Installing bilge pump strainers in a flat bilge

[Visarend]

I need upgrading my bilge pump installation. Until now, I had only a big manual diaphragm pump operated from the cockpit, with a big strainer under the engine, on the port side. The problem is, the bilge is flat and shallow, just some liters of water slosh around and the big manual pump leaves some 30 lts.
The project is installing a Rule automatic pump to prevent flooding for unexpected reasons (as WC valve left open, a pipe blown, etc), plus a smaller manual diaphragm pump with a strainer right under the engine to achieve max possible drying.
Even if I screw the manual pump strainer directly in the bilge GRP (4 #8 screws), still 2 cm of water remain. Which is nothing in a deep bilge, but annoying in a large flat one.

Any ideas?

[rbk]

https://www.groco.net/products/raw-w...ner/bsa-series

[rbk]

No matter what you do it is not possible to get every last drop out. Best way is to avoid it being there in the first place. Our boat doesn’t leak but it sweats in the shoulder seasons when we have heat on so I shop vac it dry after the heating season and it stays that way until the fall.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by rbk

No matter what you do it is not possible to get every last drop out. Best way is to avoid it being there in the first place. Our boat doesn’t leak but it sweats in the shoulder seasons when we have heat on so I shop vac it dry after the heating season and it stays that way until the fall.

But it is possible to get every last drop!! It just costs a lot of money.

http://www.aridbilge.com/#2643

[JD-Odyssey]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

But it is possible to get every last drop!! It just costs a lot of money.

Arid Bilge Home

Our Hunter 41 has a flat bottom bilge and most of the water that collects in it is condensate from our two air conditioning units. I purchased an aridbilge about two years ago and it works quite well for taking out the remaining 2-3 cm of water. Be advised though that it does require occasional cleaning and maintenance. And, it's one more thing to add to the list of things to routinely check. I dissolve a bromine tablet in a bucket of water and run it through the pump occasionally to keep it clean. There will be a trace amount of water remaining in the bilge around the pickup but most of the bilge will be dry. Is it worth the cost? For us being live-aboards it keeps the bilge a lot cleaner and minimizes the odors that can build up in a wet bilge.

[Maclir]

An easier and less expensive method to remove the last couple of litres, buy one of those vacuum hand pumps which are mainly used to drain engine oil through the dip stick hole

[Oceanride007]

If it can't be handled by mop or Vacuum, suggest next time you are on Hard stand, put in a adequate bilge well, stream line it, well you may think this is a stupid idea but not as stupid as not having a bilge well.

[Barkie]

Try using capilliary action. Run a piece of fine strand 8mm natural fibre rope through the wet areas and into the lowest point. Think you will find the water ends up in the one place, Also industrial scotch bright sewn into a box shapemakes a great strum box.