Several years ago we took the very large manual bilge pump out of the bilge so we could clean and paint the bilge. Then we forgot about it, as it was tucked away in the shop. Last April I decided it was time to take it apart and clean it up.
Bilge Pump Rebuild
We figured the pump needed rebuilding because it hadn’t worked since we bought the boat. What I found was that the screws holding the flapper inside had completely corroded and the flapper was laying off to the side in the main body. The check valve was also deteriorating and wasn’t making a seal. In 1977 the Tayana yard used an Edson knock-off brand called Grand Deer. Replacement parts are no longer available that we know of. So what we did was order an Edson bilge pump rebuild kit with a new diaphragm, flapper and check valves. The fit wasn’t identical, but it was close enough that we could make it work.
Bilge Pump Install
There are permanent wooden stringers glassed into the hull to support the bilge pump which probably weighs about 25 pounds. It was originally plumbed to the port side and shared a thru-hull with the overboard discharge for the head. The overboard discharge for the head is still plumbed to the port thru-hull, but instead of trying to recreate the spiderweb of hoses and valves that really cluttered up the bilge, we decided to plumb it to the starboard side. Rich installed a new, bronze thru-hull, notched a few holes in the shelves and routed the discharge hose under the settee.
Currently we have one electric bilge pump and one manual. Eventually we plan to install another manual bilge pump in the cockpit. It will also manually pump out the holding tank. We also have a large electric bilge pump that came with the boat that we’re going to install at a higher level in the bilge.
