Water ingress into your boat’s bilge is one of the risks you run when sailing. And if it should happen, remember that you can avoid the worst if you are equipped with the tool specially designed for this task, the bilge pump.
Mandatory equipment for your safety
Damage, rubbing or shocks, various factors can lead to the deterioration of the hull, opening up a waterway that risks submerging the boat’s hold. This is a rather risky situation for the boat and its passengers, even with a bailer designed to ensure evacuation.
The manufacturers have understood that to rectify the situation, they have taken care to add an additional tool as a reinforcement, referring to a bilge pump. Thus, modern boats are equipped with this essential safety equipment, especially since its installation is mandatory according to the regulations.
A bilge pump is a device specially designed to speed up the draining of water in the event of water ingress. There are two main categories of bilge pumps: electric bilge pumps and mechanical or hand pumps. These are all tools whose operation should be checked regularly to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Test your electric bilge pump
It goes without saying that a bilge pump is a great help in case of water ingress. However, such a tool is not immune to failure or malfunction. For this reason, the efficiency should be tested regularly.
In the category of electric bilge pumps, all you have to do is press the test button and find out whether the pump is working or not. But to find out for sure, it is best to carry out a simulation as in a real situation. The best way to find out is to simulate a real-life situation, i.e. to run water into the bilge and then activate the drying system.
And since it is an electrical device, you should also test the various elements that make it up, such as the battery, the fuses, the float or the trigger and the wiring. This step obviously requires specific tools such as spanners, screwdrivers, a battery tester or pliers.
Test your hand pump
In this category, the bilge pump is usually equipped with a lever that allows you to operate it manually, going back and forth to see if the equipment is working properly. After all, you shouldn’t have too much trouble accessing your pump as it is often installed on deck or directly accessible from the cockpit.
If you’re looking for the perfect time to do this, take advantage of the water you’ll be pouring into the bilge when you clean your boat to get into it. This will kill two birds with one stone, and if your pump is working well, it will easily suck up and remove water. This is a sign that the vital parts of the pump, the diaphragm, are still in excellent condition.
Also, don’t forget that there are also portable bilge pumps (electric or manual), battery powered bilge pumps or manual siphon pumps that are the easiest to test.
The point is that you simply dip the hose into a bucket of water or a basin and that’s it. Of course, you will need to switch on the motor if it is an electric or battery-operated model. Otherwise, don’t hesitate to operate the pumping lever.
