Mounting a Manual Bilge Pump

[Noah]

Ok folks. I got me a "Whale Gusher Titan" manual bilge pump cause the original plunger pump doesn't move all that much water for me.

How do folks mount these in the cockpit? I can't really figure out a way to end up with a small hole that you could fit the pump handle into. I suppose I would be up for either top or side mounting if it comes down to it.

I know this is a pretty broad question, but I'm stumped as to how I would mount it. BTW, it would be really easy to do if I mounted inside one of the lazerettes, but I don't think you are supposed to do that.

Thanks,

Noah

BTW, the pump looks pretty much like either of these: (it does have a removable handle)
http://www.westmarine.com/images/full/12829_f.jpg http://www.westmarine.com/images/full/10364_f.jpg

[ 10-20-2004, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Noah ]

[imported_Jimmy]

My boat came with the pump on the left mounted on the underside of the deck at the front of the cockpit so that the handle (when attached) came through a rectangular hole in the forward end of the cockpit. This worked OK, except my engine was right under it and saltwater dripping onto my engine caused some grief. Now I have it mounted in one of my cockpit lockers which isn't great since you have to have the locker door open to use it.

[Dan McCosh]

I thought Whale makes a mounting bracket, with a seal and a cover for deck mounting.

[John B]

They do.

To be sure.

[ 10-20-2004, 10:47 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Phil Young]

I don't think those particular ones are designed for through bulkhead mounting. Some others are, with a nice sort of plate that sits more or less flush on the bulkhead with a hole for the handle. The ones pictured would normally be mounted wherever it is that you want to use them-a bit of a tangle hazard on a small boat. I did mount one on a vertical bulkhead once, with the handle coming up through a slot in a seat-but it needed to be a quite a long slot, and the outlet hose had to take a sharpish turn under the seat.

[kc8pql]

Phill's right. There are two types. One for surface mounting and one for thru bulkhead mounting. You may have the wrong one.

[Noah]

I know I have the wrong one for surface mounting, but they sell a kit for that. Still, even if I had a kit I don't know if it would help. I'm not keen on drilling a big hole/slot in my teak just to mount something like this. My decks don't leak and I would like to keep them that way.

Any other ideas on how to mount this thing so that it works, but doesn't leave a huge hole in thye works? They really should make the mount 180 so you can bolt it to a bulkhead and just cut a slot and be done.

[Nicholas Carey]

The 6m I sailed on had a big Edson diaphragm bilge bump in its cockpit.

It was mounted vertically on a bulkhead beneath the cockpit sole (6m bilges are deep!), underneath the bridge deck between the aft cockpit and the forward, main cockpit. There was a fore-and-aft slot cut in the cockpit sole to accomodate the pump handle.

Easy to pump, just reach under the bridge deck and grab the handle and go.

I always thought a setup with a wheel driving a connecting rod that drove the pump would be the way to go.

[kc8pql]

Is this what you want to do?

http://tinypic.com/dw3th

If it is, it all comes as one unit. No extra kit needed. It's a Titan thru-deck/bulkhead mount pump.

[Greg Stoll]

I used to know someone who had one of those on their boat. It was mounted in the center of a piece of plywood about 2' long and 8-10" wide. To use it, you would place the proper hoses in the proper locations (in the bilge and overboard) and stabilize the unit by placing it on the deck and holding it down with your feet on either side of the pump.

Greg

[ 10-23-2004, 02:19 AM: Message edited by: Greg Stoll ]

[Victor]

I still say the scupper valve approach is your best and most unobtrusive self-bailer. Of course the manufacturers can't recommend them for this use because if they fail your boat might sink, but mine works like a champ!

[Noah]

I don't think that I will be using a scupper kit on my 16,000lb boat. :eek:

I had hoped to not cut a big hole in the cockpit floor, but it looks like I might have to do that. I will keep trying to find a place, and figure out how to mount the thing...

Noah