Winter Work - Fitting a bilge pump

[Athene V30]

Flipper already has a manual bilge pump located in the heads (just forward of the mast) and an electric one on float switch which both pull from the deep bilge in the fin keel. Each pump has a separate outlet (at least 3/4 if not 1inch in diameter) just below the hull deck seam both 'firing' to port.

Been thinking that I should have a manual bilge pump operated from the cockpit.

Is it best to have this as a totally stand alone unit with its own outlet overboard (perhaps firing to starboard this time) or can I join up with the outlet from the auto bilge pump?

Expect this is Full Circle's area of expertise! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[phatcat1]

By a bucket!

Cheaper
Quicker
No extra holes in the hull!
No extra pipes
No blockages
no seals to perish

No Brainer!

two pumps should be sufficient most of the time!

A third won't make that much difference in a catastrophic flooding!

Save the money and hassle!

 

[CPD]

Peter, the general consensus amongst the Jester skippers I spoke to was, I think, that 1 BIG electric and 1 manual was sufficient in addition to phatcat's suggested bucket. My electric was manually switched (less to go wrong). My plan was to activate the electric and get the liferaft/grab bag ready before even thinking about trying to fond the source of the leak. Thankfully, that situation never came about. HOWEVER, it is about confidence, and if another feels right then go for it. All i would say re hoses, is have independent for each.

 

[Athene V30]

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By a bucket!

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Oh I forgot those - already have 2 in the stern locker plus a cut down 3 litre plastic milk container as a water scoup (like a dinghy bailer) in the bilge ready for action.

Maybe I have enough already - better things to spend money and time on! I'll move it down the list!

 

[Koeketiene]

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I'll move it down the list!

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Way down the list - you know it makes sense.

1 electrical, and 1 manual bilge pump plus a couple of buckets should be more than enough for anyone.
If not... life-raft and RNLI. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[FullCircle]

Auto/Manual switch with alarm on separate battery. I have 110Ah.

The 2 Pumps I added are 3000GPH each with 32mm pipe and separate holes.
The existing Whale Gulper thing does the forward area, and I also have a manual Plaastimo in the cockpit.

It was shocking to see just how slowly my boat emptied from floorboard level.
Bucket wont fit into bilges, so I would need to have 250 gallons and rising for it to be effective.

I do have a Henderson double action floor sucking pump which gets the last 10 gallons out of the bilges, into a bucket. Best 15 quid spent.

I have another as yet unfitted 1500GPH to go into the engine sump area, which I will Tee into the gulper line with a non return valve.
I also have a tee off with a valve to be able to close the engine water inlet so it sucks out the bilges through the engine. It aint much, but it all helps.
My winter jobs this year..

It is also a good idea to get a decent strum box on each to filter the lumps and soggy paper before it reaches the pump.

Best of all make sure you have decent wooden bungs that will not only fit the inlet diameter of the cock, but also the outside diameter of the cock should it fall out. I have some experience of this mode of failure in the Irish Sea off Barrow. I used a sleeping bag and an oar jammed in the hole.

I bought all of my bits from the Dauntless yard Chandlery on Canvey Island, it is very cheap, but does not take Credit/Debit Cards.

 

[Sixpence]

Manual mounted in the cockpit and piped to the area where the sea cocks are through the hull below the helm, and electric below the floor inside, but all I'm doing at the moment is sponging about a mop bucket full per week, don't think any more are needed on my little baby

 

[DRANNIE]

manual in the cockpit and a bucket. The bilge is actually only an inch deep. The boat is stuffed with polystyrene so should float. I don't have any seacocks so if the boats flooded then probably something really bad has happened which probably renders corks pointless. I do have a big one under the floor by the log just in case but I wouldn't have long to plug the hole.