Manual Bilge Pump Help

[Jeff]

I bought an older C27 last year (1976). While the boat was stored this winter, I was going over the interior tanks, hoses, etc. I have a copy of the original bill of sale from Catalina which indicates a manual bilge pump was installed. I found the hose above the keel area followed it back to a pump in the cockpit. How does the pump work? I can not find a handle to manually operate it. Could it be missing? I do not know if the seals are still good because I can't operate it. Having just put new thru-hull depth and knot meters in, if needed, I would rather have to pump instead of bucket.Jeff

 

[Bob Shafer]

Bilge Pump for C 27

I bought an old ('75') C 27 last May which had the bilge pump mounted in the storage area under the portside cockpit seat. It is useless. It does have the handle still in it, but the seals and everything else are long gone. Also, it was impossible to dismount it due to corrosion of the screws, etc. Just get a plastic manual bilge pump you can find anywhere, and keep it in the bilge area. Just run the hose into a bucket when you need to remove any water collected there. They are long and thin and fit down there just fine.

 

[GARRY @ S/V TASHTEGO]

Bilge Pump

I can't help you with the handle. Mine was a section of stainless steel tube about 14 inches long with a black knob on the end. It was in the starboard cockpit locker along with the other safety gear. Check out the make andmodel of your pump and buy a rebuild kit which will have new valve membranes and a new diaphragm. Installation is pretty easy.

 

[Jeff]

Thanks Guys

Bob, I have used the same method as a bilge last summer. Gary, at least now I know a handle, at one time, accompanied the pump assembly. I will try to disassemble the pump and see if it can be repaired.Jeff

 

[Peter]

Bilge Pump

Jeff,Yes that pump had a handle as described by Garry. I changed my pump a couple of years ago because it didnt' work well and I'm very glad. Over easter I had a flooding due to a stern tube problem. If I didn't have a good manual pump and a good electric pump I would have lost the boat - easily. Instead I merely had a wet carpet. Not that I think you will, but you can't just carry a hand pump to empty the bilge. If that's what I had I would be boatless and cold.p.s. if you need to change the through hulls on the c27 have a look in the archives for Garry's writeup. An excellent writeup that I keep promoting.Peter

 

[Mike]

Make a Bilge Pump Handle

I recently made a spare bilge pump handle by cutting a length of 1" aluminum tubing. My original bilge handle is aluminum with a bicycle type hand grip and has dimensions of 1" (exterior) and 13/16" (interior). Home Depot carried something very close to that.After cutting the tubing to a convenient length, I used to cotton twine and half hitches (you could use turk's heads too) to cushion my hand.

 

[Jeff]

Your Help Worked

once I realized what I was looking for I was able to get the bilge working. Pump itself was in the port stowage compartment but the part that fit the handle was in the cockpit. After a couple of pumps the bilge began to work fine. Thanks again for your input.Jeff