Bilge pump mounting

[88 Capri 1950]

I am putting a new bilge pump in my boat, I/O with a GM V8...not much room to get under there. Would it be ok to just set the pump down, or should I mount it to something to hold it in place??

 

[Salacia]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

I put a new one in my last boat and couldn't fix it down so I put reinforced pipe on it and fixed the pipe to the transom as close as I could to the pump and it worked fine.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

It should be mounted securly to the bottom of the bildge. I recomend cleaning a small section of the bildge where you want to mount it and than epoxy a piece of rot resistant 1/4" wood (naturally resistant or thick coat of rustoleum). Than mount the bildge pump to that. This keeps your pump secure and keeps you from drilling holes in the bottom of your boat.

Art

 

[GMIslander]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

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Two #10 x 3/8 SS screws 5200 applied and screwed in hull liner.
Don't drill if not sure what you are drilling into.

 

[88 Capri 1950]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

The problem is that I cannot get to the bottom of the bilge. The motor sits so low that I can't reach the area where I need it. I had thought of mounting the pump to something and then lowering that in the bilge.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

Can you build yourself an L shaped bracket and than bolt it to an engine bolt (something that wont effect the engine of course). Maybe use alum 1/8" thick.

Art

 

[88 Capri 1950]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

Can you build yourself an L shaped bracket and than bolt it to an engine bolt (something that wont effect the engine of course). Maybe use alum 1/8" thick.

Art

Actually that is what I was thinking. I know any type of metal is not ideal, but that way I could put it where I want it, and get to it later if need be.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

Mine is mounted to a wood block that is lowered into place and secured up high. No way to get down into the backmost portion of the bilge, so this is how it was done before I purchased the boat.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

Mine is mounted to a wood block that is lowered into place and secured up high. No way to get down into the backmost portion of the bilge, so this is how it was done before I purchased the boat.

That sounds like a great way to do it, maybe a section of 1"X4" treated, or similar, slide it down in there, fasten with a screw up top....Good Luck!

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

I've heard the method of mounting it to an aluminum plate, too. Although, I would think of going thicker than 1/8"......maybe 1/2"?

I replaced my bilge pump a few years back by screwing it down in the same place as the original..........even today, I consider it one of my best accomplishments. Not sure I would be able to do it again, unless someone held me upside down by my ankles.
My pump was directly centered under the flame arrestor....under the enging, of course.

 

[88 Capri 1950]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

I used a 1/8th inch thick piece of aluminum and made a bracket to mount my pump. It worked great. Now if I have any problems I can unbolt it and pull it out.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

odd ways of mounting can be accomplished.
i was thinking outside the box when i mounted mine...

this is the area i had to work with. the lowest point in my bilge. there's a paper towel stuffed in my drain hole.

what that is is a drink holder bent to accept my bilge pump. the drink holder is screwed to a L bracket. the L bracket screwed to a piece of angle iron that's got one bolt holding it to the inner transom shield... remove the one bolt and it can retrieve the bilge pump. it sits just off my inner liner.. my boat is a hull, then a inner liner, then the cap on top of this. my engine is bolting to the liner. i have no stringers. the hole ya see runs completely from the bow to the stern. water still needs to be able to escape the drain hole..

good luck in your engineering..

 

[Beefer]

Re: Bilge pump mounting

I fought the same battle. My bilge area is so tight I cut/scrape my arm on the deck whenever I need to reach in there. No way could I screw something down without pulling the engine, and a bracket mounted to the engine (or even the transom) wouldn't allow me to get the new bilge to the lowest point.

What I ended up doing (about 3 months ago and it's still working), is I took a peice of Lexan/acrylic, cut a 'T' shape from it, and screwed the pump to that. I then put the pump and acrylic down as far as I could by the garboard drain. It's in there unsecured, but the 'T' shape and the hose have kept it in place. Since installing it, I have run into some pretty sick sized waves and wakes, and it hasn't budged. I think since there is so little clearance, there is no where for it to go.