Small Boat Bilge Pump/Battery/Solar Panel

[future_sailor]

Hi all,

I have a 14ft clinker dinghy that I may put on a drying mooring. It leaks a little and to keep the rain out I’ve been thinking about fitting a bilge pump with it’s own battery and a solar panel to keep it topped up.

I was thinking of getting a Rule 25SA which is 500gph and electronically controlled so it doesn’t need a float switch. Has anyone got any experience of these electronically controlled pumps?

As far as getting a battery goes, I’ve got no idea how many amp hours I need or what sort of solar panel I’d need to keep on top of it. I’d like to keep it all as simple as possible and I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice.

Thank you.

 

[LadyInBed]

That pump draws 1.6 amps so a 10 watt solar panel would be more than adequate.

 

[Refueler]

I have a cheapo chinese Seago auto bilge pump ( it has its own float switch in the base).

Automatic 12V 1100GBH Bilge Pump Water Pump Submersible Pump With Float Switch | eBay

A solar panel (10W)

15W 20W 25W Solar Panel 5V 12V Waterproof Car Battery Charger Camping RV Home | eBay


And a 7A/hr SLA House Alarm battery.

Keeps my 15ft speedboat empty ..... the solar panel does not to be so big - as the pump is not running full time. Also no need for big battery.

 

[Stemar]

I think I'd want to put a cover on the boat to keep rain out. A week of dark clouds and heavy rain could run the battery down faster than the solar panel could recharge it. That way, you've only got a few drips from the cover plus the slight leakage in the hull to deal with.

 

[Refueler]

I think I'd want to put a cover on the boat to keep rain out. A week of dark clouds and heavy rain could run the battery down faster than the solar panel could recharge it. That way, you've only got a few drips from the cover plus the slight leakage in the hull to deal with.

I think the addition of cover is good as well ... my speedboat has a simple tarpaulin from DIY shop .... keeps her near dry.

 

[future_sailor]

I like the idea of a cover too, it’ll keep the sun off the planking. Adds slightly to the complications though, the cover would need some kind of strongback down the middle so that the water runs off it and the solar panel would have to be attached to the outside of the cover. Plus I need somewhere to put them when I go out.

Would a slightly over capacity battery and solar panel along with making sure I go and bale the boat out on particularly rainy days be better?

 

[Jamie Dundee]

I was thinking of getting a Rule 25SA which is 500gph and electronically controlled so it doesn’t need a float switch. Has anyone got any experience of these electronically controlled pumps?

I’ve had these on a couple of boats, really decent pumps. Turns on for a second every 2.5 minutes to check for water pressure, very little battery draw.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Hi all,

I have a 14ft clinker dinghy that I may put on a drying mooring. It leaks a little and to keep the rain out I’ve been thinking about fitting a bilge pump with it’s own battery and a solar panel to keep it topped up.

I was thinking of getting a Rule 25SA which is 500gph and electronically controlled so it doesn’t need a float switch. Has anyone got any experience of these electronically controlled pumps?

As far as getting a battery goes, I’ve got no idea how many amp hours I need or what sort of solar panel I’d need to keep on top of it. I’d like to keep it all as simple as possible and I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice.

Thank you.

I've got that pump too. It's an open keelboat and I have a 10amp motorcycle battery, but went for a 30 amp panel and also added a low voltage protector.

Works perfectly in all weathers.

My boat's plastic though, and like others I'd be bothered about the effect of sun on yours.

 

[future_sailor]

I've got that pump too. It's an open keelboat and I have a 10amp motorcycle battery, but went for a 30 amp panel and also added a low voltage protector.

Works perfectly in all weathers.

My boat's plastic though, and like others I'd be bothered about the effect of sun on yours.

Please can you tell me about the low voltage protector?

 

[captainboo]

Did this for a friends 14' dinghy which lives on a trip line in the Gare Loch on the Clyde. Pump was a Whale Supersub 650, 7Ah sealed lead acid battery and a 1.8w car solar trickle charger. Keeps it pumped out over the summer here in Scotland with little sun, lots of rain and no cover! Battery was put in a tupperware box with the panel attached on top and whole assembly screwed done to a seat.

 

[Refueler]

Just a suggestion :

The auto pumps should have manual - auto capability - so I would advise putting a switch with switch one way - manual ... switch centre centre - off ... switch other way - auto.

That way you can use the pump to pump any little bit if leaves below the water detector.

Just for the record ... I have not fitted a Low Voltage Detector on any of the auto pumps I have ... I have same pump in my main yacht bilge. But of course - the yacht has twin heavy duty lead acid batterys charged from shore or engine. But the speedboat has no LVD ... not needed IMHO.

 

[future_sailor]

Did this for a friends 14' dinghy which lives on a trip line in the Gare Loch on the Clyde. Pump was a Whale Supersub 650, 7Ah sealed lead acid battery and a 1.8w car solar trickle charger. Keeps it pumped out over the summer here in Scotland with little sun, lots of rain and no cover! Battery was put in a tupperware box with the panel attached on top and whole assembly screwed done to a seat.

This is exactly the kind of lines I’ve been thinking along thank you.

 

[future_sailor]

Just a suggestion :

The auto pumps should have manual - auto capability - so I would advise putting a switch with switch one way - manual ... switch centre centre - off ... switch other way - auto.

That way you can use the pump to pump any little bit if leaves below the water detector.

Just for the record ... I have not fitted a Low Voltage Detector on any of the auto pumps I have ... I have same pump in my main yacht bilge. But of course - the yacht has twin heavy duty lead acid batterys charged from shore or engine. But the speedboat has no LVD ... not needed IMHO.

I agree that a switch is definitely needed thank you.

 

[future_sailor]

Do the smaller solar panels come with regulators or are they not needed below a certain wattage?

 

[Refueler]

Do the smaller solar panels come with regulators or are they not needed below a certain wattage?

They are basically maintenance panels and do not need regulators ..... only if you go for serious wattage that delivers 4A or more ... (50W and up).

Some may disagree as that's mu personal view ...

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Please can you tell me about the low voltage protector?

£7 from eBay.

12-36V Battery Low Voltage Disconnect Protection Module DC Output UK | eBay

But! If you buy a slightly larger panel they tend to come with a reasonably good controller, and these often have low v protection anyway.

I couldn't think of a good reason to have the pump switched manually, so never connected that wire. (Of course, if you've got a boat with a roof and want a good night's sleep it's a different matter).

 

[Tranona]

I like the idea of a cover too, it’ll keep the sun off the planking. Adds slightly to the complications though, the cover would need some kind of strongback down the middle so that the water runs off it and the solar panel would have to be attached to the outside of the cover. Plus I need somewhere to put them when I go out.

Would a slightly over capacity battery and solar panel along with making sure I go and bale the boat out on particularly rainy days be better?

Think you will find a cover the best investment you will ever make. A ridge pole should not be too difficult to arrange but of course depends on the layout of the deck. unless your hull is very leaky a good ccover will virtually eliminate water in the boat as well as keeping the elements off the interior, which I assume is also wood.

 

[William_H]

Cheapest option for a battery is an old car battery. (from a vehicle breakers yard) A 10w panel would be best feeding straight in to the battery. No need for a controller or low voltage cut out. Yes the battery could be completely flattened destroying the battery but then even with a LVR cut out you could still end up with boat sunk and battery ruined. ol'will

 

[PaulRainbow]

I agree that a switch is definitely needed thank you.

Don't fit an on-off-on switch. If it accidentally gets switched off, no bilge pump.

 

[Stemar]

It may be a little inconvenient, but I still think a cover is a good idea. Yes, it'll need support, but than need be no more than a hoop that fits in the holes for the rowlocks. Those days of heavy rain and no sun tend to be accompanied by the sort of wind that means it's unpleasant, if not downright dangerous to go bail out. Then there's the time when you're sunning yourself on a Mediterranean beach, but the British summer has other ideas...