Bilge pumps

Razorbill RIBs · 18 October 2011, 21:49

Am planning to fit several bilge pumps in the Pacific.....

Will be fitting an auto (Rule 500gph) in the main bilge beneath the prop shaft /in front of the Jet.....for when its on mooring etc.

Have a Rule 1000gph which I'm planning to fit aft of the Yanmar in the engine compartment......there is a lowish bulkhead between this compartment and the main bilge with 'run throughs', but my logic is better to have it there than not, in case run throughs should ever block etc. Need to fit a main (pair of?) big pump(s) in the main bilge also......

What heavy duty high gph pumps do others with inboards use? Rule like this /pair of? RULE 2000 SUBMERSIBLE BILGE PUMP - CHEAPEST ON EBAY | eBay

There are others less than half the price....unless anyone knows different I suspect its better to go for the known brand?

biffer · 19 October 2011, 09:31

I read somewhere that the china one have smaller motors and burn out. You pay for quality but get a lot better result longterm

sent from a remote device

chewy · 19 October 2011, 11:30

A friend fitted a cheap one on his fishing boat and its life could be counted in mintutes, cheap crap.
Rule or johnson seem to get the thumbs up....

Salty John · 19 October 2011, 12:06

The Rule 2000 is the most widely used electric submersible pump for boats. I'd certainly be happier with Rule than the more obscure types.

I'm sure you realise that the capacity rating is in US gallons, open flow and with a fully charged battery. Experience tells me that a Rule 2000 will actually do about 800 gph in real life.

I wrote an article on bilge pump system design which may be of interest: http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/resources...tem_design.pdf

Then again, it may be of no interest at all!

Razorbill RIBs · 19 October 2011, 15:20

Chewy / Biffer....cheers both, will be going for the Rule......it's the West Walian in me which makes me look at cheap(er) things

Salty.....that was of interest.....thank you......Hadn't really thought of the losses in performance tbh

A pair of 2000gph it is then.....no shortage of space.... Have a manual whale type also hard fitted in the ali box aft of the seats on the Pac. When teh met owned it it had a salvage pump fitted also (for casualty boats I guess)....sadly no longer there

Thanks all

chewy · 19 October 2011, 20:42

You can get salvage pumps cheapish from screwfix:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/sdmo-st1-1...ter-pump/30836

Pikey Dave · 20 October 2011, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

You can get salvage pumps cheapish from screwfix:

SDMO ST1.18M 1" Petrol Clean Water Pump | Screwfix.com

I can't see that lasting long on a RIB, they're not much good on dry land pumping fresh water. Been there, done that, cursed it,kicked it

chewy · 20 October 2011, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I can't see that lasting long on a RIB, they're not much good on dry land pumping fresh water. Been there, done that, cursed it,kicked it

The RNLI use more of less the same design but a Honda one, ours has never given us any trouble.
Obviously you don't leave it open to the elements, it needs to be stored correctly like everything else.

Hightower · 20 October 2011, 17:52

I bought some Attawood's from Walmarts in the States a few years ago. Been as good as gold and was cheap as chips too at about $15 for a 1200 lph one. The other one was a fully automatic for just under $30 that I sold on for a profit.

Razorbill RIBs · 20 October 2011, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I bought some Attawood's from Walmarts in the States a few years ago. Been as good as gold and was cheap as chips too at about $15 for a 1200 lph one. The other one was a fully automatic for just under $30 that I sold on for a profit.

My little bro lives in Boston.....I'm sure he gets fed up with sending me bits and bobs, but.....we really do get stiffed on so much boaty stuff over here!!......He's sent me Keel guard, Opti plugs and a whole host more for SO much less (inc postage) than we pay over here

kubcat · 20 October 2011, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I can't see that lasting long on a RIB, they're not much good on dry land pumping fresh water. Been there, done that, cursed it,kicked it

I got a similar style Chinese made diesel one from eBay. Lasted about 3 hours before a loud knocking noise and kaboom!

Hightower · 20 October 2011, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorbill RIBs

My little bro lives in Boston.....I'm sure he gets fed up with sending me bits and bobs, but.....we really do get stiffed on so much boaty stuff over here!!......He's sent me Keel guard, Opti plugs and a whole host more for SO much less (inc postage) than we pay over here

Tell him to send over a dozen pairs of Wrangler Jeans too (£45 here and $15 there), I've only got two pair left

alystra · 21 October 2011, 11:33

I've had fairly long life out of the Rule 1200 pumps I've fitted, i.e. several years. Failure caused by water ingress after being frozen in.

The Rule auto pumps, the ones that pulse every minute or so, have been unreliable according to several past threads. I use a standard pump and a separate float switch.

The float switch is a very old (30+ years) Whale, which I fitted four years ago. It has been no trouble. I think it has a rolling ball inside held by magnets or a clip. This means it only switches on when fully submerged and doesn't pulse if the water in the bilge well is sloshing about.

The boat is on moorings all season, often left for two weeks at a time and I've never had a problem with a flat battery - even during this season's record breaking wetness.

jambo · 21 October 2011, 12:02

As someone who uses swingooringd I have used Rile and Attwpod pumps for years. The only probs I have had as Tony says water ingress freezing in winter. I would stay clear of automatic versions they drain bats not as reusable as the float us pump. I have also found solar panel works for longer periods on mooring.

J

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Jizm · 21 October 2011, 13:40

Just my 2p but every single johnson pump I've bought has failed very quickly!

Never had any issues with Rule ones (except sticky float) and those blue whale ones seem quite well put together aswell.

Turbodiesel · 22 October 2011, 20:18

We tend to fit Rule as standard.

Turbodiesel · 22 October 2011, 20:21

We tend to use Rule as they give less hassle. Fitted a few big Johnson pumps but seen most of them fail within a few months use.

Razorbill RIBs · 22 October 2011, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbodiesel

We tend to use Rule as they give less hassle. Fitted a few big Johnson pumps but seen most of them fail within a few months use.

Thanks....can you recommend a cheap stockist?

Also, you've just reminded me that I need to send you some £.....

Also, need to pick your brain about cooling fans for the Yanmar engine compartment if that's okay? Will call you on Monday