New use for the dinghy pump.

[wooslehunter]

Having checked as I always do that the engine strainer was clear and that I had water comming out of the exhaust, I started away from the pontoon in Yarmouth last week. Then within a few yards, I saw no water from the exhaust. A quick turn about & back to the pontoon.

1. Took the lid off the strainer & no weed. Or water ......
2. Then started to poke things down the hole. No water gushing up........
3. Poked bigger things down the hole. No water gushing up........
4. OK top back on and take the pipe off the water pump. Blew down the pipe until very red faced. Still blocked......

Now I'm starting to think about what to do next.

5. Dinghy footpump...
The adaptor fitted the pipe nicely and the pump pushed the offending mass of weed out of the inlet.

6. Off to Poole.

The only way I'd have got the weed out by pushing things through the hole was by having something the same size as the hole. So now there'll be a piece of dowel on board for unblocking without having to take pipes off. But if anyone get's stuck like me then try the foot pump. It worked a treat.

 

[ZuidWester]

Bet it gave the fish a shock!

Our harbour is filling up with weed cos everyone keeps crapping in it. Silly buggers.

 

[MarkG]

Handy tip....

 

[castaway]

Yes I found another good use for the dinghy pump...If I run the fresh water tank dry, or after winter drain down, it was always a real pain to re prime the water pump.

Now I just put the pump on to the tank overflow/breather give it a quick pump and bobsyeruncle...

Nick

 

[Twister_Ken]

Handy for sex dolls, too.

 

[Lakesailor]

You could use it for your Starwalker Inflatable Total Enclosure Suit

or to save exhausting yourself

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ColinHuggins]

Used to charter a Jeanneau "Rise & Shine" from Shamrock Quay in the 80's (didn't the owner disappear without trace doing a delivery to the Med?) which had twin sinks with near vertical outlet pipes meeting at the single seacock; knives went down a treat. Solution: close seacock, jam dinghy pump hose down other sink, and pump hard.
We stuck tape over the dents in the deckhead.

 

[sailorman]

also good for blocked sink outlets /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

Same thing hapened to us at the fuel pontoon at Largs last season. Having cleared the fliter and replaced the impeller which got damaged I read a PBO tip about using the dinghy pump to clear the intake valve.

The pump was in the tender which was moored to a buoy in Rothesay. I walked along the pontoon and saw a big yacht called 'Riley of Maine'. There was an attractive woman reading the Sunday papers and finishing off a half bottle of Champagne. When asked if she had such a thing as a dinghy pump she said in an American accent: 'You have asked for the only thing on this boat that I know how to find'.

Ten minutes later problem solved. For your information they had actually sailed across from Maine.

 

[Guest]

Dinghy pumps can be used as emergency bilge pumps on suck .... best way is to pump it to the loo !!

Pressure to blow out pipes as you found etc.