Late night fun with bilge pumps - trying to diagnose problem

[stephenbonifield]

The rebuild kits include the required parts, but often the corrosion inside makes it almost impossible to get a good seal, if you can even get the bolts out to replace those parts.
I did not have success, though others might.
Frank

Thank you

 

[stephenbonifield]

The rebuild kits include the required parts, but often the corrosion inside makes it almost impossible to get a good seal, if you can even get the bolts out to replace those parts.
I did not have success, though others might.
Frank

Thank you

 

[stephenbonifield]

https://defender.com/en_us/whale-mk5-universal-manual-bilge-waste-pump-bp0510

This appears to be the plastic "Henderson Mk 5" pump that Whale bought the rights to sell, a number of years ago. I put one in our head compartment to replace the corroded-out Whale Gusher pump. It does use a slightly different bolt pattern, be aware.
Interesting that it's still for sale under the original brand name on at least one UK chandler site.
If starting over, again, and in a salt water environment, I would probably replace the vintage Whale Gusher (aluminum body) cockpit pump with one of these.

Thank you

 

[bsangs]

Finally gave up trying get the Whale Gusher manual cockpit pump to work properly. Its function has been replaced by two items. A portable 12-volt pump that works perfectly 12 Volt Pump and a Beckson Marine high capacity manual pump with a foot strap Thirsty Mate High Capacity Super Pump. God willing I’ll never need to use either, but feeling a bit more comfortable about an emergency situation with these on board. (And yes, I realize the 12-volt pump would be useless if the water level gets higher than the batteries, but if that ever happens, something tells me I’m pretty much screwed anyway.)

 

[Christian Williams]

That sounds good for a crewed boat. I found the Whale pump installed near the helm made it possible to steer and pump at the same time, a requirement for singlehanders.

The Whale is really effective. You can sit and pump steadily with good ergonomics, and I did it for six hours in 30 knots, returning to Oahu after the anchor locker drain hose detached and began filling the boat. The short handle it comes with works best. I had brought along a 5-foot broomstick, designed to outsmart Whale. But a long handle makes for a huge sweep of the lever, which is more tiring than a short sweep, and makes you look like a semaphore corporal signaling for reinforcements at the Battle of the Somme.

 

[Loren Beach]

Sorry to come across as doctrinaire and preachy, but I really believe the old wisdom that all bilge pumps should have separate hose and thruhull systems; i.e. continuous from the strum box to the transom exit fitting. Never should pickups be "combined" and any hose over about 20 years old should be replaced. And no separate in-line "check valves."

IF the cockpit pump check valves and diaphragm are in good shape, the hose is totally without any pin holes or cracks, and the ends are all properly clamped, it WILL pump water.
(Now stepping off the soap box.)

 

[bsangs]

Sorry to come across as doctrinaire and preachy, but I really believe the old wisdom that all bilge pumps should have separate hose and thruhull systems; i.e. continuous from the strum box to the transom exit fitting. Never should pickups be "combined" and any hose over about 20 years old should be replaced. And no separate in-line "check valves."

IF the cockpit pump check valves and diaphragm are in good shape, the hose is totally without any pin holes or cracks, and the ends are all properly clamped, it WILL pump water.
(Now stepping off the soap box.)

No problem Loren. I certainly wouldn’t have set it up this way, but is what it is. The main bilge works through the same hoses, I know how to quickly remove the air lock if it happens again (it hasn’t, knock wood) and now I have adequate backups. After the hell that was replacing my scupper hoses this spring, I’m in no hurry to tackle the even more challenging bilge hoses this year.