Pumping water out of inaccessible places.

[moondancer]

That title could have covered a multitued of possibilities!!!

However, my boat is leaking small amounts of rainwater from one or more deckfittings. Probably the stanchions or toe rail. Whilst I gradually work my way round re-sealing everything I am having to remove a few cupfuls of water from a really inaccessible part of the bilge every week or so if it has rained heavily.

Instead of using a sponge has anyone found a pump that could run off 12v and could suck water from a small space. I was thinking of something similar to the pumps that remove oil from a sump in an inboard.

Would they work? Are they expensive?

 

[cliff]

A Pela Vacuum pump works for me.

Also handy for cleaning the crud out of the bottom of the diesel tank.

Oh yes, nearly forgot - also useful for doing an oil change.
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Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity

 

[shmoo]

You could try duck-taping a waste trap (or two in series) onto cheap 12V hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Or you may be able to reverse the pump on a garden sprayer?


We use a wet'n'dry vac when alongside for this sort of thing, but its about 2kW and will suck up small children if they get too close!

 

[paulcooper]

go to your local car scrapyard and buy a windscreenwasher pump. 12 volt of course. fit the tube to a long wire and you can get almost anywhere. I have used one for years with great success.
paul.

 

[lw395]

For small quantities, I use a 60ml syringe, with a piece of 3mm bore tubing as an extension. Bought from ebay.
Quicker than getting the pela out.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have a Pela but for small amounts within reach I use a fat baster(plastic or glass tube with a rubber bulb on the end).I got my plastic one from the pound shop .It is invaluable.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Yes the Pela is useful to do this, but do get the more expensive Cylindrical shaped one, as the round ones sold in the chandleries block up too easily, as the tube supplied is very very thin.

 

[moondancer]

Great ideas - I particularly like the one regarding the windscreen washer motor. Easy to stick long tubes on and designed for use in water.

 

[apollo]

I use one of THESE

Works a treat!

 

[sarabande]

LVM pumps have a wide variety of clever little suckers.


http://www.lvm-ltd.com/products/pumps/index.htm

I have a 12v Amazon for transferring diesel on the farm. Excellent piece of gadgetry.