Bilge Pump Recommendations

[brennain1]

I currently have a rule-mate 500 GPH bilge pump which as packed up. This is the second time this pump has been replaced so am getting sick of replacing it. Does anyone have any recommendations as to a pump that is going to last?

P.S. hope this is in the right section

[jyasaki]

A bilge pump can buy you time when things go bad aboard your boat.

Pump review results are in the links on the right side of the page.

P.S. hope this is in the right section

Close enough, I'd say...


jky

[Nick Hearne]

that review is not much good in my mind because it dose not say which one ill last longer than a season! which is about as long as I get out of a Rule 500 auto having said that the one in my ribeye is 8 years old and going Strong, maybe they don't make then like they used to
I have just bought one of these cheep as chips if it lasts more then a year I'm going to be happy compared to Rule prices!
AUTOMATIC 12V BILGE PUMP 750GPH WITH INTERNAL FLOAT SWITCH AUTO WATER BOAT | eBay
Biffer was advising the Johnson range the other day

[Peter_C]

What part is failing so fast? I had two Rule 1100 GPH in my Nautique that lasted until I sold the boat. The separate water switch however did fail and was replaced with a solid state switch. Often it is just the switches that fail which is why I like them separate with a manual on switch too.

Maybe the wiring is not sealed well enough and they are getting water intrusion? Or was there debris causing it to lock up with power still applied, which will smoke the pump. I would take them apart and figure out what is failing. Rules tend to be decent pumps, and are probably the most commonly installed pump here in the USA.

[Davie]

I use Rule as a rule

[willk]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

I have just bought one of these cheep as chips if it lasts more then a year I'm going to be happy compared to Rule prices!
AUTOMATIC 12V BILGE PUMP 750GPH WITH INTERNAL FLOAT SWITCH AUTO WATER BOAT | eBay

Identical moulding to the Attwood Sahara pumps - dunno if a knockoff or sister product... Sahara fitted as standard by Redbay Boats.

[Maximus]

Bilge pumps seem one of those things that we all have trouble with!
I have twin high volume Whale autos at the mo...whic RC changed to some time ago,and I must say.... so far so good!
(is that temping Fate or what!?).... I do carry a spare as well though!

[Mollers]

Personally, I see little point in having a bilge pump on a O/B rib as there is no bilge, only a sealed floor. Unless you have a deep well to protect it, they just get booted constantly and then, it's only emptying the well.

Ribs are designed to be wet and a have a darn great 'drain' hole back aft.

The only time that I ever used one was to clear a bit of rain water if she'd been left on the water overnight. I never wear footwear that wont cope with an inch of fresh water.

It's an 'I must have a bilge pump' item, nah you don't.

I/B ribs are a different story.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Personally, I see little point in having a bilge pump on a O/B rib as there is no bilge, only a sealed floor. Unless you have a deep well to protect it, they just get booted constantly and then, it's only emptying the well.

Ribs are designed to be wet and a have a darn great 'drain' hole back aft.

The only time that I ever used one was to clear a bit of rain water if she'd been left on the water overnight. I never wear footwear that wont cope with an inch of fresh water.

It's an 'I must have a bilge pump' item, nah you don't.

I/B ribs are a different story.

I have Two Deep wells....with Pumps in my RIB and the floor stays nice and dry regardless,even in the roughest weather,which IMO is just a good design feature
Of course when it's really Knarley I put the TWO Elephant hose's down too!
Pikey Dave did a nice Mod with heavy duty Fibreglass grating over the top...which I unashamably Filched and it works well.
Bilges and pumps are also indespensible when it's on a Mooring for a few days or a week or two (as mine often is)..with auto bilges left on even Torential rain is no problem....even overnight.
It's very surprising how quickly a RIB will begin to fill when they fail....it happened to me on my old Boat!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I have Two Deep wells....with Pumps in my RIB and the floor stays nice and dry regardless,even in the roughest weather!

If you have dry floors even in the roughest weather, you're on a trailer with the cover on. I'm awash, trunk down wearing white knuckles, in the roughest weather. A pump is as much use a straw when it's really coming in, that's why trunks are there.

Our SR lives on a swinging mooring for most of the summer, I wouldn't leave it for two weeks without using/visiting it.

Two weeks of heavy rain and pump on auto would eat into batteries big time. What a ballache, sorting flat batteries on a mooring? I'd rather bung it out with a bucket.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Pikey Dave ........which I unashamably Filched

Stroll on!! We know that you're mates 'an all that!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Stroll on!! We know that you're mates 'an all that!

Obviously "Different" connotations down your way!...like a lot of things eh
I know it's a thread about Bilges...

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Mollers

If you have dry floors even in the roughest weather, you're on a trailer with the cover on. I'm awash, trunk down wearing white knuckles, in the roughest weather. A pump is as much use a straw when it's really coming in, that's why trunks are there.

Our SR lives on a swinging mooring for most of the summer, I wouldn't leave it for two weeks without using/visiting it.

Two weeks of heavy rain and pump on auto would eat into batteries big time. What a ballache, sorting flat batteries on a mooring? I'd rather bung it out with a bucket.

There's no problem...IF you USE your RIB....you charge the Batteries..remember?
Although I'm sure useing a Bucket must be ACE!..Great fun!

[Johnscubanut]

We have 2 Rule auto pumps situated in the splashwell. Work fine so far! When you are not under power & you have a couple of hairy-arsed soaking wet divers coming onboard you need to shift the water they bring with them fairly rapid! Of course we can also use the 2 big elephants trunks when underway, but not had to yet!
The boat sits fairly low due to the heavy Yam 115 four stroke, so these pumps seem do the job of reducing the extra weight of water.

[Johnscubanut]

Best pump in the world is............. A frightened man & a bucket! Ha ha.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Best pump in the world is............. A frightened man & a bucket! Ha ha.

I managed to clout a hole in the Old Man's boat years ago when out fishing with some pals. 2 worried 15 year olds with tupperwear lunch boxes were surprisingly effective too.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Stroll on!! We know that you're mates 'an all that!

I think that you're mixing your "E" 's with yer "I" 's.

Any back to the OP- I have a pair of aforesaid 500gph rule autos on BP & they are still going strong after 6 years, just make sure you clean the crud (dog hair) out of the strainer regularly. I use the pumps regularly, especially when fishing, I chuck a bucket of water down the boat to wash off the fish blood & flick the pumps on to empty the bilges wells so we aren't paddling about in manky water, otherwise we'd have to start her up, drop the bailers & move off our fishing marks, just to clear the crap.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I think that you're mixing your "E" 's with yer "I" 's.

.

Ah, that'll be his funny accent.

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Personally, I see little point in having a bilge pump on a O/B rib as there is no bilge, only a sealed floor. Unless you have a deep well to protect it, they just get booted constantly and then, it's only emptying the well.

Ribs are designed to be wet and a have a darn great 'drain' hole back aft.

The only time that I ever used one was to clear a bit of rain water if she'd been left on the water overnight. I never wear footwear that wont cope with an inch of fresh water.

It's an 'I must have a bilge pump' item, nah you don't.

I/B ribs are a different story.

I use mine when the boat is left on mooring for some time this happens with both my Ribeye and SR4!
Never had a problem with them draining the battery and for me it is a long way out past the speed limit to get up the speed necessary to clear the water with the trunk!
It amazes me how quickly the they can fill up with water and if I’m 200 + miles away I cannot just pop down to bail them out!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

I use mine when the boat is left on mooring for some time this happens with both my Ribeye and SR4!

Never had a problem with them draining the battery and for me it is a long way out past the speed limit to get up the speed necessary to clear the water with the trunk!

It amazes me how quickly the they can fill up with water and if I’m 200 + miles away I cannot just pop down to bail them out!

Right on. A BP is good for you then? ;-) I did state the no BP was my personal preference. :-)