- Joined
- Mar 17, 2012
- Messages
- 4,280
- Location
- Australia
- Vessel Name
- Insequent
- Vessel Make
- Ocean Alexander 50 Mk I
Menzies thread on his emergency bilge pump reminded me of something I have been thinking about occasionally. So I thought a poll on emergency bilge pumps could be interesting.
A couple of months ago I had a survey for insurance. The surveyor was asking about bilge pumps of course, but then probed a bit about 'emergency bilge pumping'. He was hinting that I ought to have a gas trash pump on board, say 3" size. He did not put it in the report though.
I have given some thought to doing something, but so far nothing I like has emerged. There are the devices that can fit on your prop shaft, but then you need to be moving, and at a reasonable speed to turn the pump fast enough. I really would prefer to not have another gas engine on board. I have a pair of Honda 2000 gennies, and a scuba compressor on the boat deck. None get much use. To have yet another one sitting mostly unused seems un-necessary clutter (until its needed!).
A hydraulic pump could be the answer. I would like a stern thruster and my 8HP electric bow thruster is marginal in tern of capacity. My Naiad hydraulic pump on the Starboard engine probably isn't up to the tasks of thrusters and trash pump. But I guess I could install a suitable pump on the Port engine. I can see the exercise adding up to a lot of boat bucks quite quickly, so not high on my 'to do' list at this point.
A couple of months ago I had a survey for insurance. The surveyor was asking about bilge pumps of course, but then probed a bit about 'emergency bilge pumping'. He was hinting that I ought to have a gas trash pump on board, say 3" size. He did not put it in the report though.
I have given some thought to doing something, but so far nothing I like has emerged. There are the devices that can fit on your prop shaft, but then you need to be moving, and at a reasonable speed to turn the pump fast enough. I really would prefer to not have another gas engine on board. I have a pair of Honda 2000 gennies, and a scuba compressor on the boat deck. None get much use. To have yet another one sitting mostly unused seems un-necessary clutter (until its needed!).
A hydraulic pump could be the answer. I would like a stern thruster and my 8HP electric bow thruster is marginal in tern of capacity. My Naiad hydraulic pump on the Starboard engine probably isn't up to the tasks of thrusters and trash pump. But I guess I could install a suitable pump on the Port engine. I can see the exercise adding up to a lot of boat bucks quite quickly, so not high on my 'to do' list at this point.