bilge pump and oday 23

[kdnichols]

I've had my O'day 23 in the water since June with no bilge pump.

Is a bilge pump needed? If so, what size?
Any pics of installation?

Also...I noticed that my square "holding tank" is about 1/2 full. Since I bought the boat in May 2008 and was told it hasn't been in the water for 3 years before that, I'm assuming the water is extra, extra old and probably has the Ebola, Malaria or some Class III virus that will soon infect me. How do I empty this.

I haven't installed a battery on the boat...so I have no power....yet.

Kevin

 

[HukilauMike]

yes, you should have a bilge pump. I have a manual pump on my Oday 23, and given the limited battery space and size of the bilge, I think an electric pump is overkill. My pump is mounted on a panel in the port cockpit locker that appears to have been designed for the purpose. I believe the pump I had was the original: a Whale "Gusher" model. Flex hose ran from the pump to the lowest portion of the bilge (right under the cabin sole hatch), and another piece of flex hose was attached to the outflow end of the pump. To use the pump, the cockpit locker had to be open and the outflow hose had to be brought out into the cockpit or pointed overboard.

When the bellows on the Gusher cracked a failed a couple of years ago, I thought about redoing the set up so that I could use the pump without opening the locker (in a real emergency, the locker shouldn't be open, exposing the entire interior of the boat to flooding). I envisioned cutting a hole in the locker's wall and mounting a new pump (with a detachable handle) vertically, and permamently mounting the outflow hose to a new above-water through hull. However, I caved to convenience and basically bought an in-kind replacement for the Gusher.

 

[Joe11688]

I have a manual bilge pump that can be worked from in my cockpit. I've never had to use it once since I installed it many years ago. The inlet hose with the screen is near the area where my centerboard pendant line pipe is located, and the outlet hose run out to a through hull fitting on the stern between my swim ladder rungs. I'd say that it's a pretty good idea to have a bilge pump on board, a bucket, and various size corks along with duct tape.
Joe

 

[kdnichols]

Thanks. I actually have one of those West Marine manual bilge pumps in my cockpit where the battery compartment.

I just didn't know if an electric one was needed.

Is it OK to take the panel off that is in the cabin (panel that looks like it leads to the keel area)? I'm assuming a bilge tube would be lead there.

K

 

[HukilauMike]

Thanks. I actually have one of those West Marine manual bilge pumps in my cockpit where the battery compartment.

I just didn't know if an electric one was needed.

Is it OK to take the panel off that is in the cabin (panel that looks like it leads to the keel area)? I'm assuming a bilge tube would be lead there.

K

I'm not sure what panel you are referring to; if you mean the steps down into the cabin, then sure, why not remove them if you want to. You can put anything back together that is screwed down on these boats. However, if all you want it access to the lowest part of the bilge, it might be easier to get there from the cockpit locker. On my boat, the pump hose runs directly from the pump to under the cabin sole floor; access is clear through the cockpit locker. If you need some mechanical assistance running the line, you can get an electrician's wiring snake at the hardware store.

 

[fastscot]

I have a hand pump for my 23', but have never had more water than I could clean out with a few paper towels (and that was from blowing rain when the main hatch was exposed. I am interested in what appears to be a stainless tube replacement for the center board pendant. Could kdnichols explain the replacement. Thanks,