NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: FishingAddict on June 24, 2012, 09:54:32 PM
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After reading SinCoast post about the importance of a bilge pump I am sharing how I store mine.
First of all I am not happy with the design of what I have made by Seattle Sports. The bottom spout seems to be prone to jamming and getting plugged up. The bottom inflow piece is screwed on and cannot be taken apart easily.
I have seen West Marine's pump and think its a better design and only costs $20. I've have thinking of changing for years but its one of those things I've been putting off.
I made sure my pump is secured in place so I can get to it when I need it and not bouncing around inside the hull during an emergency. I just use a piece of cord and $1 carabener from Home Depot to hold it place. I can unclip and be ready in a few seconds.
I also bought a set of plastic clips from West Marine that I've been thinking of gooping in place somewhere inside. But never got around doing.
First picture if on my Revo and next is on my T13. Both set ups have worked for me for years and but never had to really use them.
I am really curious you other guys store your pumps.
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Great idea Mel. i haven't got a bilge pump yet :smt009 I was wondering how to set mine up after reading Pats post Thanks for the Idea man.
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I think on the OUTSIDE of the kayak is the best placement. If you have to open a hatch to get it you risk swamping the goat even more.
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Those clips look like they would hold your pump outside nicely. Maybe put a bungee over the clip to keep it secure in case of rollover or getting caught on something else.
I think on the OUTSIDE of the kayak is the best placement. If you have to open a hatch to get it you risk swamping the goat even more.
Do you not have to open the hatch to pump the water out anyway? I have thought of trying to find a way to place mine so you can pump it from the outside but it be on the outside. I figured out a way but not sure if it would be practical.
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I think on the OUTSIDE of the kayak is the best placement. If you have to open a hatch to get it you risk swamping the goat even more.
Do you not have to open the hatch to pump the water out anyway?
Yeah, at least on my T15 I would have to open the rod pod hatch to pump and that is right where my pump is lashed....
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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West Marine pump tucked under bungee on front hatch with caribiner clipped onto handle and bungee. Slid forward and unclip = 5 to 10 seconds. I also put a short piece of pool noddle onto pump (6") just in case :smt001.
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If you store it inside, just make sure you place it so you don't have to scoot further forward to retrieve the pump than you'd be in to use it pumping the water out of of the opening. At the point you need it, your kayak will be pretty unstable because of the water inside.
Mine stores nicely on the back of my seat back, but to use it I either have to open the 6" hatch between my legs which would be below water level with the extra weight of the water inside, OR scoot forward to open the front hatch to pump, which risks capsizing the yak that doesn't have it's normal stability, or taking a wave over the bow and into the hole. But by having a pump, you at least have something, risky perhaps, that you can do to possibly save yourself while you're sinking.
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After my recent swamping at HMB, I went out and bought a pump, and a 2 foot section of bungee. I located mine on the outside starboard rear section. I also went so far as to take a Sharpie and write on the bottom of the hull as to where the pump, and handles are, a reminder to use my whistle and air horn. Dumb I know, but some times a simple reminder can put stuff in perspective.
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I think on the OUTSIDE of the kayak is the best placement. If you have to open a hatch to get it you risk swamping the goat even more.
Do you not have to open the hatch to pump the water out anyway?
Yeah, at least on my T15 I would have to open the rod pod hatch to pump and that is right where my pump is lashed....
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
I agree Jim. On your kayak that makes sense. On some you need to scoot to a forward hatch witch will lead to possibly taking on more water by shifting weight forward. I have a hatch between my legs and one that sits higher behind my seat. My preferred hatch for pumping is the higher one. I can't get my pump in my rear hatch for storage, but for pumping it will work. I guess very kayak is different and needs to be addressed accordingly. I partially retract my outside statement.
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I think on the OUTSIDE of the kayak is the best placement. If you have to open a hatch to get it you risk swamping the goat even more.
Heaven knows we don't want to swamp the goat! :smt003 - Sorry Rob, couldn't resist . . . I keep mine bungeed to the seat back under the GWKC bag or to the front hatch strap on the XF.
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Mine is stored in the hull, on a short leash. I get to it by reaching into the small, behind-the-seat hatch on my tarpon. I used to bungie it to my plano box so the pump would be above deck, but it just kept getting in the way so now it lives with the throw bag and spare paddle.
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I have a hatch between my legs and one that sits higher behind my seat. My preferred hatch for pumping is the higher one. I can't get my pump in my rear hatch for storage, but for pumping it will work.
Oh Rob, this just sounds wrong on so many levels. :smt044 :smt005 :smt003 :smt002
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Somebody outta design one that can be mounted permanently onto a hatch, or even the hull itself= just pull the handle like pumping water from a well.
I agree that opening a hatch on the open ocean, while swamped and floundering... There's gotta be a better way for us.
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There's gotta be a better way for us.
here's an idea..
Buy a drain plug kit (pic below) and install it on the center deck close to you seat or in between your thigh area when sitting down. Then modify the bilge pump to where you can get a smaller tube that will fit into the drain plug to pump the water out.
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....this what sit-inside-kayakers have built into their skirt. This way, when they can self rescue / wet exit, they can put the skirt back on and then be able to pump the water out and not worry about water going over their deck and swamping them again.
http://www.gearbuyer.com/products/seals-bilge_pump.html (http://www.gearbuyer.com/products/seals-bilge_pump.html)
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That is a great idea. That's better than what I was imagining.
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I always carry a pump with me in the rear well. Fortunately I have never had to use it on the water. But if I need to use it, I would have to open the large front hatch of my Prowler 13, not something I want to do in all but the calmest conditions.
Since many of us already have a 12V battery on board to power our fish finder, why not hook up an electric bilge pump? Here are a few videos showing them in action.
Kayak electric bilge pump tested (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXIB7UQqsm4#)
Testing My Bilge Pump In My Kayak (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBnaENoCSgs#)
Kayak Safety - Electric Bilge Pump (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNJqbMGxPV8#ws)
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Since many of us already have a 12V battery on board to power our fish finder, why not hook up an electric bilge pump?
Because batteries die. Connections fail.
The small hatch with Latex gaskets that Mooch posted looks just the ticket.
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Since many of us already have a 12V battery on board to power our fish finder, why not hook up an electric bilge pump?
Because batteries die. Connections fail.
So all the power boats and sailboat owners are just throwing their money away on electric bilge pumps because their batteries may die or connections may fail? It is a proven technology that has been around for decades.
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Anything electrical is unreliable by nature
there are no guarantees
You can probably rig some kind of electric system on a kayak that seems foolproof but more likely will only be "pretty" reliable
...and it was back to good old reliable compasses
I agree, and I'm very glad you're here offering your wisdom, bk.
Krusty - if I had a "big boat" with a motor on it, or living quarters even, I'd surely have everything electric and only have manual stuff for backup. But we're IN the water, not just on it. Anything other than focusing on paddling a platform with basic immersion and safety gear is just fluff, IMO.
I subscribe to the bluekayak way.
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the million dollar question is will it work when you need it
Exactly. May work perfectly for years, but I wouldn't bet my life on anything electrical when my hull is filled with saltwater.
WE've all read reports where fishfinders have failed.
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A 500 GPH electric bilge pump will pump more water faster than you can by hand. It buys you time to paddle your leaking/sinking kayak to shore, something you cannot do while paddling.
I'm with EricB on that one Anything electrical is unreliable by nature
Anything mechanical is prone to failure. Even a manual bilge pump. From the original post of this thread:
First of all I am not happy with the design of what I have made by Seattle Sports. The bottom spout seems to be prone to jamming and getting plugged up. The bottom inflow piece is screwed on and cannot be taken apart easily.
This does not stop me from bringing along my manual bilge pump. So if an electrical bilge pump is unreliable, and opening your front hatch to pump out the inside of your kayak with bilge pump is not a a good idea:
Thinking in terms of rough water scenario, a pump isn't any good if you have to open up hatches to use it
Then what options are left?
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Krusty - if I had a "big boat" with a motor on it, or living quarters even, I'd surely have everything electric and only have manual stuff for backup. But we're IN the water, not just on it. Anything other than focusing on paddling a platform with basic immersion and safety gear is just fluff, IMO.
So in your opinion, a bilge pump is not considered a safety gear?
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the million dollar question is will it work when you need it
Exactly. May work perfectly for years, but I wouldn't bet my life on anything electrical when my hull is filled with saltwater.
WE've all read reports where fishfinders have failed.
So what has a greater chance of working when you need it: A) a manual bilge pump, or B) an electric bilge pump with a manual bilge pump for backup?
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So in your opinion, a bilge pump is not considered a safety gear?
Nope, I've included a manual bilge pump in my basic safety gear for some years now.
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I would have to say that I would feel more secure with a manual pump then an electric set up. It may work great and dump lots of water out, but likely when i need it There will be a failure. less moving parts= more reliable. IMO.....
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less moving parts= more reliable. IMO.....
Amen :smt045
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I think you guys are misconstruing my point. I am not advocating having an electric bilge pump in leau of a manual bilge pump. I am suggesting adding an electric bilge pump in addition to having a manual bilge pump, so that you can drain the water out of your kayak while paddling to shore to save your leaking/sinking kayak.
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I always carry a pump and a sponge, both of which are the only things I have from my last touring boat. I always just stick the pump in the first bungees up front and have never had a problem with hooking it on a shrimp fly or anything. Luckily I've only used it in self rescue practice. The sponge is in the bungee behind my seat and i've used it a million times, just to get small amounts of water and fish crap. :smt007
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For what it's worth I have had PBs for a lotta years and never had a Bilge pump fail. I've had 3 of the Seattle sport pumps 1 cracked 1 froze 3rd one works great but I am thing of buying a Scotty as it has a SS Shaft.
Whatever you have just check it everytime before you go out.
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The pump should be primed every now and then by pumping water through it.That will help keep the diaphram from drying out. In other words run water thru it often to keep it in working order.
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Krusty, the great thing about kayaking is there are no rules. I actually like the idea of an electric bilge pump, but personally I like the least amount of stuff as possible on and in my kayak. Less rigging before launch, less to go wrong, less weight.
That is not to say you shouldn't rig your kayak with an electric pump if you want to.
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I've thinking about this. For my T13 and Revo 13, store the pump in the forward hatch. When its needed, crawl forward open hatch grab pump, close hatch. Pump water out from center hatch / rod pod. More stable this way. I'm getting a West Marine pump first chance, I don't like the Seattle Sports pump design.
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I usually store my pump inside the 8" Orbix midship hatch, tied to the attachment points under the hatch cover. It's easy to locate and it can't wander to unreachable spots inside the hull.
But it would be awfully difficult for someone on another kayak to retrieve it from inside the hatch. Like, if I was in the water or something.
So I'll consider storing it in the tankwell or on the deck somewhere (but probably not strapped onto the bow because it m/b hard to grab on a flooded yak).
For years, I've been mulling the idea of a 250 or 500gph electric pump inside my hull. Installed permanently with the hose protruding from the deck. And I still might try it. But I'll bring my hand pump with me too.
The problem with an e-bilge pump is that it only works for the kayak it's mounted in...and more often than not, you'll need to help pump out somebody else's kayak. (Attwood makes a smaller portable bilge pump powered by D batteries though)
It's cool to see people are thinking about their pumps! They're an important tool. I'm going to get the Scotty pump next week. My SS pump is nice and still works but the hardware is starting to corrode after about 3 dozen ocean trips.
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I don't know where my Seattle one is (I also got it from REI)... Probably lost in one of my yak.
I just got Scotty one from AOTY package that polepole gave me. It's very light & floats but nice stainless steal bar construction. I just put it in back tank-well on my P-15, and I even use to pump out the water from my foot-well (I use scupper plug) & it works great! Fish knocked it out once but it floated & bright orange which I spotted it right away. It's always on my reach because I use it all the time.
Naoaki
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