Petrol powered water pumps

[fisherman]

I had a large Jabsco belt driven electric clutch pump for deckwash and bilge pumping, via a manifold to choose the source, seacock or either bilge. It relies on current being present, and the belts not slipping. Both may be compromised when the water level reaches the pump, usually level with the crankshaft. My service batteries were above deck, with a direct connection to the DSC VHF for the same reasons.

 

[geem]

There are hydraulic driven varirants around, some self priming some not. The petrol pumps are a huge pain as others point out.

A lot of the PRM boxes have PTO capability as do some generators like Northern lights or beta marine. To have enough room your talking about a pretty big boat!

Electric pumps especially the 240v type availible from screwfix and the like can shift pretty significant amounts of water!

How much do you want to shift? Our electric pumping capacity is over 19 tonnes an hour. Enough capacity to keep the boat afloat whilst you either fix the leak or abandon ship, I think. We have four pumps installed on float switches to run automatically and a fifth that can be set up for additional pumping capacity. The largest electric pump is 1.5 " bore and moves a lot of water. The other 3 are 1" bore.
The generator or engine will generate electricity to keep the batteries topped up. The water level has to get to top of saloon cushions before it floods the battery box and then its game over for pumping.

 

[SimonKNZ]

Mother of all bilge pumps indeed! Had a good laugh at that!
Pussy of a bilge pump!

This is more like it....and still 'portable'.
It'd run one heck of a deck shower too.

The water injection on the exhaust is to cool and protect the sometimes considerable length of trunking needed to take the exhaust overboard when used below decks in a warship.
They required serious muscle to start and were stupendously - and I mean stupendously - mind-numbingly noisy.

I'm glad someone posted this! Many memories of this Rover pump being strenuously started on the flight deck of old ships.
One advantage - runs on diesel so the fire risk of the OP's unit is greatly reduced

 

[penberth3]

We used to use the 3" Honda pumps at work. They were the least reliable piece of equipment ever. And even if you could get it started the priming was always a pain.
I wouldn't want to rely on one for an emergency, especially if it's been stored for a while in a damp locker.

Well, I've never had a problem with Honda engines, always started first pull. On the other hand - Listers, Petters and the other outdated British crap I grew up with were another story!

 

[Misterbreeze]

Well, I've never had a problem with Honda engines, always started first pull. On the other hand - Listers, Petters and the other outdated British crap I grew up with were another story!

+1 for Honda. The only thing that regularly gave problems was when the pull cord snaps after lots of use/abuse/neglect.

 

[Kelpie]

Well, I've never had a problem with Honda engines, always started first pull. On the other hand - Listers, Petters and the other outdated British crap I grew up with were another story!

Honda generators, using the same engine- absolutely great.
I presume the problems with the pumps were down to them being generally neglected or abused. Hard to keep them dry, especially when priming involved pouring water over them, on the deck of a moving boat.

 

[fisherman]

I never had a problem with starting Listers except for the initial cranking effort, if they turned they started. I don't think electric start had been invented. However, I know what i'd expect to start most readily after being in a damp boat for months. The only time I had one stop was down to a stuck valve on an SR1 6.5hp single, it started again straight away, I cleaned it up, never happened again. Interesting when I finished, engine ticking over and cleaning it down with a petrol soaked rag, I passed the pot of petrol close to the air intake, it went bezique.
Just wondered whether I could use this turbo boost on regatta day.

Different quality of diesel fuel these days might make a difference after a lay-up.

 

[PCUK]

You need a manual clutch lever pump fitted to your engine. No electrics needed! Will pump like mad as long as the engine keeps running. Oh, there's one in the For Sale section at a bargain price.

 

[boomerangben]

I don’t know how big the OPs boat is but if you were using a pump like that to put a fire out, your problems are going to rapidly shift from fire to excessive free surface. However the subsequent capsize or sinking will almost certainly put out the fire.
As has been said before starting and priming are two things that need to be considered plus of course (in the case of use as a bilge pump) preventing all the rubbish in the cabin blocking the suction tube/ choking the impeller.

 

[NormanS]

In a fire situation, would you really be wanting to be guddling about with petrol?
The whole idea is ludicrous.

 

[penfold]

I don’t know how big the OPs boat is but if you were using a pump like that to put a fire out, your problems are going to rapidly shift from fire to excessive free surface. However the subsequent capsize or sinking will almost certainly put out the fire.

If that's your objective scuttling charges might be more useful.

 

[boomerangben]

If that's your objective scuttling charges might be more useful.

Maybe that’s why it’s a petrol driven pump….. fire extinguisher masquerading as a scuttling charge!