Topic: Whale Bilge pump update

[ishan]

thanks for the comeback 3weight!

[ishan]

well...
i found a nice pocket up in the bilge perfect for the narrow whale pump to fit...
there are these rather slender caverns that slope up
and lets the suction head be about an inch below the sensor.
held it place with some of the squishy foam rubber
and tested it half a dozen times this morning before morring.

good thing i did!

got launched in the water
and started making our way to the mooring...
whale pump kicks on.
at first i think
ok, it works. we must be at a steeper tilt than on the trailer.
then it keeps going
and going
and going
and i remember
THE PLUG!!!!!

try to stay calm and call back the launch dolly...
laugh it off to "shake down cruze" jitters...

never done that before...
the launch crew were kind and said...
if youve never forgot your plug you havnt been boating very long....

the whale pump saved my boat today...

tmoro is another day
(and salmon opener!)

[DSCS]

Ok! You got that checked off the "Official Boat Owners Must Do List".      


I did it once and still check the plug at least three times before I call to have them put my boat in. If I'm launching myself the plug must get eye balled a kazillion times before I back in.

Alan

[ishan]

one of the guys at the launch said he drilled a hole in the top of his plug
and has it on his key ring,
so before he can possibly start his engine he has to take it off


i keep checking the harbor web cam....
is she still there?!?!?
did i really put the plug in this time?!?!?
ahhhh, there it is....

[Markshoreline]

That's a good idea I'd you don't drill the hole lengthways!

[OnA]

So I was wondering how the Whale auto pump is holding up?  I'm needing to replace the 500 Rule/float switch located in the forward compartment.  I could replace with the same, but the area is soooo small and the access hole tiny, it would be nice to only have a single piece unit for which to install.

[Threeweight]

I sold my boat in early 2016... but as far as I know, the Whale pump is still going strong.  I'm in semi-regular contact with the new owner.  He's broken some other stuff, but not the pump!

[Markshoreline]

Rule is now making a horizontal whale like bilge pump, I swapped over to it after my Whale died.  I really like the clearance of the horizontal pumps due to the tight clearance in Arimas.  Also, they will lay flat without screwing down which makes pulling them out for cleaning very convenient, if your wiring is long enough once you've unscrewed the hose clamp.  I buy the manual switch only pumps to forego the automatic circuitry.

[GHMariner]

The Whale 650 is a reverse-engineered copy of an early prototype of the Rule LoPro LP900. Rule came up with the idea for the low profile pump and showed it around at some industry trade shows. Unfortunately, the folks over at Whale saw it and decided they better do one too. Whale rushed theirs to market, while Rule hit some technical snags and was delayed. The result is that Whale went to market with a pump that LOOKS a lot like the Rule, but doesn't offer the same features and reliability. Check out the Rule LP900 series pump. It is a 900gph pump, versus 650gph, the discharge fitting is adjustable a full 360 degrees around the pump body, and the automatic version (LP900S) has both an electrical diode water sensing mode as well as a resistance sensing mode. Meaning, if the water sensor proves unreliable, you can switch it to operate like the 25S you're all familiar with, which is to say it cycles on every two minutes to sense for resistance. If it senses resistance, it keeps pumping until the resistance is gone. If not, it shuts off immediately. This has proven to be the most reliable method for automatic bilge pump operation, but many people object to the fact that it creates a draw on the battery even when there is no water.