Replacement manual bilge pump: Whale, Patay, other?

[NealB]

My old, 1966, Whale Gusher 25 has died: the alloy clamping plates have disintegrated.

Whale tell me standard replacements are no longer available.

A lovely local engineer has quoted £256 (parts, labour and VAT) to make a pair from 10mm bronze (cut, shaped, drilled, and counter-sunk: ready to fit).

On top of that, I then need a service kit (valves, clamping discs, screws, etc), which is another £70 (ish).

A replacement pump, Whale Gusher 30, is around £500.

Or Patay do a similar looking pump, for around £230 - £440 (depending on capacity/ model)

So ...... my heart says to get the bronze replacement clamping plates made up (it feels romantically pure, and supports a good, local, sole-trader), but my head can't look beyond the £ signs.

Any views would be welcome!

 

[Wing Mark]

I think the pumps on our club dory are about 25 quid?
They work and don't have many metal bits corroding.

Spending hundreds of pounds, I'd want to be clear about the actual requirements.

 

[NealB]

Spending hundreds of pounds, I'd want to be clear about the actual requirements.

Yes, that's the $60,000 question, isn't it?

In normal circumstances, it sits there unused, as 'routine' minor leaks eg drips from stern glands, rain coming in the companionways, etc, all get dealt with by the automatic electric pump.

The relatively big manual pump was, presumably, put there as a back-up to help deal with a more major, one-off, ingress at sea.

 

[DoubleEnder]

I had a whale Gusher 10 fail, repeatedly, as the alloy casting corroded. Whale sent me a replacement FOC the first time. Second and third times I repaired it with epoxy. Then I bought a replacement.

Whatever you get make sure it has a plastic body. The powder coated alloy is not good in this application

 

[NealB]

I had a whale Gusher 10 fail, repeatedly, as the alloy casting corroded. Whale sent me a replacement FOC the first time. Second and third times I repaired it with epoxy. Then I bought a replacement.

Whatever you get make sure it has a plastic body. The powder coated alloy is not good in this application

The pump I've got is over 50 years old ..... not a bad innings, maybe?