An electric bilge pump seems a good idea, but how are you folks planing on powering them?
I looked at hand held pumps but none have a suction hose. The base has to be inserted into the bilge, you need several inches to get a a good suction and you have an open access port at low level.
I ended up making my own.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vaho7JSVS1IA bit bulky, but I had most of the pipe and fittings in the possibles pile.
I'd knock 6 to 8 inches off the length.
Check valves did not work and I could not find a smaller ball and o-rings to fit
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DG6own141z0.
So, I purchased PVC spring checks from the orange store and removed the springs.
In repairing my DaySailer I added two 6 inch ports in the seat tops at the transom. This gives access to the lower level of the bilge at the transom.
I know, a port is still open but it is well above the water line by time you are cleating the bilge. Or should be, have not been there - dun that ...yet.
I put slip on hose connections at suction and discharge and I can pull water from near the lower transom drain and either send it over the side or through the cockpit drain in the transom.
If a drain hole were to be installed through the cock pit floor into the bilge near the transom would most of the bilge water exit into the cockpit and out its drain, assuming weight were aft?
Good Sailing,
Teddy