the last 1" of Bilge water

[dan the tuna]

It is that last one inch of water that my pump can't get out . I think you guys know what I'm talking about. The bilge pump starts to gurgle and so I shut it off and then all the water in the bilge hose flows back into the bilge. In my 17' Four Winns, one there is a lot of water left behind that the bilge pump can't remove. To fix this problem I have come up with what I think to be a solution. Or, rather a cheaper alternative to buying a diaphragm pump.

(see attached sketch)

I was thinking of having one bilge pump mounted as low as possible that pumps water up 6" into a bucket (bucket is still in bilge area). Inside that bucket is another pump that pumps the water outside of the boat. The bucket would also have some holes in it about 3 inches up to allow water to enter in the event the lower bilge pump dies.

Why do this? Imagine one inch of water in your coffee cup versus one inch of water in a swimming pool. Most bilge pumps can't pump out that last inch.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

i have no problems with mine, placement, full astern, then weight the stern down so water flows all the way back, or cruise bow high for a few minutes.

 

[arks]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

Yeah, that last liitle bit bothers me, too.

I just use a sponge.....

 

[Bondo]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

Yeah, that last liitle bit bothers me, too.

Ayuh,... You guys are Tooo anal,... It's a Bilge for goosh sakes....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

when you start messing with simplicity (replacing a straight line pump wth 2 pumps, two switches, an open leaky bucket, a loose hose, a second hose) you increase the risk of failure of a critical safety device. Is putting yor whole boat at risk (not to mention people in it) worth it over a universal, and harmless, occurence in almost all boats?
Reminds me of the government's adage: If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

This has been debated before; it bothers a few people. There are also people who wax their trailers. Your realistic choices are (a) ignore (b) sponge or (c) golf.

 

[nlain]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

I take it you do not trailer your boat, mine is trailered and I just pull the plug and drain the last little bit out, while in the water whatever is in there stays until it is on the trailer.

 

[81 beachcomber]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

There are also people who wax their trailers. .

haha dosent everyone??

i agree with nlain, it drains when you pull your boat out of the water. its not gonna harm anything its just in the bildge. and your not looking at it as most people dont have there heads under your floorboards lol.

 

[dan the tuna]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

Agreed. Hmm, perhaps I have exagerated the problem in my mind. After I finish replacing my transom I should not get water in the bilge anymore... at least not like I use to (except wet people, rain, and a big wave).

Yes I do trailer the my boat, and I just pull the plug. Sometimes I will have it in the water for a weekend or twice a year for a week.

One more question: for your 15-20' boat, what does you bilge system consist of? Stock? Replaced with a bigger one? Modified Milk Jug? Multiple bilge pumps?

 

[achris]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

Don't like water in your boat? Don't put your boat in the water!

With the best will in the world, you are going to get a wet bilge, that's why they're called a 'bilge'...

Relax and enjoy boating.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

OMG - I have water in my boat. What should I do?​

For some of us it's normal, for others it's a catastrophe.​

If it really bothers you, keep your boat away from the rain/snow, lake/river and ocean. Water in the bilge is inevitable if you use your boat.​

 

[dan the tuna]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

Maybe you guys misunderstood me. I'm not crying about my boat getting wet or getting water in the bilge. The only time water in the boat concerns me is while it is not in use on the trailer. Lighten up guys....

 

[Fisherball]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

The only time water in the boat concerns me is while it is not in use on the trailer.

I always store my boat with the trailer jack as high as possible with drain plug out so any water will run out.

To stop the backwash from your bilge hose I'd put a check valve in the hose near the outlet. But that is something that can cause an emergency system to fail. It's not the last 1" at the bottom that's the problem, it's the 1" at the top that is!

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

Here's an idea,

http://www.docksidereports.com/bilge_water_blues.htm

Hear a lot about boats sinking. Bilge pumps are often overlooked.

http://marinesurvey.com/yacht/bilge_pumps.htm

 

[ziggy]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

There are also people who wax their trailers

hum, i wax my trailer too. still nice and shiny with the oem paint from '75 too...

anyways,

dtt. i assume ya park yer boat at an angle while stored. and the bilge pump don't get it all. i stick a paper towel in my drain hole at the end of the day. if there's enough water in the bilge. the paper towel saturates w/ water. with the paper towel hanging below the bottom of the boat, it wicks (becomes a siphon) the water right out till it's gone. the last little bit evaporates.

i wouldn't reinvent the wheel for the bilge pump. ya need to to do it's job proper in the event of catastrophe...

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

Maybe you guys misunderstood me. I'm not crying about my boat getting wet or getting water in the bilge. The only time water in the boat concerns me is while it is not in use on the trailer. Lighten up guys....

dan i understand you 100%. i dont like water in my bilge either.
the bilge pump on our boat is also mounted in the front of the engine comparment and would always have that slosh.

when i had the motor out last summer i mounted a 5/8" plastic hose via a frame clamp that is right down at the bottom of the lowest part of the bilge just ahead of the trnsome. i have a small hand suction pump that i am able to use to draw the bilge dry. i like this because when in the slip, all i have to do is glance and know everything is a ok. bilge stays dry and no question whether there are any slow leaks or not. i like every thing ship shape as i can make it.

Ayuh,... You guys are Tooo anal,... It's a Bilge for goosh sakes..../QUOTE]

if thats the new term for conscientious then ya, i am

i also wax my trailer once a year and take the best possible care of all of jil and my's possessions.

 

[livin4real]

Re: the last 1" of Bilge water

If you want a dry bilge you have to go with a diaphragm bilge pump.

another good idea if you haven't already done so is to replace the typical corrugated bilge hose with a smooth hose. It reduces resistance on the pump and allows a better flow of water when your bilge does pump.