I'm trying to install a foot pump in a VCP Pintail. There is little room between the footrail and the deck seam (hull to deck) to install the through hull fitting, where the water will be expelled from the boat. Is there a reason people don't install the through hull fitting on the deck? I'm thinking of placing it as close to the edge as I can and avoid the seam, so water will shoot away from my boat to the side. The other option is to try to reduce the size of the tubing and through hull fitting so it takes less room. I assume it will take more pressure to push water through the reducer, but since the path is short (but curved like an S) it shouldn't be too hard. Would that be a problem? How have others solved this dilemma? I don't want to move the footrail. Another question if I may: Why not pick the water up from directly below the foot pump? I know the seat is the low point, but we are talking less than an inch of drop and I can use a sponge for that. I see the foot pump as being for mass amounts of water. Will I be sorry if I do this? Any help would be appreciated. Brian Blankinship
Brian, I ran my pump outlet through the deck because of the same problem you have. Hasn't caused any problems. The pump doesn't shoot water far with ordinary pumping (although, you can lean the boat, push hard and "shoot" your paddling partners...). I built my own strum box from a piece of PVC tubing and really like it. I also installed a simple check valve just above the strum box. With the strum box I can easily pump out the water that leaks in when rolling etc without popping my skirt. My foot pump is pretty low volume, so when I need to move lots of water I break out the hand pump. - Mark --- Blankibr_at_aol.com wrote: > I'm trying to install a foot pump in a VCP Pintail. > There is little room > between the footrail and the deck seam (hull to > deck) to install the through > hull fitting, where the water will be expelled from > the boat. > > Is there a reason people don't install the through > hull fitting on the deck? > I'm thinking of placing it as close to the edge as > I can and avoid the > seam, so water will shoot away from my boat to the > side. > > The other option is to try to reduce the size of the > tubing and through hull > fitting so it takes less room. I assume it will > take more pressure to push > water through the reducer, but since the path is > short (but curved like an S) > it shouldn't be too hard. Would that be a problem? > > How have others solved this dilemma? I don't want > to move the footrail. > > Another question if I may: Why not pick the water > up from directly below > the foot pump? I know the seat is the low point, > but we are talking less than > an inch of drop and I can use a sponge for that. I > see the foot pump as > being for mass amounts of water. Will I be sorry if > I do this? > > Any help would be appreciated. > > Brian Blankinship
On 23 Dec 2004 at 14:13, Blankibr_at_aol.com wrote: > Is there a reason people don't install the through hull fitting on the > deck? I put mine through the deck. No problems once I put in a check valve. You'll need one to keep water from coming back in.
Hi Brian, I installed a foot pump in my boat exactly the way you are thinking about. The pump body is bolted to a false plywood baulkhead that sits up against the boat's baulkhead (only need one bolt to hold it in place - I hate drilling holes in my boat esp into watertight compartments). The inlet valve sticks straight down and a short piece of hose extends down to the floor. Didn't bother with a strumm box and never had anything jam in the pump in years of abuse. Clearance between the floor and the end of the pipe is a few mm so this traps most debris. The outlet valve comes out of the deck (no pipe at all) and you just file the valve flush with the deck (very neat). The water just shoots straight up and away. There is quite a bit of info on pumps and how to install them on the NSW Sea Kayak Club website http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/ under the knowledge pool. Happy to discuss off line if you need more detail Richard Sydney Aust.
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