Hull thickness

[rnavakas]

With no auto bilge pump mounted in my Mk2, I'm looking to install one and wanted to check on options for installing it. I've bought a Rule 500gph pump and this comes with a screw mounted base for the pump. Before even contemplating drilling into the bilge below the engine I wanted to check if anyone knows the fibreglass thickness in this area? Other option is to glue down a mounting base and then mount the pump's base onto that, but easiest would be to simply self tap it into the bilge with short self tappers. Any advice or thoughts from someone who's done similar installation or knows the hull thickness in this area? Thanks.

[Shaun]

Hi rn
I was also worried about drilling into the bilge base(although im sure its very thick GRP there), so I secured the bilge float down with sikaflex, it held fine
cheers
shaun

[storm petrel]

I hate drilling holes anywhere in my boat. My bilge is rarely wet, so I glued a piece of marine ply down and screwed the base of my Rule pump onto that. You could do the same thing with a piece of plastic(bread board) if you were worried about the wood rotting or just stick the pump base directly to the floor of the bilge with a dab of Sikaflex as Shaun suggests.

Cheers,
Mark

[rnavakas]

Thanks guys, due to the engine installation getting access to the very bottom of the
bilge was near impossible so ended up mounting the base onto and aluminum
strip that's then fixed at an accessible level. Should hold and also now allows
easy access to the pump if needed by simply pulling the strip back up.