Manual Bilge Pump.

Alistairr

Alistairr

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Is it a good idea to have a manual bilge pump on board a boat, I have a new 24' cuddy which has an automatic electric bilge pump, i understand that a float switch makes it work automatically when i'm not around, and i also have a manual override switch for it. The question is do these things fail very often? should i keep a manual onboard all the time? if so are they compact cause i have limited storage? (Pete i have no idea how you manage to pack so much in to a boat similar to mine?)
And where is the best place to purchase one on the net?'

Also does anyone have experience of a Pal Pocket Torch, you know the wee thing thats permently lit? Are they worth the £20 that they cost? and are the fully waterproof?

Cheers.

Alistair.



<hr width=100% size=1>"INDIANA Has Been Born"
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>
 
I've got a manual pump permantly plumb'd in. I think its worth it, Batteries go flat, you just run out of puff for a bit. Mines fixed under the backseat so can be pumped without having to lift the engine cover.

My mrs bought me mine for chrimbo last year, I think she got it at Marine Superstore, cos she was working down that way. It don't just pump out though. I've used it to pump water through the engine when the raw water pump decided to implode....long story. Just meant re rigging a couple of pipes. Couldn't run very fast though, but got me home.

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Mine came fitted with the boat. Uses the same hose that the electric uses, so quite neat. Same location, under rear seat.

I've had to use it once in earnest when electric pump packed in while I was out in rough stuff, and had about a eight inches of water in the bilge when I stopped to look.

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I think that is what i am worried about, Electric failling, need some sort of back up. Not too worried about battery going flat as i have had twin installed that charge of engine or super dooper charger when linked to shore power.



<hr width=100% size=1>"INDIANA Has Been Born"
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>
 
I've got one of those portable plastic 'stirrup' pump things, but it's not a match to a properly installed permanent pump. It's just a lot more powerful, and is easier to operate when it rough, as all you need is to get a hand onto the lever while kneeling if necessary - as opposed to trying to hold a stirrup pump in the bottom of the bilge and trying to direct the corrugated hose overboard (it's never long or flexible enough)

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Go on man its only money buy the largest you can fit and when your favorite mags desolve and block that nice electric pump and the water is lapping your vitals you will thank god that you had the wisdom to fit that dam manual pump most of them will sift small solids and will help keep you afloat

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I think what i am looking for is one of those plastic stirrup ones with the corrucated plastic tubing. Its not a big boat so wouldn't have space to fit a permanent manual one!
Any idea what a good price is for one ? before i head to my local swindlery this afternoon?
Thank for help.

Cheers..

<hr width=100% size=1>"INDIANA Has Been Born"
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>
 
They are £19.99, plus the price of the tubing adds to that. Make sure the tubing fits OK and is the right length for your needs, perhaps the inlet being a bit shorter than the out outlet. I set up mine so I could use it in the Cuddy as well if the worst came to the worst. It curls up nicely in a space in the engine bay.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>
 
Why on earth won't you have room? Your boat is bigger than mine or Barry's. These pumps are not exactly big - they fit into your existing tube, and measure about 5" across and about 2 inches deep (handle folds down flat into it, and just protrudes a little.

Work a lot better than stirrups

Have a look at this one, you could find space for it on just about any boat
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.marina.hu/plastimo_e.html>http://www.marina.hu/plastimo_e.html</A>

plastimopump2.jpg


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I've got back up electric pumps, emergency battery powered bilge/fire pump and an engine driven manifolded one. If you have a really serious leak, a manual bilge pump is about as much use as tits on a buck rabbit! Admittedly a small boat should have one. But you get tired very quickly!

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Yeah, but where the hell you going to put that lot on a 21 or 24' er

The manual pump is for when the electric one fails - as has happened to me, and it works perfectly well for this purpose - not for when you've hit a floating container at 40+knts and have a 5ft gash in hull. Then you'd spend time on VHF, not pumping!!

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Thanks Brendon, that pump looks pretty neat, but i concern myself with weight and space, there may be space to fit it in and the weight might not be too bad , but they all add up!!! I bought a sports boat to have a sports boat! but every thing thats added to it adds weight regardless off how light it is, I like useing gallons and gallons of fuel each hour and i also want as fast as i can get, I personally wouldn't have a boat like happy's, but i can understand where he's coming from, However i will not skimp with the safety thing though. That pump look good but personally i feel it may be better suited to a cruiser.

Cheers.

Alistair...



<hr width=100% size=1>"INDIANA Has Been Born"
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>
 
The corrugated thingy takes up little space and works well, Good for dinghy, too.
Float switches can get stuff stuck under them and stay on, thus running down the batery. Keep bilge clean!

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Just drink half of one can of beer before you set off....that should offset the additional weight of the pump! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

I'm not sure what you think these pumps are made of, but they're typically rubber bellows, with aluminum tube handles - hardly weigh anything at all.

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide
 
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