Bilge Water Discharge on Boats
Bilge water discharge is a crucial aspect of boat maintenance, safety, and environmental responsibility. Water naturally collects in the bilge, due to rain, leaks, or condensation. Without proper removal, this water can damage equipment, affect stability, and create safety hazards.
Bilge pumps are designed to remove this water efficiently, but choosing the right type and understanding discharge methods is essential. Each type has its advantages, discharge capacities, and ideal applications depending on the size and type of boat.
Manual Diaphragm Pumps
These are the most simple bilge pumps and due to their simplicity they are also the most reliable. They are commonly used as a back up for the electric bilge pumps.
They have a large diaphragm which moves backwards and forwards as the handle is pumped. The pump has non-return valves to allow the water to enter and exit the pump at the correct time. They often have a large bore size so you get the maximum amount of water pumped per stroke and so they do not block easily.
Some are available with a through deck kit when used as a bilge pump. A strumbox is recommended to restrict debris and
provide a non-return valve.
Submersible Pumps
Available in 12 or 24 volt and with many different flow rates. These are the most popular type of electric bilge pump, and they are designed to be fitted at the lowest point of the bilge.
They have a slotted base to allow water in but also preventing any unwanted debris from entering the internals of the pump. They have an internal impeller which spins the water around the inner housing of the pump which keeps the pumps motor cool while it is pumping the water, then exits through the outlet port of the pump.
There are 3 types of submersible pumps: non-automatic, automatic and fully automated operation.
These are just the basic pump and need to be operated with a switch panel so the user has complete control. However they can also be used in conjunction with an automatic float switch, which will then make it a fully automatic pump.
These have an internal micro processor which spins the impeller every 2 ½ minutes to check for water. If water is present the pump will sense the resistance and will pump until the resistance/water is no longer present.
The power use during the checking mode is minimal with the bilge pump consuming just 0.20 amp hours per day.
3. Fully Automated Pumps
These have a built in automatic switch which senses water and will only pump when water is present or you manually override the pump at the switch panel.
Need to clean your bilge?
Use the Star brite biodegradable heavy duty bilge cleaner which disperses and loosens sludge and grime so it can be pumped out, leaving the bilge clean and odour-free.
