Electric bilge pumps?

Moderator: GreenLake

Electric bilge pumps?

Postby Peterw11 » Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:19 am

I keep my DS1 on the water at a small lake near my home, and try to sail it two or three times a week, weather permitting.

Well, as any of you folks in the Northeast know, this summer, the weather doesn't seem to want to permit. We're averaging about a foot of rain per week around here, (an exaggeration, but not by much, it seems) and even though I have an old boom tent for the cockpit (not really rainproof any more, if it ever was), every time I take her out, I've got about 6" of water to remove before I do.

I've got a hand held, manual pump, and I keep a 2 gallon plastic bucket and scoop in the boat as well. To be honest, the bucket works best, but the whole procedure is getting pretty old.

A quick online search turned up a number of electric alternatives. Cabela's sells a D cell battery powered pump made by Attwood that looks like it may be the answer. It sells for 45 bucks and has gotten some good reviews by small boat users who have to deal with the same problem.

If anybody has any suggestions, recommendations, or thoughts on the subject, I'd love to see them.

Spending a good portion of my limited sailing time slinging a bucket is not something I want to do anymore. I got rained out, again, yesterday, (just as I got to the lake, as it happened) and between yesterday's and last night's rainfall, I'll bet there's another 6" in the boat this morning.

There's got to be a better way.
Peterw11
 
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 12:02 am
Location: Central Mass

Bilge pump

Postby kokko » Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:47 pm

The pump is only as good as the battery life, so you would have to add a solar charger as well. THere is a mechanical pump that operates off wave or tidal action; as a float moves up and down it operates a small pump.
DS1 Truelove
kokko
 
Posts: 470
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:17 pm
Location: St. Paul, MN

Postby algonquin » Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:38 pm

You should consider a hull mounted 12 volt bilge pump with a float activated switch. That does mean a 12v battery also with a small solar charger. If you shop right the whole setup will be about $125-$150 but given your circumstance with the weather it may be worth it.

BTW the battery makes great ballast when mounted just forward of your mast jack. Brad
"Feather" DS1 #818
algonquin
 
Posts: 475
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:16 pm
Location: Maine Highlands - Grand Lakes Region

Postby GreenLake » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:50 am

The float switches I've seen cut out before all of the water is pumped, which prevents the pump from running dry but works better with a deep, steep-sided bilge.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
GreenLake
 
Posts: 7276
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:54 am

Postby Peterw11 » Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:43 pm

Well, I bought the pump, and received it yesterday.

It's an Attwood Water Buster that runs on 3 D cells and supposedly pumps at the rate of 3 gallons/minute. It's completely submersible and lifts water to a height of 4 feet.

Since my last sail, last Tuesday, we've had about 3 more inches of rain(including about 2" this afternoon) so that should provide a healthy amount in the bilge when I get to the boat, tomorrow afternoon.

The intake slots are about 1/4" above the base, so it appears it'll pump as dry as I can get with my bucket and bleach bottle scoop. If I place it next to the transom, while underway, it should be as dry as it's ever been.

We shall see. I'll keep you posted
Peterw11
 
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 12:02 am
Location: Central Mass

Postby GreenLake » Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:16 pm

A report on battery life would satisfy the curious! (As well as to whether actual pumping rates measure up to the claimed rates).
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
GreenLake
 
Posts: 7276
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:54 am

Postby Peterw11 » Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:56 pm

The pump worked great today, as advertised.

Cleared about 4 inches of water from the transom to the CB trunk in about 5 minutes. I placed the pump just at the transom and extended the self contained hose over the stern. Left about 1/4" on the bottom, which a few swipes with my water scoop took care of, easily.

Instructions claim 5 hours of life out of 3 alkaline batteries.

As a bonus, it's small size, (smaller than a coffee can), allows it to fit nicely on the shelf under the cuddy, when not in use.
Peterw11
 
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 12:02 am
Location: Central Mass


Return to Miscellaneous

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests

cron