Bilge Pumps

[Divecoz]

IMHO? $35!!500 gph EVEN from West Maine!! What da heck? Better yet ... Tell why you shouldnt? The Battery is right there.. add a fuse cartridge $1.50 ... $4 for a Push Button switch. $7 for 20' of that flat blue roll up hose. You can wire that pump for auto or manual.. What da heck go deluxe.. spend $2 for a fancy SS thumb screw hose clamp..Your still under $50

I was kinda curious about bilge pumps to handle the unexpected - I too have the familiar boat sponges but was curious about how people were planning for the situation when something happens a sponge (and for those really equipped - buckets) is not adequate.

So far, I have heard from a few what I expected - two small pumps in the outer bilges (manual or automatic) and a third in the center bilge in front of the battery. Also, make sure no obstruction preventing water moving for and aft.

Does anyone have experience with the new compact Whale pumps http://www.whalepumps.com/marine/produc ... art-Family?

[yukonbob]

In the early season when we first arrive for the weekend and the boats cold , the heat goes on and it practIcally rains inside for half an hour. After that you can see the water beading inside any of the lockers where there is no carpet. The colder the water and warmer air temp make it worse. You can tell its condensation cause all the low spots seem to have about the same amount of water, or there are a lot of small leaks all over the boat

[reastmure]

I am contemplating installing a bilge pump(s) and came across this forum. My boat does not leak nor have I seen water anywhere in the boat besides when I first bought it a year ago (used). There was a very small amount under the vberth and I was concerned at the time but have never seen any since. I sail in cold water as does Yukonbob but I haven't had any issues with condensation but I know what that is like as I have a fiberglass rv which has that problem. I installed a direct vent propane heater which puts out nice dry heat so maybe that helps. Anyway, my reason for the bilge pump would be if water did get in somehow -ie getting swamped by a big wave or hitting something that would cause a hole. Most folks here figure bilge pumps could not keep up to inflow from a hole but I would think that would entirely depend on how big the hole was. So pump capacity would be a question. Given a catastrophic event (which is what I think I am planning for), would it be better to have one large pump or several small ones? If there is water coming in through a hole I would think it would migrate to the pump location fairly quickly if there is enough water coming in. ie maybe the pump would be under the rear berth aft of the battery compartment. I don't think a hand pump would do for this nor would sponges alone! I guess the idea would be that I can get to shore before I'm relying on the flotation foam to keep me afloat!

[yukonbob]

Finally someone else who's actually in the north! It's funny cause most people in Washington consider themselves far north! lol Vancouverites are pretty much at the north pole! Where you sailing? I thought about a pump on more than one occasion, but ultimately can't come up with enough good reasons to cut holes in the hull. Waves aren't too much of an issue. Been caught down in northern Chatham in nasty weather and the boat does really well. The absolute worst days on any of the lakes is just when it starts getting fun As for hitting submerged, that is a thought or you can purchase the inland charts, but not the regular ones...I'll have to check , but a friend had all the old paddlewheel charts converted to digital for GPS. Atlin being the big concern as there are hundreds of mountain peaks in the middle of the lake with little to no warning. Im in Skagtown almost every weekend, only Mac there, and if I'm not there I'm on the water.

[reastmure]

I've heard of those old charts but have not come across one to date. Your friend actually got them digitized to use with GPS?! That would be awesome. I got the 'inland lakes' charts for my chart plotter and they pretty much suck. A lot of money for nothing. Be better of with topo maps! Mainly have sailed in Tagish lk, Windy Arm and moored in Carcross. Made a trip to Ben My Chree last summer. I want to make it to Skagway one of these days - be great for early season. There are so many great places to go in the southern lakes area though.(when they are not frozen!)

[yukonbob]

I've been meaning to get those charts off him so I can get into Atlin, especially around the southern islands. We had the boat in McClintock for July last year and am still in the fence if we'll do that again. I think theres about four or five Macs in Marsh an M and a couple of X's. That must be you i can see moored from the Carcross bridge next to the houseboat? I was thinking of planning a trip down the Taku arm, but it one more retrieval/launch or dropping the mast on the water to make it under the bridge in Tagish. Skagway's pretty nice even with the cruise ships in cause you just hop aboard and wave goodbye. Going down to Hoonah in late june early July is worth the trip. If you've got the time go out to cross sound and Elfin Cove.

[AlaskaMan]

The trip down to Taku Harbor is a nice overnight. Good T pier to moor up to. Another real nice overnight is Oliver's Inlet. Go in at slack water and work your way to the back of the inlet. You can usually ride the hook at the back of the Inlet and have the entire place to yourself.

I get the condensation here in Juneau too. Usually I fire up the Wallas and warm the place up and sponge up any water pooling up.

Mental Floss

[yukonbob]

Hey Alaskaman. I was however talking about he taku arm of tagish lake. Last I checked I believe that from our cabin to the far end of the taku arm hitting all the side arms it is close to 250 km one way. But no gas stations.

[AlaskaMan]

Oops. Sorry bout that. I was referring to Taku Harbor which is 20 miles south of Juneau.

[yukonbob]

No worries, I am tryin got make time to get down south again this year, but I'm taking the plunge and getting hitched. The deal was I get a boat...she gets a ring. So I got a boat to escape to and she gets me and the boat for ever ha ha! I shoulda been a hostage negotiator or a politician