Electric bilge pump in wooden boat

[david clack]

I have a small 26 ft clinker double ended sloop, Ghiilie Dhu was beautifully built in 1969 and is in very good condition. She was built by one of the best wooden boat builders in England for his own use and when I bought her was fitted with an electric bilge pump as well a hand pump. She does not leak at all except when being put back in the water after a winter lay up.
I have heard that fitting an electric bilge pump in a wooden boat is not good practice and can promote electrolisis problems. As Ghille Dhu`s bilges are dry where the bilge pump is situated I am assuming that there could be no problem but want to be doubley sure.
Is there a way to check to see if there are "stray" electrical currents that might cause problems?
Any advice gratefully received.
Regards David

[High C]

Originally posted by david clack:
I have heard that fitting an electric bilge pump in a wooden boat is not good practice and can promote electrolisis problems.

Hmmm, I've never heard this before, but I can think of a lot worse problem if you DON'T have an electric bilge pump!

I'm guessing that the problem may lie with having live wires (though insulated) running through the bilge water. There could be a tiny bit of stray current escaping through the wire cover that might travel through the water and gnaw away at fasteners. In a dry bilge (what's that? ) such as yours that wouldn't be a problem.

Again, I'm just speculating here.

[Ian McColgin]

Hope I'm not double posting -

Anyway, most pumps like Rule are totally isolated and submersible. You'll often see one installed below its float switch to ensure that it does not run dry.

If the waterproofing ever gives way, there could be an issue with transient currents but if you have normal grounding, it should not be a deal. And it's exceptionally rare. Usually the pump craters long before it's watertight integrity is compromised.