[Nick Phillips]

I am hoping to tap into all the Atalanta bilge experience out there – as Helene nears her first launch in my ownership……

I know (hope) that Helene will not leak very much but with thoughts of Methusaleh’s vertical journey in the Dart due to a rotten screw and fear of being swamped by a massive breaking wave in the rivers of the East Coast I have been thinking about bilge pumps.

When purchased Helene came with a large diaphragm pump mounted on a piece of ply and some long hose tails, and the instruction that because it was free-standing it could be used in any of the bilge compartments with the outlet dangled over the side. Simple and effective provided someone is on board, especially so when coupled with the large black bucket.

Looking at the photographs on this (and previous) websites only a small handful of boats show evidence of built in bilge pumps in the form of hull fittings or handles in the cockpit.  I have mused over all sorts of arrangements involving outlets to the keelbox, fixed pumps with dangling hoses, looped outlets through fittings above, or below the rubbing strake …… and all seem to have as many disadvantages as advantages.

So, what do others do about bilge pumping?  Do you bother? And if so, how?

All input gratefully received.

Topic

[Dominic Dobson]

Nick, In case of emergency I have an electric pump in the engine bay port side and also a manual one in the same place but to starboard, both discharge into the cockpit through the aft end of the hatch cover combing draining out via the keel boxes, this alleviates the need for hull fittings and sea cocks. I also carry a manual pump that can be used as a roving pump with long and discharge hose. The best “pump” however is a sponge as very little water enters the boat. Dom

[Nick Phillips]

Dom

Thanks for the information. I am hoping to emulate your last sentence ‘very little water enters the boat’!

I like the idea of the electric and manual setup.  I have a non-standard engine hatch (something else I shall be seeking Atalanta expertise on at West Mersea) so your arrangement won’t work. However exiting at the back of the cockpit and using the cockpit drains seem sensible. 

Thanks again for the reply

Cheers

Nick

Dominic Dobson said:

Nick,
In case of emergency I have an electric pump in the engine bay port side and also a manual one in the same place but to starboard, both discharge into the cockpit through the aft end of the hatch cover combing draining out via the keel boxes, this alleviates the need for hull fittings and sea cocks. I also carry a manual pump that can be used as a roving pump with long and discharge hose. The best “pump” however is a sponge as very little water enters the boat.

Dom

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