How Many Bilge Pumps?

[Big D]

Lake Couchiching was not a happy place last Saturday. This unfortunate Trojan was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
[img]http://i945.photobucket.com/albums ... .jpg[/img]
Waves pounded right over her. People were kicking fish off their lawns
Her swim platform got torn off and water entered the bolt holes where the bolts pulled through the fiberglass. The two deck drains out the transom served to let water in rather than out. It was too much for her little 500 GPH bilge pump to handle! That's what I said; one little bilge pump! And those of you with the same deck drain may consider changing them to scuppers. I have the same drains, and have been in some pretty bad seas, just never considered them being a detriment; they have made it on my "To Do" list.

The good news is; she was floated, the engines have been looked after, she has been completely cleaned such that it is almost imposible to tell the interior was under water, and she puttered along under her own steam to a marina for some repairs....lucky girl.

[jefflaw35]

sad to see that wow!

[Paul]

Unfortunately it often takes something like that to open your eyes. I once ran into a problem out on Lake Erie where I had water coming in faster than it could be pumped out. The "pucker" factor was quite high. The boat was fitted with 2 750 GPH pumps, one forward and one aft. After that little adventure, a second 750 GPH pump was added forward and an additional 1100 GPH pump was added aft. Also, to ensure ample power to run them two are on the house bank and two are on the cranking bank.

[Big D]

It was the perfect storm over Couchiching that day. This vessel got off somewhat lucky. Had the bow been facing the other direction, she might have been fine. The boat in the boat house next door is still sitting on the bottom, and got a call from a stranger asking if I wanted to buy a Volvo engine and sterndrive package off a vessel that wasn`t so lucky; hull smashed to bits, don`t think a dozen pumps would have helped that one! I know what you mean though Paul, pretty scary when Mother Nature has a tight grip, all you can do is watch and feel completely helpless while it`s all going down.

[1967 seavoyager]

one 2200 gal 12 volt forward, one 2200 gal 12 volt aft & one 1800 gal 120 volt forward

[rossjo]

Always have a spare at each end = 2 fore and 2 aft.
Plus a hand pump, a buckets and various hole plugging materials.

The forward pumps are in use at the dock, the aft pumps are in use underway (with the way the F32 sits).

[BMILLER]

I refitted my F28 with 4 all new 1250 automatics, a new 500 and a hand pump. The pumps all run off a dedicated battery mounted fairly high up. Overkill??????

[rossjo]

Not overkill if you have them all on the same battery.

[RWS]

1. 1,500 gph forward compartment - factory standard equipment

2. 1,500 gph engine room - factory standard equipment

3. 1,500 gph aft compartment - factory standard equipment

4. 3,500 gph emergency tied to seperate battery (generator) added

5. crash pumps on engines - added

6. three seperate bilge switches wired to the horns - factory standard equipment

7. self draining scuppers in cockpit - factory standard equipment

8. manual bilge pump in lazerette - added

9. wooden "plugs" in engine room - added

Trojan International Ten Meter Series Express Cruiser 1983

RWS

[jefflaw35]

9. wooden "plugs" in engine room - added
RWS

I would like to see this, or learn more. Seeing how I am in total refurbish.

[BMILLER]

My dedicated deep cycle battery only powers the bilge pumps (3 way switched/w indicator lights), my LED nav lights, the backup VHF and a emergency 12v outlet. All on mounted on a separate panel below the OEM panel. Also has a dedicated Blue Seas fuse block right behind it where all is easily accessed.

[ready123]

9. wooden "plugs" in engine room - added
Trojan International Ten Meter Series Express Cruiser 1983
RWS

Nice job.
Where is the short handled hammer located