How much bilge water?

[johnnie1uk]

How much water do you have lying in your Bilge?, when i got my boat there was a couple of inches because the stern gland was dripping because it was not greased, and the bilge pump had siezed up. so ive replace the bilge pump but it leaves some water behind. would it be best to totally dry it out.?

[bottle]

There will always be some water left as the bilge pump will not be able to remove the last drop.

 

You could dry it (disposable nappies are good, buy the cheapest)..

 

Just keep the stern gland adjusted and greased, even then there will be some water.

 

If possible put a small container under the stern gland, check regularly and empty that, will save the pump running and also keep the bilge dry.

 

The getting the container out without spilling is a game in itself,

 

edit: all the right letters but not necessarily in the correct order.

Edited November 5, 2015 by bottle

[Tam & Di]

How much water do you have lying in your Bilge?, when i got my boat there was a couple of inches because the stern gland was dripping because it was not greased, and the bilge pump had siezed up. so ive replace the bilge pump but it leaves some water behind. would it be best to totally dry it out.?

 

Yes. Boats suffer more from corrosion (rot/rust) on the inside than they do from wear to the outside.

 

Tam

[Robbo]

A wet and dry vac is good investment, as you can get the last bits of water out from the bilge.

 

Some whale pumps have a low profile so remove more water than standard pumps.

[Naughty Cal]

We aim to have no bilge water at all.

 

We always get the last bit out with a wet vac.

[john6767]

I have a plastic tupperware box under the stern gland to catch the drips, so the bilge stays completely dry. Every few months I drop a disposable nappy in the tupperware box and it soaks up the water and can be removed.

[RichLech]

Another vote for the plastic container under the stern gland. I empty mine at the end of each days cruise and manage to keep the bilge completely dry.

[Guest]

Keeping the engine bilge completely dry on The Dog House' was a constant battle.

 

The bilge pump didn't remove it all and being a semi trad water would always find a way in (the stern gland didn't drip)

 

Even with a pram hood rain water found a way in past the rear most exposed deck board. When I renewed it I made it as tight a fit as I possibly could which helped, as did keeping the channels free of crud.

 

The bilge was only ever completely dry for short periods by using the nappy trick, I was resigned however to accepting there would be some down there though, especially after a spell of rain.

[Scholar Gypsy]

Agree with the above - in addition my bilge pump sits inside the plastic container underneath the stern gland, so I just need to press the button every few days...

 

You can just see it here

 

[Tonka]

A thimble full is too much water. Boats are designed to have water on the outside. ice cream tub under the stern gland is all you need

[by'eck]

There will always be some water left as the bilge pump will not be able to remove the last drop.

 

You could dry it (disposable nappies are good, buy the cheapest)..

 

Just keep the stern gland adjusted and greased, even then there will be some water.

 

If possible put a small container under the stern gland, check regularly and empty that, will save the pump running and also keep the bilge dry.

 

The getting the container out without spilling is a game in itself,

 

edit: all the right letters but not necessarily in the correct order.

 

Agree with above although don't see the need to get all the water out. If you have an automatic bilge pump with solid state level sensor, fit a manual override switch. This will remove more water than auto switch and allow you to see just how much was in there by observing pump outlet, without direct visual inspection.

[Naughty Cal]

Keeping the bilges dry also eliminates a source of condensation in the boat.

[Chewbacka]

Bilge pumps are (I think) designed to leave a bit behind as if they pump everything then grease and oil that floats on top of the bilge water will be pumped into the canal. Of course you may not have an oily or greasy bilge, but the pump does not know that.

[ditchcrawler]

How much water do you have lying in your Bilge?, when i got my boat there was a couple of inches because the stern gland was dripping because it was not greased, and the bilge pump had siezed up. so ive replace the bilge pump but it leaves some water behind. would it be best to totally dry it out.?

None for 99% of the time

[koukouvagia]

I quite like an occasional inch of bilge water in the back of the boat. When it's pumped out it leaves a protective coating of grease which is an excellent rust preventative.

[carlt]

It very much depends on the boat.

 

When I lived on "Lucy" I worried if she started pumping more than 40 litres an hour.

 

Living on Usk I would throw buckets of water in to keep the bottoms wet.

[NB Lola]

Ours leaks when boating, I expect it to. Grease after every day, always have an inch in bottom, but I am going to put a Tupperware box underneath now as I also like the idea of a dry bilge

[Idunhoe]

Have a non return valve in the discharge pipe from the bilge pump to overboard. Very annoying when the pump stops and a 'tube full' of water cascades back into the bilge.

[Mac of Cygnet]

There's no way I could have a dry rear bilge (as opposed to the accommodation bilge, which is dry). Not only is any water coming down the exterior steps directed into the bilge (the only place for it to go), but the raw water pump leaks into the bilge due to wear by gritty water (I blame the HNC!). When the bilge pump operates more frequently than every twenty minutes or so when underway, then I get it repaired (twice so far in ten years). I just accept a certain depth of water down there.

[pearley]

We have a Volvo Penta stern gland seal that's not supposed to leak so if there was any water at all in the bilge I would start to worry.

Edited November 5, 2015 by pearley

[Naughty Cal]

There's no way I could have a dry rear bilge (as opposed to the accommodation bilge, which is dry). Not only is any water coming down the exterior steps directed into the bilge (the only place for it to go), but the raw water pump leaks into the bilge due to wear by gritty water (I blame the HNC!). When the bilge pump operates more frequently than every twenty minutes or so when underway, then I get it repaired (twice so far in ten years). I just accept a certain depth of water down there.

Can't you just refurbish the raw water pump so that it doesn't leak?

 

The kit for our raw water pump is only £80 and includes new shaft, bearings and seals.

[rustydiver]

Just bought my boat and it had a bit off water in it.

When we used it the other day there was a bit in there, I've got an ice cream container under the gland them put the lid on when I want to take it out so I don't spill the water. I found a mop in the engine compartment and I mopped it dry. Will be interested to see if it is still dry when I go back Sunday.

It does drip when it rains from the cover. But I've cleared the drain holes one was bunged right up.

Edited November 5, 2015 by rustydiver

[Mac of Cygnet]

Can't you just refurbish the raw water pump so that it doesn't leak?

 

The kit for our raw water pump is only £80 and includes new shaft, bearings and seals.

 

As I said, it's been refurbished twice. Took a mechanic two days to do it each time - thought the engine would have to come out, it's so inaccessible. Also, it's a V(£)E(£)T(£)U(£)S. It only takes one trip across the HNC for the drips to start.

[Naughty Cal]

 

As I said, it's been refurbished twice. Took a mechanic two days to do it each time - thought the engine would have to come out, it's so inaccessible. Also, it's a V(£)E(£)T(£)U(£)S. It only takes one trip across the HNC for the drips to start.

I will swap you Vetus prices for Volvo Penta prices any day

[johnnie1uk]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts,very helpfull.