more fun with bilge pumps...

[gumpy]

How are you guys fastening pumps and batteries into your boats? My Detonator has a place behind the saddle the battery fits into snugly, but still I'd like a strap/bungee or something. And as for pump(s)? D-rings & straps? Velcro?

[craig]

I put the pump in my Detonator on the floor right behind the pedestal, in that space between the rear foam block and the pedestal. The battery box (with switch) is placed down low in front of the pedestal. Both are strapped in with one 3 ft cam strap, below the foot braces. The whole thing can be removed in less than 1 minute to put into another boat, or if transporting on a roof rack. The outflow tube is fastened semi-permanently with cable ties to the rear thwart. I had a similar set up in the Zoom I had previously and had no problems with that set up.

[marclamenace]

I do the same thing as above for one of my boat (ME, small pedestal) and for my prelude (bigger apalooza-type saddle) I have a big hole under the saddle (initially for water flow when rolling) where I squeeze the pump in place. I have cutted quite a bit of foam to fit everything together though. In the prelude, only the battery case is hold in place with strapping as the foam hole holds the pump firmly enough.

[Jim P]

I push a 1/2 - 3/4" piece of pvc pipe through the saddle a few inches in front of the cutout. Then a short cam strap can be run behind the battery though the pipe. If you want a nice finished look and be sure it won't pop out even in a hole trashing, cut a 1/2-3/4" piece of minicell to fit over the back of the saddle to cover the battery the hole, then tighten the strap over the foam compressing it in place.

[Jim P]

you can attach it to some drings if you want. I mount it under the bags just behind the saddle, to my onside to make it easy to tilt the boat and get a little more water out. Attwood housing is ABS, glue some strips of vinyl (cut from the edges of a dring patch) to create loops on the housing and tie to hull driings with lashing cord or thin bungee.

Colin (i think) once posted his set up - he cut holes in the upper housing and ran bungee through the holes to connect to drings. Best to verify you can cut your pump first.

[mechnginear]

I mounted the pump in my MR Howler in a cavity I cut at the rear of the the pedestal. The battery (5000 mA-Hr NiMH) is at the front of the pedestal in a small dry box I got at Wally World for about $6.00. I drilled holes for a water tight cable clamp and a waterproof switch and then used Aquaseal. The box contains the battery pack and a terminal block with a fuse holder. I keep extra fuses in a pocket cut in the foam. I use two 3' pieces of webbing with ladder buckles to secure both through drain slots cut in the base of the pedestal. I have a bulkhead fitting for the hose, but decided not to put a hole in the hull. I just thread the hose through the bag cage and over the gunwales.

The whole setup can be removed from the boat in a couple of minutes. I'm considering adding a 2nd pump due to the big open space in the boat. Even with two 60" bags, there's a lot of water when I swamp.

[Tiggy]

I have a saddle and just cut a void between the toe blocks, works like a charm. Glued in patches with nylon webbing anchor points for the batteries//drybox, rigged in the stern under the float bag. wires are just tucked into the nylon gunwales. I would have liked to have the battery pack more central, but rigging is in the way.

[bambam]

Industrial strength Velcro for the pumps. And yes, that's pumps plural. Two pumps, one battery. (The pumps hardly weigh anything.) The Velcro holds them down quite well and allows the hull to flex under them. Even if a bad thrashing knocks them loose the piping should keep them in the boat. (And if you get thrashed badly enough to knock the Velcro loose then I think the pumps will be the least of your worries.)

I use Werker batteries which have black ABS cases. Plumber's ABS solvent cement attaches pieces of ABS to the battery allowing a tie down point for bungees.

Side note, I don't bother to waterproof anything. Battery terminals are exposed. The terminals on an ordinary light switch are exposed. Fresh water simply doesn't conduct low voltage electricity all that well. It's never been an issue. Just don't stick your tongue on it.

Ken Dubel