- Joined
- Jul 18, 2011
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- 18,285
Since I have been going through my 'new-to-me' boat and getting everything ready for launching in May, I decided to relocate the bilge pump.
The thing about bilge pumps is that they are typically located at the furthest point from where the water is . . . which in a power boat is near the transom. I'm sure that the manufacturers locate the pumps in a convenient location, up near the bulkhead, where they can be serviced, etc. However, the best place for a bilge pump is near the transom where water levels are deeper and the water accumulates when coming on plane.
So, I decided to relocate the bilge pump to a location near the transom. In order to do this, I figured that I needed to fabricate a 'carrier' of some sort to hold the pump and float switch. This 'carrier' would allow the pump and float switch to be pulled out for servicing needs, etc.
I had a few failed attempts at some designs for the 'carrier', but finally came up with a re-engineered design . . .
This design would put the bilge pump near the transom and the float switch just forward of it. The carrier is contoured to fit the ribs in the hull so that the float switch and pump can sit fairly low in the bilge. I scrounged up some material to fabricate the carrier and cut out the parts . . .
Then I fastened everything together . . .
I made the float switch level and facing across the boat, so that the inclination of the hull would not falsely activate the pump. I made the bilge pump set at an angle to match the shape of the V-hull, which allowed it to be slightly lower than the float switch. This would ensure that the pump will not suck air or any other adverse effects.
Then it was a matter of test fitting the carrier and components in the bilge.
- - - continued on next post - - -
The thing about bilge pumps is that they are typically located at the furthest point from where the water is . . . which in a power boat is near the transom. I'm sure that the manufacturers locate the pumps in a convenient location, up near the bulkhead, where they can be serviced, etc. However, the best place for a bilge pump is near the transom where water levels are deeper and the water accumulates when coming on plane.
So, I decided to relocate the bilge pump to a location near the transom. In order to do this, I figured that I needed to fabricate a 'carrier' of some sort to hold the pump and float switch. This 'carrier' would allow the pump and float switch to be pulled out for servicing needs, etc.
I had a few failed attempts at some designs for the 'carrier', but finally came up with a re-engineered design . . .
This design would put the bilge pump near the transom and the float switch just forward of it. The carrier is contoured to fit the ribs in the hull so that the float switch and pump can sit fairly low in the bilge. I scrounged up some material to fabricate the carrier and cut out the parts . . .
Then I fastened everything together . . .
I made the float switch level and facing across the boat, so that the inclination of the hull would not falsely activate the pump. I made the bilge pump set at an angle to match the shape of the V-hull, which allowed it to be slightly lower than the float switch. This would ensure that the pump will not suck air or any other adverse effects.
Then it was a matter of test fitting the carrier and components in the bilge.
- - - continued on next post - - -
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