Technically this boat does not have a bilge, so maybe I ought to call this a cockpit pump. After my sea trials and knowing that I would be going on the ocean, I wanted a way to get rid of water fast in case I took a wave over the side or transom. I'm just thinking safety, here. So I purchased a Rule 1100 GPH bilge pump from West Marine when it went on sale.

I mounted the pump up front under the steering console with a plastic pipe bracket. A mounting position in the rear of the boat would have been preferable, but that is where my cooler and all of my fuel tanks go. There is not really a protected "corner" back there due to the shape of the bilge panels, so it would have been sticking out. Note the marine fire extinguisher mounted on the bulkhead.

The discharge hose leads up and under the steering console to the side of the cockpit.

The hose connects to a nylon through-hole that exits the cabin sides just above the rub rail. Does it work? You bet it does! I filled my cockpit with a foot of water, turned the pump on, and witnessed a jet stream of water exit the through-hole.

However, three issues came up-two solved and one still a concern. Despite the pumps best efforts, it still left about an inch of water in the bottom of the boat. My hand pump and sponge took care of that. The pump was easily fouled by little bits of leaves and other debris. I plan to zip-tie a piece of nylon screen to the intake of the pump to solve that. What happens if I get over a foot of water in the cockpit and the battery, which is in the cockpit as well, gets submerged in water? Will the battery short out rendering the pump inoperative? I don't have an answer to this one yet.