I installed an electric bilge pump in my Arluk III using a very similar set-up to that on Mike Daly's web site. I used a Rule 500 pump and a 2.8ah sealed lead acid battery housed in an Otter box (8.5 " x 5" x 2"). I also used the "hot tub" air switch method. However, I found during a 6 week paddle this past summer that the "air button" is very susceptible to jamming when sand grains make their way between the button and it's housing. My solution (during the trip) was to put a piece of duct tape (trimmed to fit) over the button, making sure the tape adhered to the entire button/housing-ring so as to seal out sand grains. I then cut a 1/2" slit through the tape across the button so that when needed I could push my finger through the slit to depress the button and activate the pump. Over the 6 weeks I used the pump for maybe 5 minutes, at the end of the 6 weeks the battery still had enough charge to run the pump. I also found that if the outlet hose was full of water (between the check valve and through hull fitting) prior to activating the pump, it could not push past that column of water. But if the outlet hose was clear - no trouble at all, it pumped out water like a fire hose. (I haven't looked into why that was; perhaps someone here has the answer already? ) My on the fly solution once again was duct tape, this time across the through hull fitting, kept the tube clear of water and when the pump was needed I just peeled the tape off. Once the bugs are worked out (or around) it's a great little set-up. Don Victoria BC *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Dec 29 2006 - 10:05:27 PST
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