Electric Bilge Pump - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

AquaticHunter · 10-10-2010, 09:46 AM

Hey guys I have a couple of questions. I just installed a bilge pump in my kayak using pretty much the same setup shown in this thread. The check valve works great. I bought the one here and used 1 adaptor on each side. I can't force water through the hull fitting with a garden hose up to it at full blast.

The installed a Rule 360 bilge pump as opposed to the Whale Systems pump you used. I went with this pump simply because I didn't want to deal with the special glue but I'm beginning to think there was a reason besides the low profile that you went with that pump.

Do you have any priming issues with that pump? The Rule wouldn't start pumping out water until it was almost fully submerged. So I'm either going to have to install a priming bulb or switch pumps.

Another issue was that it stopped pumping out water when there was still a good 1/2" of water in the kayak. I installed it for 2 reasons. A) for safety since I drilled a hole in the bottom of the hull for my bait tank pump and B) I like to take all my fishing stuff off and surf the kayak once in a while which always gets a lot of water inside. I was hoping the bilge pump would get that water out but if it leaves 1/2" of water it sort of defeats that purpose since that's what I considered a lot of water. I'm wishing I had that deep channel which would help but I don't. If I could design my own kayak...

So the questions are... do you have to prime the pump and how much water is left in the kayak with the Whale pump?

ful-rac · 10-11-2010, 11:27 AM

No, I never have to prime the pump, I just flip the switch. After the water pumps out I usually have 3-4 cups of water left.

AquaticHunter · 10-11-2010, 05:12 PM

I'm switching pumps. Thanks Ful-rac. Great idea and thanks for sharing it.

10-10-2010, 09:46 AM	#1
AquaticHunter Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park Posts: 51	Hey guys I have a couple of questions. I just installed a bilge pump in my kayak using pretty much the same setup shown in this thread. The check valve works great. I bought the one here and used 1 adaptor on each side. I can't force water through the hull fitting with a garden hose up to it at full blast. The installed a Rule 360 bilge pump as opposed to the Whale Systems pump you used. I went with this pump simply because I didn't want to deal with the special glue but I'm beginning to think there was a reason besides the low profile that you went with that pump. Do you have any priming issues with that pump? The Rule wouldn't start pumping out water until it was almost fully submerged. So I'm either going to have to install a priming bulb or switch pumps. Another issue was that it stopped pumping out water when there was still a good 1/2" of water in the kayak. I installed it for 2 reasons. A) for safety since I drilled a hole in the bottom of the hull for my bait tank pump and B) I like to take all my fishing stuff off and surf the kayak once in a while which always gets a lot of water inside. I was hoping the bilge pump would get that water out but if it leaves 1/2" of water it sort of defeats that purpose since that's what I considered a lot of water. I'm wishing I had that deep channel which would help but I don't. If I could design my own kayak... So the questions are... do you have to prime the pump and how much water is left in the kayak with the Whale pump? __________________ CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS Section 25. The people shall have the right to fish upon and from the public lands of the State and in the waters thereof... Last edited by AquaticHunter; 10-10-2010 at 12:34 PM.

10-11-2010, 05:12 PM	#3
AquaticHunter Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park Posts: 51	I'm switching pumps. Thanks Ful-rac. Great idea and thanks for sharing it. __________________ CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS Section 25. The people shall have the right to fish upon and from the public lands of the State and in the waters thereof...

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10-11-2010, 11:27 AM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	No, I never have to prime the pump, I just flip the switch. After the water pumps out I usually have 3-4 cups of water left.