bilge pump
 

been reading up in here, hoping to find my answer without having to post the question. anyway, my question is this.

i recently purchased a 88 v20. this is my first boat. every thing on the boat works fine. only there is not a bilge pump on the boat. the guy i purchased the boat from says this is a self bailing hull and i dont need one if i will be trailering the boat. my boyfriend (thats right, i'm a girl) says that anyone that runs a boat this size without a bilge pump is stupid. he is a fairly intelegent guy. but, has never owned a boat iether that i know of.

i will be running my boat in the lake till i get better at handling it. so, do i need a bilge pump on this boat? if so what kind? do i need it for the lake or just when i get ready for the gulf?thanks, and if someone responds to this question inaccurately (i read the admins post) i promise not to take legal action,lol. gotta love those admin ;) ;)

bilge pump
 

been reading up in here, hoping to find my answer without having to post the question. anyway, my question is this.

i recently purchased a 88 v20. this is my first boat. every thing on the boat works fine. only there is not a bilge pump on the boat. the guy i purchased the boat from says this is a self bailing hull and i dont need one if i will be trailering the boat. my boyfriend (thats right, i'm a girl) says that anyone that runs a boat this size without a bilge pump is stupid. he is a fairly intelegent guy. but, has never owned a boat iether that i know of.

i will be running my boat in the lake till i get better at handling it. so, do i need a bilge pump on this boat? if so what kind? do i need it for the lake or just when i get ready for the gulf?thanks, and if someone responds to this question inaccurately (i read the admins post) i promise not to take legal action,lol. gotta love those admin ;) ;)

Re: bilge pump
 

Welcome!
If tou could give a littl more information it would help. Center Console, Cuddy, outboard or I/O - It probably wouldn't hurt to add a bilge pump with an automatic switch. Usually you would never need one unless you
a) forget to put the garboard drain plug it the transom before launch, b) You took a bit of water over the transom, c) if it was left tied to a dock and it rained real hard.

No bilge pump will help if you punch a hole in it or get swamped.

Re: bilge pump
 

Welcome!
If tou could give a littl more information it would help. Center Console, Cuddy, outboard or I/O - It probably wouldn't hurt to add a bilge pump with an automatic switch. Usually you would never need one unless you
a) forget to put the garboard drain plug it the transom before launch, b) You took a bit of water over the transom, c) if it was left tied to a dock and it rained real hard.

No bilge pump will help if you punch a hole in it or get swamped.

Re: bilge pump
 

Parrot, welcome and what water you have the boat in makes no difference. The self bailing hull refers to the boats ability to drain water that comes on deck from waves rain swimmers dripping etc. But there are numerous ways water gets below the cockpit floor under normal conditions and in a collision with an object, floating log rock dead terrorist some V20 snagger left behind or other problems such as a thru hull breaking etc. will cause your boat to flood out and sink or at the very least cause it to roll or make handling the boat to safe waters hard or impossible.
Whether or not you are trailering or keeping the boat in a wet slip you should have a bildge pump installed. In fact it is the considered opinion of many boaters that there should be two installed on every boat. Each tied to a different battery, oh yea you should have two battery system also for redundant safety just like the two pumps.
Some guys here who I respect very much don't even have a pump on their boats and run off shore all the time. But as much as I love em they are tempting fate and living dangerously in my opinion. And I wish they would change it. I don't want to mention any names but one in particular talks with the wind and has a velour decorated cuddy with handcuffs attached to the starboard bulkhead.
Go with the pumps it is for your safety and they work, in fact often times you may find out you have a problem going on you did not realize because you noticed your bildge is pumping out the side for some reason.
JMHO

Re: bilge pump
 

Parrot, welcome and what water you have the boat in makes no difference. The self bailing hull refers to the boats ability to drain water that comes on deck from waves rain swimmers dripping etc. But there are numerous ways water gets below the cockpit floor under normal conditions and in a collision with an object, floating log rock dead terrorist some V20 snagger left behind or other problems such as a thru hull breaking etc. will cause your boat to flood out and sink or at the very least cause it to roll or make handling the boat to safe waters hard or impossible.
Whether or not you are trailering or keeping the boat in a wet slip you should have a bildge pump installed. In fact it is the considered opinion of many boaters that there should be two installed on every boat. Each tied to a different battery, oh yea you should have two battery system also for redundant safety just like the two pumps.
Some guys here who I respect very much don't even have a pump on their boats and run off shore all the time. But as much as I love em they are tempting fate and living dangerously in my opinion. And I wish they would change it. I don't want to mention any names but one in particular talks with the wind and has a velour decorated cuddy with handcuffs attached to the starboard bulkhead.
Go with the pumps it is for your safety and they work, in fact often times you may find out you have a problem going on you did not realize because you noticed your bildge is pumping out the side for some reason.
JMHO

Re: bilge pump
 

very well put Willy ---every boat should have a pump

Re: bilge pump
 

very well put Willy ---every boat should have a pump

Re: bilge pump
 

welcome to the forum.....this is the place for v20 knowledge! .....definetly get a bilge pump....one for sure...2 if have time and $ to add it.


oh yea...there is a unwritten rule here.....you must post pictures of your v20 as soon as possible ;D

Re: bilge pump
 

welcome to the forum.....this is the place for v20 knowledge! .....definetly get a bilge pump....one for sure...2 if have time and $ to add it.


oh yea...there is a unwritten rule here.....you must post pictures of your v20 as soon as possible ;D

Re: bilge pump
 

The bilge doesn't self bail, only the deck.

Re: bilge pump
 

The bilge doesn't self bail, only the deck.

Re: bilge pump
 

Well put...safety comes in layers...it depends on how many layers you want between you and all the things that can happen that you never saw coming...your boyfriend is RIGHT ... I used to have a bilge-pump in my john-boat...I'm sure as heck gonna have at least one in a V-20...mines an 850 Rule...some use 1100s...should be wired in w/ an automatic float-switch...


...if available in your area, take a boaters course...good start...it'll teach you about your boat and how to use it...You're wise to start out on lake...saltwater is different animal all together ...


good luck and if we can help you out any, let us know... ;) ...

...and yes, we love our admin. around here... ;D ;D ...

Re: bilge pump
 

Well put...safety comes in layers...it depends on how many layers you want between you and all the things that can happen that you never saw coming...your boyfriend is RIGHT ... I used to have a bilge-pump in my john-boat...I'm sure as heck gonna have at least one in a V-20...mines an 850 Rule...some use 1100s...should be wired in w/ an automatic float-switch...


...if available in your area, take a boaters course...good start...it'll teach you about your boat and how to use it...You're wise to start out on lake...saltwater is different animal all together ...


good luck and if we can help you out any, let us know... ;) ...

...and yes, we love our admin. around here... ;D ;D ...

Re: bilge pump
 

I am the guy that talks to the wind and has no pump, But as willy says I like to live by the seat of my pants!!

Yes you should have a pump!! There is one thing I will add to the above.
Go with a good pump and when installed make sure its a couple inches from the bottom of the boat.
Thats why I don't have one, I use to put on the floor and it sucked up crap which jammed the pump and burned them out!

Re: bilge pump
 

I am the guy that talks to the wind and has no pump, But as willy says I like to live by the seat of my pants!!

Yes you should have a pump!! There is one thing I will add to the above.
Go with a good pump and when installed make sure its a couple inches from the bottom of the boat.
Thats why I don't have one, I use to put on the floor and it sucked up crap which jammed the pump and burned them out!

Re: bilge pump
 

I agree with Kajun, post pics. of you and your V. ;D

Re: bilge pump
 

I agree with Kajun, post pics. of you and your V. ;D

Re: bilge pump
 

Not to hard to install. May have to yank out your battery to get in to install. SOme hard wire the pump right to the battery. "run power source directly to battery".
Mine is wired to a switch on my dash that I can manually purge when needed. Still waiting on your pics. *;D

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/DSC01680.jpg

Re: bilge pump
 

Not to hard to install. May have to yank out your battery to get in to install. SOme hard wire the pump right to the battery. "run power source directly to battery".
Mine is wired to a switch on my dash that I can manually purge when needed. Still waiting on your pics. *;D

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/DSC01680.jpg

Re: bilge pump
 

The aforementioned windtalker even has a pump or two (brand new no less), sitting in his cellar that he refuses to take the time to install. ::) :P

Re: bilge pump
 

The aforementioned windtalker even has a pump or two (brand new no less), sitting in his cellar that he refuses to take the time to install. ::) :P

Re: bilge pump
 

Welcome to the asylum, twisted. As others have so eloquently stated, YES you need a bilge pump. I prefer an automatic float switch AND a manual dash switch. Good suggestion, MJ, about mounting it up a bit from the bottom. Mine is right on the bottom and sucks up whatever junk is in the bilge. But I wouldn't go up any more than an inch or so.

Tell us more about your boat, twisted. And yes we all like to see pics. 8)

Re: bilge pump
 

Welcome to the asylum, twisted. As others have so eloquently stated, YES you need a bilge pump. I prefer an automatic float switch AND a manual dash switch. Good suggestion, MJ, about mounting it up a bit from the bottom. Mine is right on the bottom and sucks up whatever junk is in the bilge. But I wouldn't go up any more than an inch or so.

Tell us more about your boat, twisted. And yes we all like to see pics. 8)

Re: bilge pump
 

i recomend and install two pumps on any boat, with a minimum rating of 1000 GPH each. the ratings are measured with no hose attached, free flow and usually at 14 volts input, after you install a 1000 GPH pump and run the hose, you're lucky if it will pump 500. I like to use the pumps that require1 1/8" hose, wire each to a switch, and each to an auto float( currently prefer the Sure Bail), that is hooked direectly to the batery using a resetable breaker rather than a fuse. I normally install one of the auto switches higher than the other and hook it to an alarm as well as the pump, that way if my primary pump isn't working, the secondary will alert me to the fact that i'm taking on water. Also use smooth wall hose, not the cheap corrigated hose,it will futher degrade the flow of your bilge pump. Install correct size thru hulls for the hose, not adapted fittings. Your bilge pump system should be able to at least keep up with the water flow coming in your boat if you leave the draiin plug out( you'd be surprised just how much water comes in that small hole

Re: bilge pump
 

i recomend and install two pumps on any boat, with a minimum rating of 1000 GPH each. the ratings are measured with no hose attached, free flow and usually at 14 volts input, after you install a 1000 GPH pump and run the hose, you're lucky if it will pump 500. I like to use the pumps that require1 1/8" hose, wire each to a switch, and each to an auto float( currently prefer the Sure Bail), that is hooked direectly to the batery using a resetable breaker rather than a fuse. I normally install one of the auto switches higher than the other and hook it to an alarm as well as the pump, that way if my primary pump isn't working, the secondary will alert me to the fact that i'm taking on water. Also use smooth wall hose, not the cheap corrigated hose,it will futher degrade the flow of your bilge pump. Install correct size thru hulls for the hose, not adapted fittings. Your bilge pump system should be able to at least keep up with the water flow coming in your boat if you leave the draiin plug out( you'd be surprised just how much water comes in that small hole

Re: bilge pump
 

This way they stay new all the time!! ;D


Some Not me that owned the boat first, screwed a pump to the floor, well I removed the screw and did not notice it had gone all the way threw the hull.
Just a 1/8 hole, by the end of the day I was full of water!! :o

Re: bilge pump
 

This way they stay new all the time!! ;D


Some Not me that owned the boat first, screwed a pump to the floor, well I removed the screw and did not notice it had gone all the way threw the hull.
Just a 1/8 hole, by the end of the day I was full of water!! :o

Re: bilge pump
 

Oops,

Speaking of oops, I was glad for my pump when I forgot my
drain plug once.
I remembered just as the boat was off the trailer and in the water.
I quick got the plug in and then turned on the bilge.
Saved me from what could have been a catastrophy.

Re: bilge pump
 

Oops,

Speaking of oops, I was glad for my pump when I forgot my
drain plug once.
I remembered just as the boat was off the trailer and in the water.
I quick got the plug in and then turned on the bilge.
Saved me from what could have been a catastrophy.

Re: bilge pump
 

I agree with SpareParts. I now have a redundant system after a bad experience. The previous owner had screwed the depth finder into the transom and did not seal the screws in. 2 came out when I was offshore and we took on water fast.

The bilge failed, luckily we had a manual bilge onboard (another suggested accessory). After limping back to shore and fixing it, I sealed the holes and installed a second bilge on a float switch, 2 inches higher than the automatic.

Peace of mind is priceless.

Re: bilge pump
 

I agree with SpareParts. I now have a redundant system after a bad experience. The previous owner had screwed the depth finder into the transom and did not seal the screws in. 2 came out when I was offshore and we took on water fast.

The bilge failed, luckily we had a manual bilge onboard (another suggested accessory). After limping back to shore and fixing it, I sealed the holes and installed a second bilge on a float switch, 2 inches higher than the automatic.

Peace of mind is priceless.

Re: bilge pump
 

Welcome Twisted. You have no idea what a great bunch of characters are on this site. I'm pretty busy, so I don't post much, but I'm working on that and I check in often to restore a little sanity (woah, what's that say about me?)

About the pump(s) - I have two, one automatic with a manual override and one straight manual. The automatic is the solid state kind (no moving parts) and it seems to work OK.

I learned a couple of things reading this thread:

One (not suprisingly from MJ) about blocking them up - with any luck, I hope to have some fish scales to rinse off the deck, and I don't need a plugged up pump. On my '85, the deck "self bailes" by draining into the bilge, so the pump actually does the bailing.

The other is hooking them direct to different batteries.

Yes you want two batteries, battery #2 saved a day of boating when #1 decided it wasn't going to start the engine. I also like my installed smart charger - I plug it in when the boat's on the trailer and it maintains the batteries.

Absolutely take the boating course - Coast Guard Aux. or Power Squadron (call the Coast Guard or a local community college if you don't find one another way).

It's a great boat - hope you enjoy it.

Re: bilge pump
 

Welcome Twisted. You have no idea what a great bunch of characters are on this site. I'm pretty busy, so I don't post much, but I'm working on that and I check in often to restore a little sanity (woah, what's that say about me?)

About the pump(s) - I have two, one automatic with a manual override and one straight manual. The automatic is the solid state kind (no moving parts) and it seems to work OK.

I learned a couple of things reading this thread:

One (not suprisingly from MJ) about blocking them up - with any luck, I hope to have some fish scales to rinse off the deck, and I don't need a plugged up pump. On my '85, the deck "self bailes" by draining into the bilge, so the pump actually does the bailing.

The other is hooking them direct to different batteries.

Yes you want two batteries, battery #2 saved a day of boating when #1 decided it wasn't going to start the engine. I also like my installed smart charger - I plug it in when the boat's on the trailer and it maintains the batteries.

Absolutely take the boating course - Coast Guard Aux. or Power Squadron (call the Coast Guard or a local community college if you don't find one another way).

It's a great boat - hope you enjoy it.

Re: bilge pump
 

PS - About forgetting to put the plug in. I found an old wrench that fits my plug, made a wire hook and attached that and some orange flagging tape to it. I hang it on the steering wheel - even at 0400 in the morning, without any coffee, I can't miss it.

Re: bilge pump
 

PS - About forgetting to put the plug in. I found an old wrench that fits my plug, made a wire hook and attached that and some orange flagging tape to it. I hang it on the steering wheel - even at 0400 in the morning, without any coffee, I can't miss it.

Re: bilge pump
 

thanks for all the replies guys. looks like my X old man was right. no offense maco joe. in fact i like a man that likes to live dangerous. he's just gotta keep me safe,lol. i think i will go with the two pump system. my boat already has two batteries. .

i will post pictures of my boat as soon as i can. as for the pictures of me, you boys already have the good mornin section. you dont need me. thanks for all the help.

Re: bilge pump
 

thanks for all the replies guys. looks like my X old man was right. no offense maco joe. in fact i like a man that likes to live dangerous. he's just gotta keep me safe,lol. i think i will go with the two pump system. my boat already has two batteries. .

i will post pictures of my boat as soon as i can. as for the pictures of me, you boys already have the good mornin section. you dont need me. thanks for all the help.

Re: bilge pump
 

I don't know about you guys, but I'm really liking this gal. 8)

Welcome aboard TP!

By the way, I was very happy to see this thread because my single pump is old and I'm going to be replacing it before winter striper fishing kicks off. I was going to post a thread asking what kind to get and what kind of float switch is best. So, thanks for saving me the trouble.

Blue

Re: bilge pump
 

I don't know about you guys, but I'm really liking this gal. 8)

Welcome aboard TP!

By the way, I was very happy to see this thread because my single pump is old and I'm going to be replacing it before winter striper fishing kicks off. I was going to post a thread asking what kind to get and what kind of float switch is best. So, thanks for saving me the trouble.

Blue