The unintended consequences...

[Amgine]

So over the winter I installed a foot pump for the galley sink. Remarkable piece of kit, I don't know how I got along without it! It was a pretty messy install, though, and I did a number of test drillings before submitting to the inevitable and taking it apart and reassembling it in situ.

After clearing up the dust and dropped nuts from the bilge, I kinda forgot about it. Spring has been an exciting season for me, with new sails and lots of short little daysails, rebuilding the boom, etc. But I went to pump out the bilge after looking in and seeing a bit there (I hadn't pumped it since cleaning up - early February I think.)

After a few strokes, it sucked dry. That seemed a bit early; maybe the strum box had come adrift. And actually, it had. So I poked it back down, figuring I'd pump it clear and then see about re-affixing it.

The pump was sucking dry.

Hmm.

After about 15 minutes of trying to figure it out, I found 3 holes I'd put into it while installing the galley pump. And I'd just replaced that hose last fall. ::sigh::

So now, unless someone knows of a quick and miraculous bilge hose tape, I'm going to be replacing the whole length again, all because I wasn't careful enough when drilling through. I felt like kicking myself all the way back up the dock.

[Oldrig]

Amgine:

Give Atomic Tape (www.atomictape.com) a try.

They claim it will repair hoses. I've used it for other purposes, and I keep some onboard in case a hose needs a quick fix.

It's the kind of stuff you can pick up at the little booths at boat shows, but I assume you can buy it online, too.

BTW, I'd be interested in how you finally installed that foot pump for the galley. I'm relying on the original-equipment pump on my 25D, and it isn't easy to pump and wash at the same time. (Not to mention reaching through or around the companionway ladder.)

--Joe

[AdriftAtSea]

I'd second using the self-fusing tape.  It works pretty well...and sold under several names... Atomic Tape, Rubbaweld tape, Rescue Tape, etc.

[CaptMac]

IMHO, replace the hose, I would be nervous that only tape may separate me from the sea!

[AdriftAtSea]

Actually, re-reading the first post, I'd change my vote to replacing the hose... this is for a bilge pump, not the galley foot-pump... and you want the bilge pumps to be as reliable as possible.

[Oldrig]

Same here.

I meant to suggest that you keep some self-adhesive tape handy for emergency repairs. But by all means replace the hose as soon as you're in a harbor.

--Joe

[Amgine]

Heh. Well, I'm in harbor, but already spent the entire boat budget from last paycheck. Ah well, it'll get done sometime after the 15th.

I plan on adding some of that tape to my emergency onboard supplies though.