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recommend bilge pump

PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:51 pm
by BreezingUp
I have a few inches of water in my hull - not sure how it got there. Can anyone recommend a good battery powered bilge pump that will fit into the inspection ports? The boat is moored and I don't particularly want to haul it out to drain it. Thanks.

Re: recommend bilge pump

PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 5:39 pm
by GreenLake
"Rule" is a maker of small 12V pumps. I have one that is about 3.5" in diameter and might fit through a port (There's always the option of installing a larger port, if you think that this is a recurring issue). If you don't have a store nearby where you can look at examples, try Fisheries Supply.

I got something like this model: https://www.fisheriessupply.com/rule-360-gph-bilge-pump-with-float-switch-24-35a.

Now, you may not need / want the float switch - the way I understand your application you would normally check and activate the pump manually anyway. I've used this combination as a sump-pump in an external stairwell for years - an application where battery operation is a plus as flooding occurs more often during power outages. . .

Either find the same model w/o the switch or just don't use it.

All that aside: if there's water in your bilge that you can't account for, I would haul the boat out anyway to make sure I understood where it came from. . .

Re: recommend bilge pump

PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 11:26 pm
by BreezingUp
Thanks. The specs for the pump say the diameter is 2 3/8 inches, which might work, although I don't know if it would work with a hose attache on the side. I'll take another look.

Re: recommend bilge pump

PostPosted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:13 am
by GreenLake
Good luck. Found there's a model w/o the switch for half the price. If you search the site for "rule 360" you should see it.

Re: recommend bilge pump

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:58 pm
by Alan
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to get the water out, you might want to consider a power drill-mounted pump and a cordless drill, with short pieces of garden hose for inlet and outlet. As a permanent installation, I'd go with a 12-volt bilge mounted pump of the type GreenLake describes.

Re: recommend bilge pump

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:01 pm
by GreenLake
Are those pumps able to lift water on the intake end? Not all pump designs are able to do that.