Question: What is a bilge pump?

(Posted by: on 2008-12-27 15:17:38)

Do you have to have one? or does every boat come with one?

Posted by: Kevin_57 on 2008-12-27, 15:25:21

It is a water pump that gets rid of unwanted water from the lowest part of the boat in the engine compartment, the bilge. You don't have to have one but they are very good to have. Most boats with inboards or Inboard-outboard configurations have them. Less expensive fishing boats may not (aluminum row boats). They can be switched on or have a float switch to turn on when water gets too high.

Posted by: Deralict Boater on 2008-12-27, 15:27:14

The lowest point inside the hull is called the bilge this is were water collects from spray, rain leaks etc. A 'bilge pump " pumps out this unwanted water and no not all boats come with one, most bilge pumps are electric so any boat not equipped with a power source like a battery wouldn't have one

Posted by: Captain Bill on 2008-12-27, 15:30:13

A bilge pump is a de-watering device. Not all boats have them, smaller boats that are trailered. It is recommended that you have some sort of device to bail the water out or a pump or both. Bilge pumps are often fitted with float switches which turn on the pump when the bilge fills to a set level. The bilge pump should be place at the lowest point in the bilge, some boats have a second pump located at a higher level to assist the primary pump. Here is an article on bilge pumps:yachtsurvey.com/ bilge_pumps.htm Good Luck - Boat Safe!

Posted by: Jim C on 2008-12-27, 16:44:53

Yes every boat should have one. No every boat does not come with one. If you take on water through a leak or wave action you need to bail it out by pail or bilge pump. Depending on the size of the boat you need a pump that can handle the size of the boat. Good luck and safe boating. I almost forgot....TAKE A BOATING COURSE.

Posted by: jtexas on 2008-12-27, 19:42:27

Your 17' procraft almost certainly came with a bilge pump, and you really do want one. Water comes in the boat from rain, or from spray when splashing through waves, or when a swimmer climbs aboard, or when you need to wash the deck, or if your bait tank spills, etc. etc. A submergible pump, laying in the bilge (the area back where the drain plug is). Discharge hose usually routed through a thru-hull fitting well above the waterline, on the side of the boat (usually the starboard side) where you can visually see whether it's pumping or not. On my old boat, the bilge pump discharges into the splashwell -- it's a workable arrangement. A 1000-GPH would work, 1200- or 1500 GPH even better. They say smaller boats need higher capacity bilge pumps.

Posted by: Stephen S on 2008-12-28, 08:16:21

A bilge pump is a pump that sucks out water or whatever liquid is in the bilge in your bloat the bilge is the run off for water and oil etc. in the lowest part of the hull/ engine room. most large inboard boats will have one located in a low lying part of the boat . you can also retro fit a bilge pump to most boats