bilge pump; I think I will go for a Titan which is plastic and pumps more water; the Gusher 10 will join my collection of bits and pieces in the garage.