I'm looking to purchase a 1984 O day 222. Is it a good idea to install a bilge pump. I do plan on having a slip for 6 months with electric hook up. Any help greatly appreciated!
222 Bilge
- Thread starter DJ MKE
- Start date
In my opinion it all depends how many holes you have in your boat, if the cockpit will drain rain water and how long your will be leaving your boat without checking on it.
My 25 has one below water through hull which has a new valve and is left closed unless needed. There are two other above waterline though hulls that are sink and cockpit drains. It would take a lot of water or other weight to put them under to the point they would allow water in.
There are no leaves or other debris floating around to clog the cockpit drain so rain won't sink it. If the drain did clog it would take many inches of water before it flooded the cabin.
So I consider my risk of sinking very low, too low to worry about installing a bilge pump and safe shore power setup when I have other upgrades to plan, pay for and install.
My bilge is normally dry but I check it each time I open the boat and if I find water I investigate where it might have come from. If salty it came from the bottom. If fresh it came from the sky.
Your boat, your choice! as Stu would say.
My 25 has one below water through hull which has a new valve and is left closed unless needed. There are two other above waterline though hulls that are sink and cockpit drains. It would take a lot of water or other weight to put them under to the point they would allow water in.
There are no leaves or other debris floating around to clog the cockpit drain so rain won't sink it. If the drain did clog it would take many inches of water before it flooded the cabin.
So I consider my risk of sinking very low, too low to worry about installing a bilge pump and safe shore power setup when I have other upgrades to plan, pay for and install.
My bilge is normally dry but I check it each time I open the boat and if I find water I investigate where it might have come from. If salty it came from the bottom. If fresh it came from the sky.
Your boat, your choice! as Stu would say.
My previous boat was an O 22. The bilge area above the keel always had some water in it. I would use a manual pump every few weeks to remove most of it. The bilge didn't have enough clearance to ad a electric pump. If it had the clearance I probably would of installed one although it really didn't need it.
The current owner uses the same technique.
The current owner uses the same technique.
I think I would certainly look at the options...there are very small elec. pumps...I'm about to install one under in our engine pan..as it seems to be a ponding place for a cockpit leak.
I found one (a fishpond pump) last week that is only 2 inches high and will have a 1/4 inch plastic hose..will not be permanently wired, but rather one I can use upon arrival with ease...is electric so should make my life easier...if it works, great, if not I'm only out 32 dollars. It comes with a power cord I'll plug into an extension cord...Our actual bilge stays pretty dry....good luck, Pat
I found one (a fishpond pump) last week that is only 2 inches high and will have a 1/4 inch plastic hose..will not be permanently wired, but rather one I can use upon arrival with ease...is electric so should make my life easier...if it works, great, if not I'm only out 32 dollars. It comes with a power cord I'll plug into an extension cord...Our actual bilge stays pretty dry....good luck, Pat
Thanks for all your input! I'm a first time sailboat owner,so advice from experienced sailors is very helpful!