Good read on bilge pumps & batteries.

[V153]

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/bilge_pumps.htm

[Hotwired]

That is a good read.  I had never thought of adding a second pump to any of my other boats.  My Saberflite, Miss Mayberry, has 2 but the others, even the 27 has only one.  I think I'll look for a bulk seller!

[V153]

It bears mention as to just how easy it is to punch a hole in a fiberglass boat. Don't take much. I've heard tell of guys hitting floating cocoanuts at speed & causing hull damage. Seriously!

I read recently that a 1" hole can take on as much as 44gal a minute. Depending on how far it is below the waterline. Lets say you have a 850gph bilge pump. Would follow that in a best case scenario it'd pump a lil over 14gal per minute. Right? So, basically, over time, you're still screwed.

Personally I intend to design a new & improved bilge pump system for my boat that will levitate the hull if need be ...

[Rosscoe]

I am now thinking about upgrading. I think I have one of those baby ones in the 175 and none in the 163. Although I dont boat at sea, away from potential rescue, its still a good idea. Can not be overly safe here. Like most things, you dont worry about it until you need it, then you're screwed.
I wonder if you could mount, say a motorcycle battery higher and dryer to use as back up? I suppose you'd then have to isolate that from the main battery or used that one as the primary for the pump.

[David CVX-16]

Thanks for the article Doug. Also information about Rule bilge pumps. I did a Google product search and a Rule 2000 costs about $80 to $90, a cheap price to pay to get the boat home versus having it sink in the river (almost was there).

[V153]

a cheap price to pay to get the boat home versus having it sink

Yup! I couldn't agree more.

The Rule 2000 is consistantly a top rated pump in terms of performance & reliability. It'd be a fine choice David. It will be my choice when I get this pig patched up btw. 'Less something better comes up.

My Attwood 850 will still function as primary pump. She's served me well under the circumstances. Performed admirably to the best of her ability. Before last Sun alls I ever used it for was pumping rainwater out? But I do intend to add a Rule 2000 a lil fwd of it as an emergency pump. Cuz ya never know when the fit might hit the shan.

Ironicly some folks refer to emergency bilge pumps as "crash pumps". Great! Now they tell me ...