wet vac for bilges

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SmileyGiley

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I want to be able to dry my bilges as much as possible, the bilge pump only goes so far. The easiest way seems to be to use a wet vac, which allows me to get under the tanks etc. BUT

I have a suitcase genny 1000w.
I have the Earlex wetvac.

Start genny. Plug in wetvac. Start wetvac. Start sucking water. Genny stops.

My thoughts are to get a wetvac with a little less oomph. I see there is a handheld DeWalt DC500 that runs off any DeWalt battery (12v-18v) and also from 240v. The lower current draw (300W)so will be OK to use with my 1000w genny or battery. (Ha - all my cordless kit is Makita. Damn)

Any other ideas or suggestion? Maybe a wetvac with a variable motor (hence lower currrent draw)

Cheers, SmileyG
 
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Motors are difficult for generators, as a rule of thumb a 1000W of motor will need 2000W plus of generator or possibly more. It's possible to make a water trap from a plastic bucket with a lid or something similar just use any vac with a trap.
 
Ryobi EWD 5570

I have one of these, which is rated at 550Watts and it runs happily on my 750Watt portable generator:

https://www.sitebox.ltd.uk/product/...and-dry-vacuum-cleaner-7-litre-240-volt-only/

I haven't yet used it to suck up water but it supposed to be able to do so.

I suspect it is no longer in production because I had to try a few suppliers before I found one.

However, for getting up the dregs of bilgewater I just use a Pela-type pump as suggested by the previous poster rather than the Ryobi vac because I don't want to have to clean an oily mess out of it.
 
savageseadog said:
Motors are difficult for generators, as a rule of thumb a 1000W of motor will need 2000W plus of generator or possibly more
Click to expand...

Yep - I have a 1200W Henry which my 2.4KVA generator will usually run, but from time to time the engine stalls when I turn the hoover on.

Pete
 
Boathook said:
A lot of people on here seem to use the pela? vacum pumps used for oil changes on engines.
Click to expand...

I was cleaning various nooks and crannies on board last weekend, but had a lot of trouble with the pump tube blocking. It's not very wide, and the way it's all put together presents several ridges for muck to catch on. I actually had to cut the metal-lined probe pipe (leaving just enough to reach down my extended dipstick tube into the engine sump) as I couldn't clear a blockage in it.

Pete
 
Marine Reflections said:
can you not just get another bilge pump, hand held with some croc clips for battery?
Click to expand...

Most of these little portable ones are centrifugal pumps which need to be immersed in a certain amount of fluid to work. I have one, which has been very useful for pumping out the diesel tank a couple of times, flooded engine bilge, etc, but if you want to get rid of *all* the water you need to use a Pela-sucker / sponge / etc for the last bit.

Pete
 
Genny tripping

You could try this before spending your hard earned?

With genny running, restrict the inlet air to the vac (put your hand over the inlet hose)
Then turn the vac on, if genny doesn't trip, then remove restriction slowly. The threory is as the vac is not pulling any air through, the current requirment drops (can't remember the maths) so could be enough to stop your genny tripping.

Let's know how you get on?
 
Cheers for all the replies. Looking at the Ryobi mentioned earlier (if I can find one). There is also a Vax wet vac that is rated 900w. That would still probably be to much for me (will try this weekend). Alternatively Pela and nappies. I can of course go & tie up along the hard & pay for the 'leccy, but I'd like a solution that works with my genny.

Cheers
SmileyG
 
Ryobi EWD 5570

I've been very pleased with the Ryobi, which I use mainly for clearing up after carpentry jobs on board.

Like you I also have an Earlex but the Ryobi is handier on a boat because it is light and compact. Also it has a handle on top so it's easy to carry around. It doesn't use paper bags but has a cloth bag that you can wash out.

My Earlex is now mainly used for cleaning up my workshop and as a dust extractor for the bandsaw.
 
WE have a Stanley 110v Wet/dry Vac but only use it when on shorepower plus it is not needed now in wet format since I closed the last source of wet ( from an air conditioner drain) and we are back to having dusty bilges like how they should be.[/SMUG]
 
On my old boat I ran a small diameter copper tube (8mm) down the bottom of the bilge from the deepest point to an accessible place in front of the engine. When I say ran I meant lay it loose in the bottom. There was a 90 degree elbow at the engine end to make that end nearly vertical. AT the end of a trip I used a modified hand held bilge pump to suck up anything left by the big fixed bilge pump. I effectively turned the hand held into a large syringe with a small hose end which fitted over the copper pipe. This worked fine for years. If I wanted to absoloute last drop I mopped it up with an old sock on one of those flexy grabber claw things.
My usual practice was to put about a pint (500ml) of weak washing powder solution into the bilge at the start of each trip and I pumped it out at the end. This made the bilge look and smell sweet and clean.
New boat has a sail drive and bilges are usually dust dry.
 
I have a Wicks (badged) wet and dry vac which is great. It does trip the mains breaker frequently but perseverance pays.

These comments have led me to wonder if you can use engine vacuum. There would need to be some means to stop water entering the manifold such as an interceptor drum.

I look forward to some expert views/criticisms/ridicule.
 
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