A "portable" bilge pump

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I saw this at WalMart. What do you think ? Has anyone used one in their Mac ?

Attwood, submersible, portable power pump. 200 gal/hr, runs 5 hours on 3 Alkaline D Cell batteries.
It can pump / lift, 4' heights.
$35.96

Thanks.

[kmclemore]

Well, it only lifts water *at best* 4 feet, and that's not gonna be enough to lift water out of a Mac bilge and get it high enough to send it overboard.

Also, 200 gph isn't exactly screaming... that's only 3 gallons a minute... I'm pretty certain I can bail a dang site faster than that with just milk jug cut open as a scoop!

I'd spring for a *real* bilge pump and be safe... it's cheap insurance. And test your float switch at least monthly.

[irayone]

West Marine sells a portable submersable 500 gal/hr bilge pump which you can also use as wash down or shower.
It connects to your battery via aligator clips. Sells for 100.00.....

[jcasale]

kmclemore,

This is a stupid question but how do you test your bilge pump w/o "filling" the bilge? My PO installed mine under the cooler and while I have checked that it is getting power I have never checked the float switch. Thank you,
John

[Hamin' X]

Just lift up the float and listen for it to come on. Good pre-trip item.

~Rich

[jcasale]

How many of you silenty went "Duh" when I asked that. Rich, thanks for the tip, just added it to my preflight checklist. This could be a starting point for a new thread. What other items do people have on thier pre-launch checklist. It might seem second nature to some of the more experienced sailors but to us new guys these items might prove invaluable.
Thanks
John

[SkiDeep2001]

Hear hear/Here here

[SkiDeep2001]

Plus that pump from WalMart came from China and I am so done buying Chinese electric anything Jeez I'm already up to Chief Steward and I haven't even maiden voyaged my yet.

[Scott]

200 gal/hr, runs 5 hours on 3 Alkaline D Cell batteries.

Wow, suspect at best but wow.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Well, it only lifts water *at best* 4 feet, and that's not gonna be enough to lift water out of a Mac bilge and get it high enough to send it overboard.
I'd spring for a *real* bilge pump and be safe... it's cheap insurance. And test your float switch at least monthly.

Thanks...those were my concerns. But, at first, I thought I found a "cheap" WalMart short cut. And, as someone said in an above POST...I also have reservations toward buying any more China Krap.

Ive bumped "trash" (big stuff) in my Galveston Bay waters since the recent storm, IKE. Fearing a hole punched in the hull, I'm wanting a Bilge Pump ASAP.

[PollyAnna]

I know that there are MANY posts on bilge pumps, but I have read most of them and tried a lot of different suggestions. My biggest problem is small amounts of water in the outboard bidge areas. It only gets there when it rains, but we have finally had enough rain, that it is beyond turkey basters and bilge sponges. I was thinking of using a tube to reach down into the inner sides of the outside bilge area with a dc water pump. Something that does not require a few centimeters of water to work, but can get rid of the the annoyance of this amount of water.

Can anyone recommend a "petite" bildge pump that can get it up and over the side?

Thanks,

Gregg

[Retcoastie]

Gregg,

A small wet/dry vac does fine on our .

Ken

[PollyAnna]

Ken,

Sometimes the most simple solutions are the best! Thanks!

Gregg

[bubba]

I use a 'hydro stick' it is usually used to squirt a 30 ft stream of water at folks for fun but it sucks up the water in the boat fine and it is fun on hot days too. I use a folding bucket to squirt the water in and dump it overboard.

[Kelly Hanson East]

200 gal/hr, runs 5 hours on 3 Alkaline D Cell batteries.

I seriously doubt it would do both.

Typical bilge pump pulls 3 Amps at 12 Volts, or 36 Watts.

D cells are 1.5 volts, so you would have to pull about 7 amps at 4.5Volts to get this same power - you will pull 7 amps from D cells for about 5 minutes, maybe...