Emergency bilge pumps using engines

[rwappleton]

Greetings all,

I am considering re-plumbing my sea water so that in an emergency(like Oh shit emergency) I can use the engines raw water pumps to drain the bilge.(now that's optimistic)

I have seen them on several convertibles but never on a cruiser/MY.

My question is if 95% of our cruising is going to be ICW or inland is the modification worth the money ?

Looks like almost 4500 on hardware and valves to do it right for both engines.

All experience and opinions welcome.

Thanks,

Russ

 

[Canuck Dennis]

Consider an an engine driven pump instead, works off a clutch driven pump, hit the switch and on it comes, open the valve and you get a gusher, much easier and less $$$ and very professional.

 

[saltshaker]

Consider an an engine driven pump instead, works off a clutch driven pump, hit the switch and on it comes, open the valve and you get a gusher, much easier and less $$$ and very professional.

That's how my boat came from the factory. $4500 seems very high for parts to do what you're looking to do. You don't need that much to do it right but I never sat down and figured out a parts list to do this.

 

[Fanfare]

Even though it would take an extreme emergency to need this pump I decided that for me the danger to the cooling system was just too much to make using an expensive Detroit Diesel for this purpose worthwhile. Between sucking up bilge debris or inadvertently letting the pump run too long the chance of engine harm is great. Adding the engine-driven bilge pump makes more sense. It is designed for this purpose. Use enough hose to reach all bilges and put a strainer like the fire department uses for pumping ponds on the end.

 

[dsharp]

If your running in the ICW most of the time I wouldn't spend the money. The likllihood of hitting something hard enough to punch a hole in the bottom of a Hatteras is slim to none. About the only way to sink one is hit something hard enough to pull a shaft out. I have seen that done but you would have to hit hard bottom running hooked up. If you start taking on water so bad that you can't stay ahead of it, run it up on the bank. I'm not sure who gave you a bid of $4500 but all you need is a t-fitting and a valve and a strainer. I would have to agree with the others if you want more pumping ability add a 2" jabsco with an electric clutch mounted to one of the engines. A 2" trash pump driven by a 3hp Honda lawn mower engine will move more water than any impeller bilge pump. I saw a 1" pump mounted to a weedeater motor the other day at the mower shop that looked interesting.