Have a 1979 Cat-22. Fourth owner. Fresh water boat. It seems no one in the past ever put an electric bilge pump in. Neither of the last two owners even had a manual pump. Since this is my first "big boat" I'll admit a certain ignorance. But a quick trip around a marina on the coast revealed at least some Cat-22s with bilge pump through-hulls. However, most seemed to have nothing. What is the consensus? Feel just a little nervous leaving the boat on Sunday and wondering if it'll still be floating on Friday when I show back up. Scott
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
R
Randy
pump
Scott If its a swing keel or has thru-hulls on it, a pump might not be a bad idea..I've heard stories of a couple taking on water throu the volcano at the cable run for the swing keel.. I've owned a three different 22s and never had a pump in any of them.. the new boat is a fixed keel with no thru-hull holes so I see no need.....Look at it this way....The pump is a pretty cheap item to gain the piece of mind knowing your boat isnt sinking.......
Scott If its a swing keel or has thru-hulls on it, a pump might not be a bad idea..I've heard stories of a couple taking on water throu the volcano at the cable run for the swing keel.. I've owned a three different 22s and never had a pump in any of them.. the new boat is a fixed keel with no thru-hull holes so I see no need.....Look at it this way....The pump is a pretty cheap item to gain the piece of mind knowing your boat isnt sinking.......
C
CHARLIE
Peice of mind
Scott, Last season was my first with my boat. The previous ownwer had attempted to put in an electric bilge pump, but failed to complete the job, no thru hull. At first I was going to tap into the manual pump hose but was advised against that by several others who I trust. The main reason being that in rough weather bouncing and bobbing some sort of siphon effect could occur and fill the boat rather than empty it. I added another thru hull at the transom and wired in an auto swith to the battery. Small price when the boat is left on the mooring all week sometimes 2. I didn't take on much water but it seemed that the bilge always had water in it. I suspect topside leakage due to bad sealing. I have removes all topside stantions etc and will re-seal before I go in this year. Charlie
Scott, Last season was my first with my boat. The previous ownwer had attempted to put in an electric bilge pump, but failed to complete the job, no thru hull. At first I was going to tap into the manual pump hose but was advised against that by several others who I trust. The main reason being that in rough weather bouncing and bobbing some sort of siphon effect could occur and fill the boat rather than empty it. I added another thru hull at the transom and wired in an auto swith to the battery. Small price when the boat is left on the mooring all week sometimes 2. I didn't take on much water but it seemed that the bilge always had water in it. I suspect topside leakage due to bad sealing. I have removes all topside stantions etc and will re-seal before I go in this year. Charlie
D
Dan F
bilge
I have a 22 '79 swing keel and leave my boat in a marina full time, I leave it for several weeks at a time. I put in a bilge pump, I simply placed it inside of the "lift off hatch" as you go into the cabin, in front and to the left of the battery. I put a weight on it to keep it stable while at dock. I run the house out under the cockpit and up through the channel where the fuel line normally goes to connect to the OB and then over the side off the transome. I use it only when at the dock. It is cheap insurance, but I wonder how long will the battery last if I get a bad leak.
I have a 22 '79 swing keel and leave my boat in a marina full time, I leave it for several weeks at a time. I put in a bilge pump, I simply placed it inside of the "lift off hatch" as you go into the cabin, in front and to the left of the battery. I put a weight on it to keep it stable while at dock. I run the house out under the cockpit and up through the channel where the fuel line normally goes to connect to the OB and then over the side off the transome. I use it only when at the dock. It is cheap insurance, but I wonder how long will the battery last if I get a bad leak.
D
David G
sure
I have a 1975 C22 with a swing keel that stays in the water year round. The first winter I owned it I went out to check on it only to find the boat heavily settled in the water. The cockput was completely filled with standing water, and when I opened the hatch I found the entire cabin flooded. I do not know why it did not completely settle to the bottom of the marina. Immediately after I installed a pump with a floater valve. I asked the same question as you on this board a couple years back, and someone said there was no reason for one on a boat as small as ours and that if I was taking on water I should focus on the source. In a lot of ways he was right, but what the heck, it is worth the security and it gives me another gadget to play with. Dave
I have a 1975 C22 with a swing keel that stays in the water year round. The first winter I owned it I went out to check on it only to find the boat heavily settled in the water. The cockput was completely filled with standing water, and when I opened the hatch I found the entire cabin flooded. I do not know why it did not completely settle to the bottom of the marina. Immediately after I installed a pump with a floater valve. I asked the same question as you on this board a couple years back, and someone said there was no reason for one on a boat as small as ours and that if I was taking on water I should focus on the source. In a lot of ways he was right, but what the heck, it is worth the security and it gives me another gadget to play with. Dave
C
Chris Gonzales
Yes and No and Maybe
A bilge pump is good insurance against a leak if it is rather small. If you have a 2,000-2,500 GPH pump with a float switch it will keep up with a leak about the size/volume of a water hose turned on full. That would be close to the volume of water coming into the boat via a failed through hull fitting. As mentioned before, even if the pump can keep up with the water your battery bank may be eventually drained enough that it won't work any more. If no one in the marina notices the water gushing out from the bilge pump (hopefully someone will) this WILL happen if you are not there at the boat yourself. Bottom line? Have a pump, make sure it works and your batteries are charged to full capacity. In the marina it can make a difference. But don't rely on it to keep the boat afloat for too long. Be sure to close all thru hulls when not in use, especially once you leave the boat, and never believe your bilge pump will keep up with the flow from hull breach (accident) when at sea. That situation needs emergency measures to close the hole, not just pump water. Hope this helps.. Chris
A bilge pump is good insurance against a leak if it is rather small. If you have a 2,000-2,500 GPH pump with a float switch it will keep up with a leak about the size/volume of a water hose turned on full. That would be close to the volume of water coming into the boat via a failed through hull fitting. As mentioned before, even if the pump can keep up with the water your battery bank may be eventually drained enough that it won't work any more. If no one in the marina notices the water gushing out from the bilge pump (hopefully someone will) this WILL happen if you are not there at the boat yourself. Bottom line? Have a pump, make sure it works and your batteries are charged to full capacity. In the marina it can make a difference. But don't rely on it to keep the boat afloat for too long. Be sure to close all thru hulls when not in use, especially once you leave the boat, and never believe your bilge pump will keep up with the flow from hull breach (accident) when at sea. That situation needs emergency measures to close the hole, not just pump water. Hope this helps.. Chris
D
david
no pump for me
Scott, I have sailed my '77 C-22 on Long Island Sound for 12 years and keep her on a mooring. I have never had the need for an automatic pump. I do not like the idea of yet another hole in the hull as a source of a leak, and then there is the question of battery drain. Best to make sure all thru-deck fittings are bedded and not leaking. These boats are not absolutely water tight, but I have never seen the need for a pump. I do carry a manual pump and a bucket or two for any on-board emergency. david
Scott, I have sailed my '77 C-22 on Long Island Sound for 12 years and keep her on a mooring. I have never had the need for an automatic pump. I do not like the idea of yet another hole in the hull as a source of a leak, and then there is the question of battery drain. Best to make sure all thru-deck fittings are bedded and not leaking. These boats are not absolutely water tight, but I have never seen the need for a pump. I do carry a manual pump and a bucket or two for any on-board emergency. david
- Status
- Not open for further replies.