Installing a Bilge Pump

[Shaun]

G'Day,

Has anyone installed a bilge pump?,

Any recommendations as to what brand/type to get?

Would like a pretty decent one, without spending a ridiculous amount of $$

Do you think 25mm is adequate, or should I only entertain 38mm outlet? (I already have enough 38mm black bilge pipe)

Does it have to have a Nitrile membrane, or is Neoprene(I think it is) ok, with Inboard engine)?

cheers
Shaun

[Tales]

Hi Shaun,

I fitted an overhaul kit to my Whale Gusher bilge pump recently.

The diaphragm was the standard type (not nitrile) and my guess is that it must be 20 years old but showing no signs of deterioration at all.

From the colour of the sides of the bilge I would say it has had plenty of 2 stroke fuel in it so I reckon the neoprene would be fine.

My pump is the 38mm outlet type and works well but I would not go smaller myself.

Still, you know what the say "the most efficient bilge pump is a frightened man with a bucket"!

Cheers,

Tom

[Shaun]

G'Day Tom,

I also have a Whale Gusher (Titan), that doesnt work, I have had no luck finding an overhaul kit

So thought I better get a whole new one!, but would really like to get the existing one working again, as they are a good pump, by all accounts.
Where did you get your overhaul kit from?

cheers
Shaun

[Tales]

Hi Shaun,

I got my overhaul kit from B.L.A.

http://bla.com.au/

Good service and easy to order on line.

Cheers,

Tom

[Aaron]

G'day shaun,
Go the henderson mk5, i have one and have no problem and my old man put one on his boat, and they get a good read up aswell, you can buy them in bias.
Cheers Aaron

[Shaun]

Thanks for the link Tom.

I went with the nitrile overhaul kit as it was the same price.

When I went to fit the kit & took off the diaphragm, it turned out it was just a piece of debris that was caught in the outlet valve, preventing it from closing properly. So I just removed the debris & put it back together & is working well. And now have a spare overhaul kit onboard..which is a good idea anyway.

Did you notice any improvement in performance of the pump when you fitted the new kit?
They seem quite robust pumps. Was yours not working? Or did you install the new kit as a preventative maintenance measure?, trying to get an idea if its a "dont fix it unless its broken" type item or they need the pre-emptive stuff done?

cheers
Shaun

[Tales]

Hi Shaun,

My bilge pump was working fine but the boat was 20 years old and no record of the maintenance.

I bought the kit and kept it as a spare for a while but reasoned that it would probably be during an emergency that I discovered it needed replacing - not a good time to be looking for tools and spare parts.

Anyway, when I stripped the pump everything looked good but I fitted the kit anyway. As I had owned the boat for about 7 years before that I will probably check it again 10 years down the track.

Cheers,

Tom