On a Hunter 36 your bilge pump does not get rid of all the water. You still have a few inches left behind, some from the hose back washing in. Any ideas how to get rid of the last few inches except from using a sponge. Will an aquarium pump help? I don't have a leak, I just like to clean the bilge frequently and need a practical way to get the last inches out. Thanks abe
Last inch of water from bilge, how to get rid off.
- Thread starter abe
- Start date
- Status
That's true of all boats, power and sail
When the bilge pump cuts off the water in the line between the top of the loop and the pump runs back down into the bilge. Owners have been looking for a way to remove that last bit of water without having to to actually do anything that rquires any effort for at least a decade--check valve (can fail or become blocked, disabling bilge pump)...a second smaller bilge bilge pump mounted lower (can become clogged with the stuff that ends up in/grows in a bilge)...ANYthing to avoid doing even 5-10 minutes of actual work. The right solution: a manual pump (dinghy bailer), a bucket and a sponge...or a shop vac if you're lazy. The alternative: a wet smelly bilge or a solution that creates more problems than it solves.
When the bilge pump cuts off the water in the line between the top of the loop and the pump runs back down into the bilge. Owners have been looking for a way to remove that last bit of water without having to to actually do anything that rquires any effort for at least a decade--check valve (can fail or become blocked, disabling bilge pump)...a second smaller bilge bilge pump mounted lower (can become clogged with the stuff that ends up in/grows in a bilge)...ANYthing to avoid doing even 5-10 minutes of actual work. The right solution: a manual pump (dinghy bailer), a bucket and a sponge...or a shop vac if you're lazy. The alternative: a wet smelly bilge or a solution that creates more problems than it solves.
Turkey Baster
It gets in the nooks and crannies around the pump, float switch, and hoses. Just squeeze the bulb, insert the tip in an area of water, release the bulb, extract water! Only costs about a dollar or so. Jack "Friendship" C350, #80
It gets in the nooks and crannies around the pump, float switch, and hoses. Just squeeze the bulb, insert the tip in an area of water, release the bulb, extract water! Only costs about a dollar or so. Jack "Friendship" C350, #80
1 gal shop vac
A shopvac is the way to go. I just bought a small 1 gallon one made by shopvac at Wallmart. It works great and is fairly compact.
A shopvac is the way to go. I just bought a small 1 gallon one made by shopvac at Wallmart. It works great and is fairly compact.
I use a Shop Vac, but...
...a manual pump used to pump rainwater out of the dinghy will get quite a bit out, also when pumped into a bucket.
...a manual pump used to pump rainwater out of the dinghy will get quite a bit out, also when pumped into a bucket.
Home made wet vac.
I was troubled with water collecting under the floorboards of my H23. I’m not sure if it’s being creative or just plain lazy, but I fabricated a mini wet vacuum from a swim toy inflator, a short length of tubing and a 2 litter plastic soft drink bottle. I cut a hole in the soda bottle near the shoulder, stuck in the tubing, and stuck the intake side of the blower into the mouth of the bottle. You have to be kind of careful as there is no full float, and if the tubing gets too close to the intake of the pump it will spray through the pump. This setup has worked very well, for removing water in those hard to reach places. I already had all of the material onboard and it takes so little time to assemble that I usually discard the empty bottle after each use (ashore in the proper recycle container of course).
I was troubled with water collecting under the floorboards of my H23. I’m not sure if it’s being creative or just plain lazy, but I fabricated a mini wet vacuum from a swim toy inflator, a short length of tubing and a 2 litter plastic soft drink bottle. I cut a hole in the soda bottle near the shoulder, stuck in the tubing, and stuck the intake side of the blower into the mouth of the bottle. You have to be kind of careful as there is no full float, and if the tubing gets too close to the intake of the pump it will spray through the pump. This setup has worked very well, for removing water in those hard to reach places. I already had all of the material onboard and it takes so little time to assemble that I usually discard the empty bottle after each use (ashore in the proper recycle container of course).
Otherwise.....
I have a wet bilge. Almost impossible to keep it dry, as my two air conditioners empty condensation into the bilge. To keep the smells away, I use bleach toilet bowl cleaners in the bilge. This doesn't allow the algae to grow, and that's where the smells come from....
I have a wet bilge. Almost impossible to keep it dry, as my two air conditioners empty condensation into the bilge. To keep the smells away, I use bleach toilet bowl cleaners in the bilge. This doesn't allow the algae to grow, and that's where the smells come from....
Dish Soap
I've found that a couple drops of a biodegradable dish soap(Dawn) keeps the water from smelling and rinses the bilge(cuts the oil)
I've found that a couple drops of a biodegradable dish soap(Dawn) keeps the water from smelling and rinses the bilge(cuts the oil)
Hand vac in a wet/dry version.
They now make a wet version of the little Dustbuster vacuum. Capacity is small, but it's convenient to have on the boat for spills and messes and I have used it in the bilge effectively.
They now make a wet version of the little Dustbuster vacuum. Capacity is small, but it's convenient to have on the boat for spills and messes and I have used it in the bilge effectively.
Mick's right
C'mon, and Golly, a sponge works, and you can even put on rubber gloves so you don't get your hands wet.
Stu
C'mon, and Golly, a sponge works, and you can even put on rubber gloves so you don't get your hands wet.
Stu- Status