Don W wrote:
Actually, when boats do sink it is often because their
pumping capacity can't keep up with the new hole long
enough for the crew to find and plug it.

True, but more often it's because of one or more of the
following

1- pump was plenty big enough, but crew wasn't paying
attention or even within miles of boat at time of sinking...
ask your insurance company, most boats that sink do so at
the dock!

2- pump *would* have been plenty big enough to cope with
leak but was clogged or inoperable due to some other problem
which should have been easily correctable under normal
circumstances.


Having watched a 5HP waste pump empty a flooded basement
in just over an hour (was working on a basement crew,
and the hole we were to work in had flooded to the top
due to an overnight thunderstorm) I've been impressed
by the sight of a 3" hose running at full capacity under
the influence of that little gasoline powered pump.


Yep.

And having bossed US Navy damage control parties, watching 5
guys struggle to lug one of those things into action and
then cuss & fume over getting it started, I am very hesitant
to say that they are reliable boat-savers.



Sure would be nice to have a big pump like that in the
engine space slaved to that nice big diesel propulsion
motor.


Yep, except that anything that kills the engine also kills
the pump... and thus the boat. Besides, your engine already
has a relatively high capacity pump hooked up to it. All you
need do is pipe a Y-valve to a big thrum box in the bilge.


Jonathan W. wrote:
I am in construction and have spent a lot of time over the years trying
to get recalcitrant one cylinder motors to start, whether they be on a
trash pump, a chain saw, a compressor or the like. I have also read a
lot of stories about Coast guard pumps not starting after they are
dropped on board.


Been there, done that.

This past November I was onboard a boat that hit a ledge in Woods Hole,
MA and I can tell you it is sobering to see how ineffectual standard
bilge pumps are.


A lot of that is due to the piping and/or wiring. If the
bilge pump does not have a large relatively straight run
overboard, then it's certain to be less effective. And most
bilge pumps are undersized to be useful in emergencies... no
rule against adding a big hi-capacity emergency pump
(properly wired & plumbed of course).

The TowBoat US boat that eventually took over from the Coasties put a
pair of these on board:
http://www.starmarinedepot.com/detai...duct_id=RU1416

I had never seen one before, but plan to buy one. I think the odds of it
starting when/if needed are much better than a small gas engine pump.


Yes and yes. Thanks for the link. Don't forget a big hand
pump too.

Right about now is the time for somebody to chime in with
"there is no bilge pump of greater capacity than a scared
sailor with a bucket" which is hooey. If you doubt me, fill
up a 5 gallon bucket in your bath tub, then lift & carry it
a few steps to your bathroom sink. Repeat for 20 minutes and
report back to the group how many gallons you moved.

Actually, this gives me a great idea for a new exercise
video... "Bailer-cise! It's a whole-body workout!"

Fresh Breezes- Doug King