Bilge Pumps
Hello Guys
Most of our small boats are equiped with a single-action diaphagm type
bilge pump that will enable a fit person to shift about 18 US/15 Imp
Gallons/70l per minute. Thats enough capacity to get the
rainwater/spray/and odd "dollops" out but is less than desirable when faced
with 1-2 cubic meters of water that a knock-down or pooping will present.
The double-action pumps that are avaliable have the limitations of the
action required to drive them and don't result in a big increase in
capacity.
The saving grace of the diaphragm bilge pump is it's simplicity,
reliability, ease of maintenance, ability to cope with foreign matter, self
priming and low cost (relative).
No doubt older people will remember the previous types that were popular
such as the semi-rotary and piston pumps in many different cofigurations.
These were replaced by the diaphragm type almost exculsively due to better
performance and superior characteristics.
I think the time has come to rethink the basic principles behind manual
bilge pumps and see if there isn't now a more suitable type of manual pump.
Some possiblities :
- peristatic
- diaphragm with better actuating mechanism
- self priming centrifical
To give you an interesting site to provoke thought see:
Any thoughts
Thanks - Foster Price
Southland, New Zealand
Most of our small boats are equiped with a single-action diaphagm type
bilge pump that will enable a fit person to shift about 18 US/15 Imp
Gallons/70l per minute. Thats enough capacity to get the
rainwater/spray/and odd "dollops" out but is less than desirable when faced
with 1-2 cubic meters of water that a knock-down or pooping will present.
The double-action pumps that are avaliable have the limitations of the
action required to drive them and don't result in a big increase in
capacity.
The saving grace of the diaphragm bilge pump is it's simplicity,
reliability, ease of maintenance, ability to cope with foreign matter, self
priming and low cost (relative).
No doubt older people will remember the previous types that were popular
such as the semi-rotary and piston pumps in many different cofigurations.
These were replaced by the diaphragm type almost exculsively due to better
performance and superior characteristics.
I think the time has come to rethink the basic principles behind manual
bilge pumps and see if there isn't now a more suitable type of manual pump.
Some possiblities :
- peristatic
- diaphragm with better actuating mechanism
- self priming centrifical
To give you an interesting site to provoke thought see:
Any thoughts
Thanks - Foster Price
Southland, New Zealand