Bilge Pumps

[Scott]

YES!!!!!!!!!! It is a bad Idea to route the Bilge pump to the sink drains without a check valve. The high loop doesnt work.

We did this on our boat 2 or 3 years ago and everytime we sailed in heavy wind and heeled the boat enough to submerge the "above the waterline" through hulls, the bilges would fill with water.

The water passing by the openings appears to have create enough pressure to make it flow like a hose.

Put a check valve in or plug it when not in use.

[waltpm]

I have owned a Mac 21, 22, 25 and now a 26x. They sit outside uncovered for 6 months of the year during which in addition to rain they fill with snow. I have never gotten more than a gallon or so of water in any of the boats and have never owned a bilge pump. Need to get those leaks fixed.

[Andy26M]

I seem to mostly get water from condensation when the boat is on the trailer - not so much when in the slip.

But, with a 26M the spaces under the floorboard where the water collect are to shallow ofr a bilge pump, so I too went with the rechargeable wet-dry vac.

I found a handy little Coleman-branded unit for 20 bucks at the local discount store. I think it has a 1-gallon tank on it, and a 3-foot hose. It does the job quite nicely, and is also useful for other vacuuming tasks besides just the bilge. I figure at 20 bucks I can abuse it heavily and be plenty happy if it lasts a whole season

- AndyS

[Scott]

I have owned a Mac 21, 22, 25 and now a 26x. They sit outside uncovered for 6 months of the year during which in addition to rain they fill with snow. I have never gotten more than a gallon or so of water in any of the boats and have never owned a bilge pump. Need to get those leaks fixed.

Funniest thing about this is my bilges never had water in them until I installed the bilge pumps and got the backflow.

We installed the pumps in anticipation of sailing bigger water.