How many do you have

[sailaway78]

After a reading a recent post concerning a bilge pump that didn't work, got me to thinking. I see lots of posts about higher end accessories, such as DSC and Radar, and AIS. But how many of you even think about the lowly bilge pump. Usually not used often, out of sight down in the bilge. Also not known for extra long life. And yet one of the most important pieces of equipment on the boat. So, how many of you regularly check the bilge pump and float switch, how many have more than one pump, even if just on board as a spare. I have two totally seperate pumps, on seperate switches, totally independent of each other. What do you have.

 

[Tim R.]

Two independent pumps wired seperately. One manual. Check weekly. 2 spares onboard with spare float switches.

 

[RichH]

I have three.
Low volume pump for 'normal' operation
High volume pump with bilge alarm for 'emergency operation' located 'above' the normal pump.
High volume manual pump.

... and I have occasion to have all three on at the same time .... and while far out in the ocean.

 

[Bob S]

I have one plus one manual. Plan to add a second when i haul her :cry:. I read too much. I read an issue of Sail (I think) that a skipper had to remove his raw water intake to help assist a faulty pump. I hope that never happens to me.

Tim, Did you find your new home? Caliber 40

 

[KD3PC]

it has been suggested that given the low ratings of most bilge pumps that you go up three or four sizes to get adequate flow in the event of a breach...AS mu 12-1500's fail I am replacing them with 2000/3000/3600 flow units. May have to increase hose size on my "higher" pump to get it correct.

Try and watch the flow of your pump to make sure it works as it should...in recently replacing a pump, I wired it in just like the old one (PO installed) and noticed the flow was very poor...turns out it was wired backwards...corrected that and now have good hard flow...and as it turns out a spare pump...

I replaced my fridge/shower sump pump with a Johnson pump and it is a good fit, both size and capacity, very quiet, but will have to see if it lasts longer than the previous rule.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

One electric and one manual.

 

[Gary_H]

I gotta bucket?

 

[FastOlson]

three....

Factory stock from Ericson in the late 80's: two Par 37202 series (current model designation) pumps in the main bilge. One of the Par pumps is designated as the shower pump, but that water goes into the main bilge tool
Plus one Whale Gusher 10 manual pump mounted by the helm in the cockpit.

Frankly, when we found this boat I was mildly surprised but very pleased with this amount of pumping capacity. Admittedly the chamber pumps, expensive as they are, can not move the gross amounts of water that a centrifugal pump can theoretically move... but I have tried a Rule pump and between the real-world reduced-flow and it's propensity to air lock and then back-syphon, am glad to stick with the dependable chamber-type pumps.

Edit: Each pump has its own above-waterline exit thruhull. Note B: "manual" means that you manually pump it, by hand. That high-capacity manual pump should always be located such that the pump can be used by the helmsperson.

L

 

[Gary_H]

Actually I have an auto pump in the bilge plus a manual Gusher in the cockpit that sucks from the bilge. I also have a hand pump and ...my bucket. I plan on installing a additional larger capacity auto pump soon.

 

[Winkfish]

When you all say "manual" pumps, are you talking about electric, but not automatic, or are you talking about no electric power, but hand or foot?

 

[zeehag]

my 35mII ericson has one regular bilge pump, 500 gph, in my bilge,. there is an emergency electric pump, 2000gph, and a hand pump in the cockpit well.
my formosa, which prolly needs at least 4 of the 3600 gpm kind, has one 1100gph under engine in the sump, and one 2200 gph under my master berth and one sump , similarly located, for shower. i would love to add a gasoline powered emergency swimming pool emptying one as a safety precaution--unless i can find an electric one..short of that i will prolly just add a 3600 gph-if it will fit in under the engine, and a cockpit well mounted whale gusher, fsb size (freeking scared bitch).

 

[Gary_H]

When I say manual I mean push...pull... push..pull.

 

[zeehag]

When I say manual I mean push...pull... push..pull.

piston pumps, yes-- good stuff to have--i need to replenish my supply of those--my last one just turned to powder in my hands--was a lil old.....

 

[redhead78]

I agree, I have a push pull whale gusher in the main bilge, and an electric pump with an electronic sensor. After my fiasco last week I am adding a second electric pump and sensor...Red

 

[Zaphro]

Two Rule 1500 electric pumps, wired independently. Both pumps have their own float switch one mounted 1.5" inches above the other so only one pump operates at a time unless something really bad is happening, and the factory installed hand pump from Catalina.

 

[Benny]

I'm curious about how those folks that have installed a 2nd and 3rd pump rout the discharge hoses. We installed a 2nd pump in the bilge at a higher level to act as backup and to provide auxiliary capacity if the first one became overwhelmed. We connected the discharge hose to the 2nd pump with a "T" fitting to the single main discharge line. After installation we noticed that the water being pumped by the original pump was going up to the "T" but was being returned to the bilge through the second pump which at the time was not running because the water level had not gotten high enough to activate it. Not willing to open up a 2nd through the hull we resolved the problem by installing a check valve to the second pump to prevent backflow through it. I understand check valves may be unreliable but the alternative was worst. Other than opening up a 2nd through the hull discharge what have you guys come up with?

 

[sailaway78]

IMHO

Benny,
IMHO, the only reliable solution to two pumps is two discharges. When I installed a second pump, I added a thru hull discharge high up on the port side. It is higher than I would like for max pump efficiency, but rather that than any chance of it being below the water line when heeled. Primary pump is plumbed with a discharge through the transom.

 

[druid]

"There is no more efficient bilge-pump than a frightened man with a bucket"

I have a built-in auto, built-in manual, "spare" (set up to be able to just throw into the water and hook onto a battery) electric, and about 3 manual portable pumps with enough hose to get the water out of the cabin.

And 3 buckets.
druid

 

[Pamsboat]

Hello,

I am perplexed about how to keep my bilge dry. Like you I feel that my boat should have more than one automatic bilge pump. I have a Bavaria 960 is (a 32' sailboat built in 1985). It has a very shallow bilge especially because it has a bolted keel. Currently there is one automatic pump setup under the steps to the companionway. It catches the water from the anti-siphon vent from the engine cooling system. This however is not the lowest point in the boat. I purchased a second pump designed for a tight space a Whale super-sub pump but, I have not figured out were to run the hose to discharge the water. My boat has stringers and the floor sits on top of the stringer.

Manual Pumps
For a third pump the boat has a gusher manual pump which has a 2" wide hose. Its very heavy, and I think it was designed for an emergency. Thus I have a small hand pump which is more efficient than any of the others, but I have to get down on my hands & knees to pump the water. Usually rain water into a bucket.

 

[Steve Dion]

We have two pump in the bilge. One is automatic, typical Rule 1100.... The other one is powered by the engine. It is attached with some bypass valves so we would draw water through the raw water intake through the strainer. It works quite well. (I exercise it periodically to make sure the valves work).