Hi, Just wanna give my $0.02 to this topic. I installed a electric bilge pump last summer in my boat after a lot of input from fellow paddlewisers. I had to drill a hole in the deck just behind the coaming. Guess one is a bit faster with drilling holes in a home build s&g kayak than in a fibreglass or plastic boat from the shelf. The pump itself is a Rule 500 (30CAN$), in my 2nd boat I just installed a Atwood 500 (20 CAN$), with a 30 cm bilge pump hose (2CAN$) and the trough hull fitting (3CAN$). Bungee cord holds the pump on the rear bulk head. The batteries are 8 AA alkalines, like the ones in GPS, walkman, flashlight etc. They last for a minimum of 40 minutes pumping (takes max. 5 to empty the cockpit). The first set lasted the whole last season and afterwards in the walkman. The batteries are in a holder (3 CAN$)I got from Radio Shack and are waterproof in a 500ml Nalgene bottle (3 CAN$). The switch amd the cable are in the bottle's lid. The switch is a simple ON/OFF flip switch (3 CAN$) with a rubber cap (0.5 CAN$) and sealed with silicone to the lid. Silicone also seals the cables passing throug holes in the lid. To connect the battery/switch unit to the pump I use a waterproof connector for trailers from a automotive part shop (3CAN$ _at_ Canadian Tire). Velcro holds the battery bottle in place. I did some experiments with a little circuit to switch the pump of after the water is gone, respctl. switch it on when the sensor gets wet. Works in theory, but I fried the relais while soldering. It switchs when water is present and the pump starts pumping, but doesn#t switch the pump off when the water is gone. Guess I have to get myself going and buy a new relais for 2 $. However in this combination I use a 3 position flip switch OFF-Sensor controlled ON/OFF- Manual ON Well, I still carry a manual pump as backup and to fulfill Coastguard regulations, but I guess the electric pump will be the first line of defense -not only because I am a lazy fellow Cheers Ulli *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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