Let's Talk Emergency Bilge Pumps

I have always preached, install the largest you can get.
Just never was able to practice my self, what I preached, till recently.

I have a 32V 3700 in the engine room, 3 32v 2000 aft and 2 32v 2000 forward.
A single lil diaphragm pump in the ER for low bilge sump pick up.
A crash pump on the stb main engine does another 160GPM, select-able from each or all of the 3 bilges.

Just finished running a new 24V buss to my 32v breaker panel.
Here, I can replace 32v options as needed (one at a time) with 24V. Just make a new strap from the new 24V buss to that options breaker.
Then, as I can, new 24v larger pumps everywhere.

On our past customer boats, There was a hose size increase to consider.
A few times we could not access this hose or hull fitting to replace.
That is when we would ad a second and larger pump with its own discharge more easily installed.
Arrange the original pump for best low water pick also.

Oh, my new constant run-able, 24v blowers work like a champ.
Installing a new 24v Bennett Trim tab pump today.

First thing I did before I started any work on my 53MY a few years back was remove the old pumps and install four 3700 with new switches, high water switches, all new wiring, new panel with breakers and LEDs and new wiring to the house bank. I m going to add a 5th one for peace of mind….

if anything smaller boats need better pumping capacity as they will be more affected. I put 3 1800s on my little 26’ day sailor…

i m not a big fan of using engine pumps to suck water out of the bilge since it requires someone in the ER to man the valves or you will burn the pumps.

adding bilge pumps isn’t expensive and is fairly easy to do even if you have to add a discharge thruhull which can be done in the water.

the 110 lazzara had four 3700 but I added an extra one just to be safe. We also have a 220v emergency pump as well as an hydraulic emergency pump. While it sounds great the problem with these is that they have to be activated from the ER and the suction manifold is on the forward bulkhead, outboard of the port engine meaning you may have to go in there with a flooding ER and live power.

I know many say that electric pumps, even the 3700s, won’t prevent a boat from sinking but they will buy you time. Time to activate emergency pumps or find the leak and plug it, even partially.

Whatever pumps you have they won’t do you any good without run and high water alarms which so many folks do not test regularly.

It is a Jabsco Bronze pump. Belt driven off the crank pulley. Uses a Detroit impeller.
Electric clutches are available to engage them.
Mine uses a throw lever to engage it.
Oh, I was wrong about the rate, 60GPM.

https://www.xylem.com/en-us/brands/...nual-clutch-pump/?facetids=1226&facetids=1379

Once it starts pumping, I can raise the engine speed and it's an awesome discharge.

Since our batteries are in the V bottom, loss of electricity would happen quickly if we flooded.
Detroits don't need DCv to run.
Rite under the saloon deck hatch, open it up, hop down, and throw the engaging lever.
Crawl out and help find the leak.

Other boats use their engine cooling pumps for emergency use, I don't like this with your reasons.

I have the emergency pumps that allow the engines to pull water from the bilge. For the reasons already stated above I wanted something else. I have a Multiquip 2” electric pump that I can throw in the bilge fairly quickly. No priming but do have to thread hose on and run it out of the boat. I am aware that if I loose the genset this pump is out of the game. But figured it would maybe help in certain situations. The hose is a collapsible one which stows easily. At a 15’ head it will pump 60 gals/hr. These are common in the excavating world and will tolerate some trash in the water as well. Equipment rental places (Sunbelt and United Rentals) usually carry them in stock to sell.
https://www.tmsequip.com/new-equipm...MI0uCKr_qf_gIVL_3jBx1jpAUrEAQYBCABEgIEsfD_BwE

I was going to keep our companies gas trash pumps. 3 years later, they were given away.
I think your shop is near your dock,,,
If not already, a portable trash pump in your shop may be an idea.
Some 3" pumps get near 300GPM

Throw in sump or basement pumps are not going to stow well or offer much emergency performance.

Oh, on a Nova 80 I worked on, Their crash pump could be used also for a fire fighting.
Throw 2 valves in the ER and the hose spool / remote energize switch was on the after deck.

What size is the discharge hose and thru hull? It just shoots out the side?

I think 2".
It blows out the side.
In the ole days. Ortega River Boat Yard (ORBY) had covered slips.
I had to flood my bilges to get out from under with a storm coming. Tide was already high when I got to the boat.
I flooded the bilges and backed out. Then turned that pump on.
Waooo.
What took over 30 minutes to flood (depth sounders pulled up and all strainer caps opened), Bilges were dry in just a few.
I would of pushed up the roof if I stayed under there.
The stuff I did 20 years ago,, wheeew..

Sadly, those covered slips are gone.

What ?!? Nuts !
Whoa that’s a tough thing to do.

So you have a huge round thru hull on the side of your boat ?
2” is a big hole.
No discharge clam shell or whatever over it ?
Is it down low near the water line with a rise up loop inside the boat ?
Anyway all this talk has me thinking about my current set up.
lts ok, but not great.
Space is limited for me.
I like the engine pump set up like you have . Just not sure I really have the space to do that set up.
Push comes to shove I like the idea of the heavy duty 110 V submersible industrial pump…
It’s better than nothing .

Did you make up your own hose or does it come with one I don’t see a hose from what I see.

You have to buy the hose separately. https://store.kgpowersystems.com/c2...MI393ci-Cg_gIVC_bjBx3e1ArsEAQYCCABEgKW_PD_BwE

A large DCv pump will move more water than an ACv pump.
A large DCv pump does not need a gen-set to run.
Things to consider when your boat is sinking.

Looks like a gen-set outlet above the stb boot several inches.
I'll find a picture of the pump. Simple installation.
I check it out about every 5 years and replace the Detroit sized impeller then also.

Do you have one on each engine? Or just a single set up.

I have the extra groove on my pulley, so I would have only one belt to drive it. My engines are cooled by darn near the same belt driven pump ( Jabsco 7200 ) mounted off the outboard side , making impeller service a joy.

I have one unobstructed salon hatch which is easy to open and drops me right down in between the front of both motors which would give me quick access to the pump.

Yeah send me a photo when you can. Thanks

I need to edit post #8. The Multiquip pump will pump 60 gallons a minute not hour.

Ralph can you explain why a “large DC pump will move more water than an AC pump?”

Even @ 60GPM, that is still 3600 GPH.
The larger DCv pumps are 3700 and 4000GPH.

The built in and always ready to go DCv pumps will have less of a discharge head (rise) also.
The portable ACv pump will have to reach higher over the gunnel, with that taller head to over come and discharge.
Extra loss in GPH.

And, still assuming that the gen-set is running and you had the time to deploy the ACv pump also.

@ 8lbs per gallon, any lift or rise in a hose, robs that sales pitch performance in a hurry.
I realize you have to have hose diameter to move lots of water; IMO larger hoses just ad more weight for the pump to over come.