Do I need a Bilge pump please?

Uh Oh · 26 January 2020, 14:40

Hi everyone and a belated happy new year!
We've recently got a 5 metre rib. She's not left on a mooring and is undercover at home. We will use her as a family boat, mainly in estuaries and close inshore. We will only go out in good weather - mild conditions. We are aiming to tow a few toys and possibly water ski this summer.

I've been wondering if I should invest in a bilge pump? I'm thinking if we were to be deluged with water, perhaps due to a mistake, or the actions of others?
I dont want to spend money if it's unlikely to happen or not be of much help if this did happen.

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and advice please. 😊👍TIA.

mikehhogg · 26 January 2020, 15:00

at the very minimum carry two hand bailers and if possible fit a manual operated two way bilge pump.

Last Tango · 26 January 2020, 15:05

Trunks clear the "serious" water bilge pump is more for "mopping". It's handy if the boat's been alongside in the pouring rain while you've been for lunch and don't want to get your feet wet climbing in. Is it a necessity for your type of use?......probably not. You could just stick a bailing pan in the console.

Pete7 · 26 January 2020, 15:06

Does the rib have an elephants trunk to let down and drain the water when underway?

A dust pan is the expensive bailer option and works surprisingly well. Cutting the bottom off a 2L plastic milk container is the cheap option, even comes with a handle, what's not to like.

Uh Oh · 26 January 2020, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Does the rib have an elephants trunk to let down and drain the water when underway?

A dust pan is the expensive bailer option and works surprisingly well. Cutting the bottom off a 2L plastic milk container is the cheap option, even comes with a handle, what's not to like.

Thanks Pete. I like the idea of a milk container. Ticks a lot of boxes. She doesnt have an elephants trunk fitted. Is this something that can be fitted to the existing drain hole, or would it require a modification please?

HDAV · 26 January 2020, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

. Cutting the bottom off a 2L plastic milk container is the cheap option, even comes with a handle, what's not to like.

Also serves as a handy place to store extra line or similar when under way, a clean 4l chemicals/oil jug can also be used and may be more hardy.

If your doing water sports getting in and out of boat in wetsuits with kids and toys you will get a surprising build up of water in the hull which can start to slosh around especially when pulling a novice skier lots of on off throttle action, but If it’s warm and your wearing designed to be wet footwear isn’t an issue does the hull have. Siphon bailer for the deck or just a solid bung?

mikehhogg · 26 January 2020, 17:13

consider this scenario . you have just hit something submerged underwater, prop is totalled and there is a crack in the transom,water is seeping in , waiting for help. What do you do.Milk carton wont last long.its amazing that people will spend thousands on a fish finder and want to use a milk carton in an emergency.

Ribtecer · 26 January 2020, 17:47

^^^ I agree entirely.

On my rebuild I have included a bilge pump and an inline hand pump for exactly that scenario. I was thinking all of that ^^^ and then the battery runs flat because of all the pumping.

If all is well my boat does have an elephant's trunk, so I have three possible ways to lose onboard water.

The situation you describe is unlikely but but very possible. To the OP, a pump is well worth considering.

Uh Oh · 26 January 2020, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDAV

Also serves as a handy place to store extra line or similar when under way, a clean 4l chemicals/oil jug can also be used and may be more hardy.

If your doing water sports getting in and out of boat in wetsuits with kids and toys you will get a surprising build up of water in the hull which can start to slosh around especially when pulling a novice skier lots of on off throttle action, but If it’s warm and your wearing designed to be wet footwear isn’t an issue does the hull have. Siphon bailer for the deck or just a solid bung?

Thank you. Really useful advice and something I hadn't thought of. It's just a bung.

Uh Oh · 26 January 2020, 18:13

Fair comment. Thank you

Uh Oh · 26 January 2020, 18:15

Thank you. What pump did you install please?

mikehhogg · 26 January 2020, 18:54

an average of 1390 forty foot containers go missing from ships every year. some sink some float just below the surface.I have seen boat transoms ripped clean and clear from boats after fouling nets\buoys etc. at speed. Look at what washed up on our shores after being lost at sea by US Navy a few years ago. The threat of water ingress is very real and it would be very foolish not to be prepared to deal with it.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/irel...land-1.4007521

Ribtecer · 26 January 2020, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uh Oh

Thank you. What pump did you install please?

This is my set up, hole for the elephants truck is hidden by the hand pump in this photo. It's not actually hidden. And the cable for the electric pump is yet to be tethered to the lower BH.

Uh Oh · 26 January 2020, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribtecer

This is my set up, hole for the elephants truck is hidden by the hand pump in this photo. It's not actually hidden. And the cable for the electric pump is yet to be tethered to the lower BH.

Thank you. The photo is really useful too.

GuyC · 26 January 2020, 20:42

You can get automatic ones that operate every minute or so. If it detects a pressure head, it will carry on pumping and if not it will just wait another minute. It does slowly drain your battery but is quite useful if you go ashore for a few hours and it is hurling it down. You should connect it on the battery side of the isolator and run it through a switch.

It is one of the basic safety systems and whilst your particular use may make it redundant, it is probably good seamanship to have a working bilge pump.

Ribtecer · 26 January 2020, 21:18

For an automatic pump I would want two switched batteries.

With my one battery set up, if i was leaving the boat in a rain storm or for any length of time, I would leave the elephants trunk down, and this would not allow the boat to fill with water any further than sea level, then when I return I could either pump it out whats there with the engine running, or let it flood out whilst underway.

Only my thoughts

Last Tango · 26 January 2020, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uh Oh

Thanks Pete. I like the idea of a milk container. Ticks a lot of boxes. She doesnt have an elephants trunk fitted. Is this something that can be fitted to the existing drain hole, or would it require a modification please?

If you don't have trunks then a bilge pump is worth fitting to clear nuisance water slopping around on the deck. I'd ask the manufacturer why they didn't fit trunks before I started cutting holes that size in the transom.

Last Tango · 26 January 2020, 21:31

[QUOTE=mikehhogg;807652<<<I have seen boat transoms ripped clean and clear from boats after fouling nets\buoys etc. at speed>>>>. << it would be very foolish not to be prepared to deal with it>>>>>.
[/QUOTE]

So what kind of pump do you think is going to deal with that.......

Ribtecer · 26 January 2020, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last Tango

I'd ask the manufacturer why they didn't fit trunks before I started cutting holes that size in the transom.

^^^ That is very good advice.

Pikey Dave · 27 January 2020, 08:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikehhogg

consider this scenario . you have just hit something submerged underwater, prop is totalled and there is a crack in the transom,water is seeping in , waiting for help. What do you do.Milk carton wont last long.its amazing that people will spend thousands on a fish finder and want to use a milk carton in an emergency.

Aye, I’d forgotten about that, it happens to me everyday. [emoji57]