Re: [Paddlewise] Foot Pumps

Like Woody, I don't want to seem an advocate or to rehash an old discussion,
but I feel motivated to respond here.  Woody wrote of his concern about
electrical pumps:


>Electrical pumps seem to be an accident waiting to happen. Salt water
>and electricity don't go together
.
Granted, care has to be taken to waterproof the switch, the battery, and all
connections.  But once you have done this, then maintenance is not
difficult.  And there's no getting around the fact that a working electric
pump can be very handy (being hand- and foot-free when you're stressed
and/or fatigued).

<big snip>  Woody:
> I'm going back electric. I think I'll have better chance of solving the
>problems with the electrical system...Maybe I'll install the foot pump
> as a back up.


My back up is the "good old" $20-$25 hand held, which never left my cockpit
even when I felt completely confident of the electric pump system.  That
confidence is maintained by frequent (about once a week during the season)
quick and simple checks of physical integrity and electrical continuity.

FWIW, the biggest problem (as others have said) in an electrical pump system
is the switch.  We bought two (expensive) submersible switches from West
Marine.  These toggle switches are designed to operate submerged in salt
water or fresh.  They are mounted just below the cockpit coaming in front,
off-center, and can be controlled with thumb pressure *through* the spray
skirt -- no need to remove the skirt in rough conditions.  There are other
good switch-mounting options.  For example, Nick Gill mounted a switch on
the deck and protected the toggle with a plastic guard.

The url for the West Marine switch is
http://www.westmarine.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=201&prrf
nbr=7654

    Bob


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