i have a sea nymph fishmaster-tin boat- and was wondering how big a bilge pump to put on it as the last one died. do i need one with a float in it so it comes on by itself or just a manual one? thanks again..karol
buy one with a float. great way to know you left the plug out when launching. you can also rig it to the switch to use as a manual. Two pumps are better than one. I have 3 on my Ranger. 750 - 1000 GPH should do the trick.
Nobody ever wishes they had a smaller bilge pump. 800 GPH minimum - that said I can pump 3000 GPH out of my Z21.
Bigger is better and multiple is best when it comes to bilges, but no bilge works better than a man with a good sized bucket in a sinking boat. Keep one on board.
The standard factory size for most tin boats is 500gpm. Today I could have used a couple 1000gpm. >:( My plug somehow ended up coming out during thr launch and I found it between the trailer cross support and the rubber rolloff thingy. ??? We managed to get back to the launch and trailer it. The water ran out for a good 5 minutes.
Get the biggest (1500-3000) you can afford! When 2 big cruisers pass on each side and you take wakes off both stern quarters that swamp your back deck, I promise you'll want at least 2 big bilges, leave that little hand pump in the bathtub...
A couple years ago I was pulling out at Metro and a couple of guys had a Ranger and were also pulling out. They forgot to put their plug in and ran down to the mile roads. They decided not to come back for it and fished all day with the bilge running. Now that's some good pumps. I always carry a spare plug in my boat.
I carry a spare plug, but on my 492VS, you can't reach it from the boat unless you have a 4 1/2 foot long arm! Jump in the water or go back to the trailer. I'm due... I haven't forgotten the plug in about 3 seasons. One over my average ;D
I have 1,000 gph bilges. 1 on an auto switch. 1 on manual. I also have an extra pump rigged on a long wire lead with two gator clips, a switch, a 6 foot long 3/4" hose that I can clip on the batteries and drop in anywhere in the boat to pump out (or pump in for a bad livewell pump - which has been loaned out for that reason several times).
I also carry a large, heavy duty laundry detergent jug with the bottom cut off. Strong handle so I can scoop up a lot of water and dump in a hurry. Along with that I have long hand pump so two of us can get water out manually and the hand pump is a tube that will fit into boxes if I just take a wave over one part of the boat.
I also carry a secondary pump with alligator clips and a 10 ft length of hose....I thought I would have to use it for a livewell fill pump this year up north until I found the problem after shooting a half a day of prefishing to heck...I can't figure out why everyone doesn't carry an extra pump set up...
One other tip...I store my extra pump and hose inside a plastic Folgers coffee container with the lid...The Plastic container makes a great back up bailing device and it keeps my extra pump stored nicely....It is probably a shade less than a gallon....
wheeww!! i checked under my little side console and guess what? my pump was just unplugged.. thank you Lord!! saved a lot of money and headaches.. works fine now. made sure it was squeezed on tight too.. now i can go fishing again..karol