Re: [Paddlewise] Foot Operated Bilge Pump?

In a message dated 98-06-23 01:38:52 EDT, heritage_at_europa.com writes:

<< I've seen mention of foot/pedal operated  bilge pumps in several kayaking
 books. Has anyone used one? How do they work out for you? Where can I get
 one? How hard are they to install? >>

Henderson makes a foot-operated pump that mounts on a fiberglass bulkhead or
on any other solid mounting surface, George.  I have mine set into a closed
cell foam plug which also serves as a footrest assembly; it slides in and sits
against the bulkhead in my Pintail.  One source is Great River Outfitters in
Waterford, MI (248-683-4770): e-mail <grokayak_at_ix.netcom.com>: or
<www.erols.com/rapids/gro>; this is Stan Chladek's company, and is the primary
--- and possibly only --- source I've found for Brit-boat stuff, although he
deals through about 20 retailers around the US.  It's a pricey pump --- $173
in GRO's 1998 catalog (as a comparison, Stan also sells the self contained
under-$30 Atwood pump which has been mentioned several times recently for $65
and the under-$300 Apelco 520 submersible VHF for $460 (all prices in US$), so
you're paying a lot for his exclusivity).  But it's a great pump --- identical
in the plumbing bits to the now apparently out-of-fashion Henderson "chimp"
rear deck pump --- and empties a partially flooded boat in less than a minute
(having said that, I have a small cockpit and a lot of it is foamed, so my
boat takes on very little water in a wet re-entry and roll, for example).  No
batteries, you can pump out with the skirt mounted to exclude more water
entering the cockpit, and it's powerful enough to suck a neoprene skirt right
into the boat unless you work out a "burping" or venting system (I use a four
inch deckplate in my foredeck, and just unscrew it a little to allow air in as
the water is pumped out).

To address your last question, George --- I installed mine in about an hour.
It's pretty easy.  Requires you to drill a pretty good sized hole in the side
of the boat below the fiberglass seam for the exhaust port, which can be kind
of unnerving unless you've already "customized" your boat a lot.  If you
install this system, spring for (or make) a "strum box", a fiberglass tapered
wedge-shaped box with a hose fitting at one end, open at the bottom, which
really does help suck out the last of the bilgewater (after which one swipe
with a sponge leaves the bilges dry).  Again, pricey for what it is --- $19.20
US in GRO's catalog --- but it works.

I had tried several different battery and foot operated pump options after I
junked my "chimp" pump --- and, without any question, this is the best!  After
you get over the idea of spending $200 --- which I was lucky not to have had
to do --- it's a great system.

Jack "Joq" Martin
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