I've installed a Rule bilge pump and the water sensor works at stated. However, the sensor doesn't start the pump until the water depth reaches 2". If I manually turn it on, it will pump out the water to an acceptable level, but for a shallow/long bilge Pearson, this is just no good. I want the automatic sensor to activate at a lower water level, so that I don't have to remember to manually switch it on before sailing in stiff winds. Has anyone found a pump that starts up at lower water levels? As others have discussed, it's a pain to have water escape the bilge when heeling.
Better Bilge Pump for Pearson 31-II
- Thread starter Bewitched
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Bewitched, I have the same bilge in my 34-II and I do not recommend drilling holes to remove the water. Before we sail, we always pump, then sponge dry the bilge. If, however, you accumulate water during a sail, there is a small positive in that it allows the existing water to rinse away any debris/dirt in other areas of the bilge that can be removed at the end of the sail. All boats with shallow bilges have this problem and it is characteristic of most modern design sailboats. This should not be a concern. Sail your boat and enjoy the experience. Good luck and good sailing, Ron
Bewitched,
I also have a 31-2 and probably the same bilge pump - it takes out everything but the last 3/8" of water. And, yes--again--that is an annoyance with the shallow bilge. Like Ron, I used to get down on hands and knees and sponge out the rest of the water before I sailed, to try and keep the floor dry when I heeled. I have since done at least two things to try and avoid that issue. 1) I am on a mission/obsession to eliminate as much as possible, if not all, water from getting into the bilge in the first place; and 2) I have, in the interim--and fully admitting that I may never entirely accomplish goal #1--installed a "stop-gap" water removal mechanism, i.e., a foot pump with a hose pickup laying flat on the bilge floor.
My boat, when I acquired it, had two foot pumps installed in the base of the galley sink cabinet. One pump was plumbed into the fresh water system, as a manual pump for fresh water to the galley sink, presumably for cruising and/or low power situations. The second pump, as I have seen on other cruising boats, was plumbed to a sea/salt water intake and a small faucet also at the galley sink and was likely previously used for sea/salt water washing of dishes while cruising (followed by a fresh water rinse) [a fresh water conservation trick for offshore cruisers]. Curiously/oddly, by the time I purchased the boat, the sea/salt water pump was not working and apparently wherever it was originally plumbed for sea/salt water intake was no longer there or obvious to me [I suspect someone had originally--and somewhat frightening to me--connected it the the sea water intake thru-hull for the engine cooling, as the intake hose for the sea/salt water foot pump ended abruptly/crudely cut in the vicinity of that same engine intake thru hull].
In any case, after giving up trying to figure out what other thru-hull I could go to get sea water into that foot pump, I wondered what else I could do with that pump [which I subsequently replaced, given its seals, etc., were shot and repairing them vs. buying a new pump lost out]. Given my on-going obsession with eliminating and/or removing water from the bilge, and my regular annoyance with kneeling to sponge water from the bilge, I ran some 5/8" clear water hose through a strainer and down into the bilge, drilling a couple of small holes through the stringers under the table (just like the existing bilge pump hose already runs through) so that I could run the hose to about midship. Before running the hose through the holes, I coated the edges of the newly-drilled holes thoroughly with epoxy after drilling in an effort to keep the freshly cut fiberglass edges sealed/water-tight. I then ran the hose through and added a plastic "tee" fitting to the end and laid the hose flat on the bilge floor with the "tee" facing port-starboard.
Now, instead of kneeling and sponging everytime I want to go sailing, I just pump away using my foot and the bilge water runs through the old sea water faucet into the galley sink and down the sink drain and out of the drain thru hull. It does not get every single drop of water out but it does remove all but maybe the last 1/8 to 1/4" of water in the bilge. And I don't have to explain to guests and crew--especially those new to the boat--why I need to sponge water out the bilge for 20 minutes or so before we leave the dock.
My other water elimination project (which may make the foot pump obsolete or, at least, seldom called upon) is to install a "condensator" in my air conditioner water discharge line (as most of my bilge water is coming from my air conditioner condensation pan, which drains into my bilge). I've got the device already--it works on a suction venturi-tube principle and uses no power--but I'm saving the project for this winter, when I don't need air conditioning and can't go sailing...
I also have a 31-2 and probably the same bilge pump - it takes out everything but the last 3/8" of water. And, yes--again--that is an annoyance with the shallow bilge. Like Ron, I used to get down on hands and knees and sponge out the rest of the water before I sailed, to try and keep the floor dry when I heeled. I have since done at least two things to try and avoid that issue. 1) I am on a mission/obsession to eliminate as much as possible, if not all, water from getting into the bilge in the first place; and 2) I have, in the interim--and fully admitting that I may never entirely accomplish goal #1--installed a "stop-gap" water removal mechanism, i.e., a foot pump with a hose pickup laying flat on the bilge floor.
My boat, when I acquired it, had two foot pumps installed in the base of the galley sink cabinet. One pump was plumbed into the fresh water system, as a manual pump for fresh water to the galley sink, presumably for cruising and/or low power situations. The second pump, as I have seen on other cruising boats, was plumbed to a sea/salt water intake and a small faucet also at the galley sink and was likely previously used for sea/salt water washing of dishes while cruising (followed by a fresh water rinse) [a fresh water conservation trick for offshore cruisers]. Curiously/oddly, by the time I purchased the boat, the sea/salt water pump was not working and apparently wherever it was originally plumbed for sea/salt water intake was no longer there or obvious to me [I suspect someone had originally--and somewhat frightening to me--connected it the the sea water intake thru-hull for the engine cooling, as the intake hose for the sea/salt water foot pump ended abruptly/crudely cut in the vicinity of that same engine intake thru hull].
In any case, after giving up trying to figure out what other thru-hull I could go to get sea water into that foot pump, I wondered what else I could do with that pump [which I subsequently replaced, given its seals, etc., were shot and repairing them vs. buying a new pump lost out]. Given my on-going obsession with eliminating and/or removing water from the bilge, and my regular annoyance with kneeling to sponge water from the bilge, I ran some 5/8" clear water hose through a strainer and down into the bilge, drilling a couple of small holes through the stringers under the table (just like the existing bilge pump hose already runs through) so that I could run the hose to about midship. Before running the hose through the holes, I coated the edges of the newly-drilled holes thoroughly with epoxy after drilling in an effort to keep the freshly cut fiberglass edges sealed/water-tight. I then ran the hose through and added a plastic "tee" fitting to the end and laid the hose flat on the bilge floor with the "tee" facing port-starboard.
Now, instead of kneeling and sponging everytime I want to go sailing, I just pump away using my foot and the bilge water runs through the old sea water faucet into the galley sink and down the sink drain and out of the drain thru hull. It does not get every single drop of water out but it does remove all but maybe the last 1/8 to 1/4" of water in the bilge. And I don't have to explain to guests and crew--especially those new to the boat--why I need to sponge water out the bilge for 20 minutes or so before we leave the dock.
My other water elimination project (which may make the foot pump obsolete or, at least, seldom called upon) is to install a "condensator" in my air conditioner water discharge line (as most of my bilge water is coming from my air conditioner condensation pan, which drains into my bilge). I've got the device already--it works on a suction venturi-tube principle and uses no power--but I'm saving the project for this winter, when I don't need air conditioning and can't go sailing...
Thanks for the replies. Hey Quint, I see you are from New Orleans. I'm originally from Alexandria. Assuming you are a Tiger Fan. If so, then a big GEAUX TIGERS to you.
As for the bilge issue, I really want to find an automatic pump that has an activation sensor that comes on at a very shallow water depth. The Rule that I have installed doesn't come on until the water reaches 2" in depth. As you guys know, at a 2" depth, the bilge is full of water front to back. I'd like the pump to kick on automatically at 1" or less. (just don't want 2" of water slowly collecting in the bilge while I'm away from the boat)
I'm looking at this Whale pump. Since the entire pump is only 2" tall, I'm thinking it must come on at a very shallow water depth.
Whale SuperSub Smart 650 Bilge Pump at Defender
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|51|299222|84462|316440&id=1207040
As for the bilge issue, I really want to find an automatic pump that has an activation sensor that comes on at a very shallow water depth. The Rule that I have installed doesn't come on until the water reaches 2" in depth. As you guys know, at a 2" depth, the bilge is full of water front to back. I'd like the pump to kick on automatically at 1" or less. (just don't want 2" of water slowly collecting in the bilge while I'm away from the boat)
I'm looking at this Whale pump. Since the entire pump is only 2" tall, I'm thinking it must come on at a very shallow water depth.
Whale SuperSub Smart 650 Bilge Pump at Defender
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|51|299222|84462|316440&id=1207040
I just replaced a Rule (which failed) with an Attwood Sahara series S500. It leaves about 1" of water in the bilge after an automatic cycle. An extended manual cycle gets a little more 'cause the extra time allows water to pass through the limber holes from the fore and aft areas of the bilge. I used the liquid electrical tape for waterproofing of the electrical butt joints. Does a great job but messy and drips off so lay a paper towel or two to keep it out of the bilge water.
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