Bilge Pump: Any recommendations?

[Downhilldai]

My Rule bilge pump (crap ) has packed up after around 14 months, mostly spent in a nice warm dry garage

I'm fed up with buying Rule pumps - has anyone tried any different brands with successful results?

[Mollers]

I use a big hole in the back and length of floppy hose. It's never 'packed-up', but doesn't work too well when not moving.

[chewy]

I've got a Rule 360 (I think) wired to a rule float switch. Has it installed for 2 years now and never had any trouble.
My boat is left on it mooring all year and doesn't have any covers fitted.

Can't fault it so far.

[Mollers]

Perhaps it's a wiring issue.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Mollers

I use a big hole in the back and length of floppy hose. It's never 'packed-up', but doesn't work too well when not moving.

I'm glad to hear your floppy hose hasn't let you down. Didn't you need to get it lengthened, after you cut a bit too much off the end?

Originally Posted by chewy

I've got a Rule 360 (I think) wired to a rule float switch. Has it installed for 2 years now and never had any trouble.
My boat is left on it mooring all year and doesn't have any covers fitted.

Can't fault it so far.

Thanks for the advice, but I'd like to hear of peoples' experience of different brands, because I've got a large bin full of scrap Rule pumps

Originally Posted by Mollers

Perhaps it's a wiring issue.

Wiring? What's that?

You haven't found your 'spare' pump yet then?

[BruceB]

I have had no real problems with Rule pumps but I always install them on a bracket an inch or two above the well bottom. This means only water gets through the pump as all the other c**p settles out in the well.
I will now probably have multiple failures one after the other but until now the only problem caused has been by size 10 feet standing on the pump and physically breaking it.

[chewy]

My mate fitted a cheap copy of a Rule pump, think it was branded a mariner or dolphin and that failed after 6 months.

Which pump do you have fitted? Is it fitted at the stern of the boat where the trunk exits?

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by chewy

Which pump do you have fitted?

500gph automatic

Originally Posted by chewy

Is it fitted at the stern of the boat where the trunk exits?

Aft end of the deck, alongside the trunk hole.

[chewy]

Is it the pump or the switch that is failing on your pumps? It might be worth trying a pump and separate float switch with an overide so you can manually turn the pump on.

If you fancy trying a different make Johnson are meant to be decent?

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by chewy

Is it the pump or the switch that is failing on your pumps?

Pumps.

Originally Posted by chewy

It might be worth trying a pump and separate float switch with an overide so you can manually turn the pump on.

All the others had float switches. I've only had one float switch fail, but loads of pumps.

Originally Posted by chewy

If you fancy trying a different make Johnson are meant to be decent?

They don't look too clever - a bit cheap & nasty, but they may be reliable. Has anyone else tried them?