Bilge pumps are the best

[SabotageR1]

I bought a bilge pump from Amazon and installed it on my GTI. I read that it was a good idea so that's why I did the install on my old ski, being a beginner this year. I went to ride Saturday and as I was going to put the plugs in, I got distracted by someone and forgot that i didn't put them in. As I'm getting ready to go after launching, I see the thing shooting out a ton of water. I go take a look and discover that I forgot to put in the plugs all the way. I have my pump set on automatic so it started working on its own (i just finished wiring it to auto the day before). It left me wonderering, why in the world would pwc MFGs not have these things come out the factory with one. How many sank ski's would of been saved if one was installed from the mfg. It makes me feel like it a money thing where they don't mind you sinking because of your error and you can buy a new ski or use their service department.

 

[mikidymac]

Because you can’t predict everything an owner will do.
There’s nothing to wear out on the siphon system and don’t rely on the battery.
The 1998+ XP’s did come with them from the factory because they take on a lot of water.
Glad it saved your day.

 

[SabotageR1]

Because you can’t predict everything an owner will do.
There’s nothing to wear out on the siphon system and don’t rely on the battery.
The 1998+ XP’s did come with them from the factory because they take on a lot of water.
Glad it saved your day.

Cool, thanks for the knowledge. For a person not in the pwc world for that long, it just seems like something all pwc's should have.

 

[77Eltigre]

Most of the new machines don't have drain plugs I've heard, they simply have check valves instead, kills 2 birds with 1 stone

 

[SabotageR1]

Most of the new machines don't have drain plugs I've heard, they simply have check valves instead, kills 2 birds with 1 stone

I see them on sale. I'm thinking of getting one for my newer GTI. My only issue is they protrude out from the hull. IDK if i like that.

 

[mikidymac]

Most of the new machines don't have drain plugs I've heard, they simply have check valves instead, kills 2 birds with 1 stone

Until a piece of debris holds the check-valve open or closed...
My 2003 GTI, the drain plug actually has an integrated ball float that will close off if you forget the plug. It should be able to be installed on the older hulls.

 

[SabotageR1]

Until a piece of debris holds the check-valve open or closed...
My 2003 GTI, the drain plug actually has an integrated ball float that will close off if you forget the plug. It should be able to be installed on the older hulls.

 

[SabotageR1]

That's funny you said that. looking at the construction, it looked so simple. It looks like it's just a ball in the protruded side that gets pushed in by the water, thus sealing it when standing and the ball release during motion allowing water to exit. I haven't read any horror story's but that debris getting stuck there was a concern I had with such a simple mechanism

 

[mikidymac]

They are fine but they should not be your primary seal as they can and do get stuck then you sink.

 

[BaileyF98]

Do you mind sharing the link to the automatic bilge you bought? Also, have you had any issues with yours float accidentally being triggered when you hit wakes? I want to install one on my 97 Spx, but there is alot of conflicting information on what u should get and i don't want it to burn itself out or drain my battery.

 

[SabotageR1]

Do you mind sharing the link to the automatic bilge you bought? Also, have you had any issues with yours float accidentally being triggered when you hit wakes? I want to install one on my 97 Spx, but there is alot of conflicting information on what u should get and i don't want it to burn itself out or drain my battery.

https://a.co/d/9N3sp75

This is the one that I bought but I have to say, even though I haven't had any issues with it, the cheap price does not give me the warm and fuzzy feeling that everything will be fine, reliability wise, because of the amount of salt water flowing through it. If i were you, I'd start a thread on the topic and see what people have to say on good brands.

How I see it, for $30, I need it to work only once. After salt water flows through it, unless I run fresh water with Salt Away through the pump, I don't know how much trust I'd have in it seeing how corrosive salt water is. My pump saved me already after forgetting to put a plug in. I ran fresh water through it and It still worked after but it's been sitting since then so who knows if it still work now. regarding the float, I jump wakes as well. The thing is so quite, you wouldn't know if it came on or not but so far no issues on my end. And if you want to make sure it's not draining battery power, just add a switch to it. I had a switch but took it off because salt walter got on it and began corroding the switch, so I just rewired it directly to the battery to only work with the float activated feature and I've had zero issues.

 

[mikidymac]

I run the Rule pumps in my standup and almost all the surf riders use them. They are fine for years in salt.

 

[Legacy37]

How did you mount the pump and plumbing? I have 2 gti and those pumps, need to install them