Bailers, Pumps and Other Systems for Getting Water Out of a Small Boat

by Colin Angus 6 Comments

Some boats are shaped so that all water that comes aboard is removed with gravity.  This is how a typical cruising sailboat works.  The cockpit is raised above the waterline, and a simple drainage system allows water to quickly flow away.  With smaller boats, however, having cockpits high enough to self-drain is usually impractical, so there is always the potential to accumulate water in the cockpit.  For un-decked boats much more water can collect and quickly become dangerous. 

So what is the most effective way of removing water from your small vessel?  As with most things there is no one good answer.  There are a variety of solutions depending on expected sea state, the type of vessel, and a great number of other factors.  Below we go through the pros and cons of various water extraction solutions.

Hand Bailer and Sponge: There’s no denying that this classic

solution is effective, economical and reliable.  Whether you’re in a canoe, a rowboat or any other type of small craft this is a good solution for quickly removing water.  It can be faster than an electric pump, and the sponge can be used to remove every last bit of water that can’t be scooped.  Make sure to use a bailer suitably sized for your cockpit.  A big bucket may not be effective in a small cluttered space.  A plastic juice pitcher can work well, or robust bailers can be purchased at most marine stores.  Be sure to have it secured to your vessel so it doesn’t wash away.

The downside to a hand bailer is it requires one person to take their hands away from other tasks such as rowing or steering.  In modest conditions this may not be a big deal, but in monster boat-rolling waves, it may be necessary to have all hands (especially for singlehanders) keeping the boat under control.

Regardless of  whether another system is used, a bailer is always good to have

as a backup system.

Hand Pump:  For most situations in a small boat, I don’t recommend a portablehand pump.  Usually, a bailer is faster and is most definitely more reliable and less expensive.  The only time a hand pump is superior is when water needs to be drawn from a hard to access space where the hand bailer is too large to fit in.  It can be useful for extracting water from leaky lockers or other compartments.

Suction Self-Bailing Systems: The Andersen Self Bailer is the best example of a suction self bailing system.  It is mounted in the lowest part of the hull, and the device can be opened or closed depending on whether it is needed.  When opened, it protrudes through the bottom of the hull.  The low pressure (read turbulence) created from movement through the water on the back side of the device sucks water out.

The advantage of this system is it’s simple, reliable and hands free, so significantly increases safety when all hands are required for boat control.

I used the Andersen Self Bailer on the sailing RowCruiser, and less than thrilled with the results.  It did work well and effectively at high speeds  (about 4.5+ knots) – in the kinds of conditions when waves are crashing over the boat and you need it to work. However, at lower speeds, when closed it would always leak, requiring continuous mopping of the bilge with a sponge.  Basically, I ended up bailing the boat twice as much because of my Andersen Self Bailer.  I wasn’t a big fan of having all my cockpit gear soggy when calm water cruising.  It also didn't work well when rowing instead of sailing.

A suction bailer is useful in a fast sailing dinghy-style boat where continuous splashing and water are a part of the fun, but not so ideal in broader use recreational craft where having some time with a completely dry cockpit is appreciated.  Additionally, an Andersen Bailer does not work well in human powered craft where the lower speeds aren’t sufficient for the system to work.

Electric Bilge Pump I only recently tested out an electric pump system and was 

thrilled with the results.  Often, electric bilge pumps are associated with larger boats due to their complexity and associated power systems, however, I found they work surprisingly well in small boats as well.

I installed the electric bilge pump in one of our Expedition boats as I prepared for the first leg of the R2AK – a treacherous crossing of the Juan de Fuca Strait.  Normally, with the Expedition, I’ve simply used a hand bailer in rougher conditions when waves occasionally washed into the cockpit.

With gale-force winds forecast, I decided to quickly re-think my water extraction system.  If the waves were huge, it might not be possible to take my hands off the oars.

After a quick search on Amazon.ca, I found a small lithium ion battery pack and a small 600 GPH (gallons per hour) bilge pump.  The pump had an internal float switch, which is ideal in a small cluttered environment.  The lithium ion battery pack outputted 12 volts (which is not common) required for the bilge pump.

The bilge pump consumes about 30 watts and the lithium ion battery pack has a capacity of 72 Wh, meaning the bilge pump could run continuously for over two hours on a full charge.  This seemed pretty good for a battery pack that weighed less than a lb.

Because I was in a rush to install it, I merely secured the bilge pump to the bottom of the cockpit with a dollop of epoxy, and duct taped the non-waterproof battery inside the aft compartment.  I drilled a small hole through the bulkhead to run the wires and sealed it with a dollop of caulk.  There are two positive wires that come from the pump – one that bypasses the float switch, allowing you to manually turn it on.  The best way to make use of this is to install a switch of sorts. In my haste, I just had two bare wires that could be connected for a manual emergency override.  Fortunately, the float switch worked perfectly, so I didn’t need to use the override.

The long and short is the system worked very well.  I ended up voyaging through breaking waves of up to 12 feet, and the cockpit was fully flooded countless times.    I needed to keep my hands on the oars at all times to keep from broaching, and this pump system allowed me to do that.  You can read about this adventure here.

Because of the flat bottom of the cockpit, the pump was never able to suck out the last quart or so of water, but this was not a safety concern.  For those looking to maximize the effectiveness of a pump system, a well/sump can be created in the cockpit.  While this would require cutting a hole in the boat, and having some sort of streamlined pod protruding out from the hull, it would allow for a very dry interior, and create much less drag than an Andersen bailer.

Overall, I was very impressed with the electric pump system, and plan on continuing to use this system for big-water rowing.  I feel an electric pump with a backup bailer offers the greatest level of safety and effectiveness.

 Capsize Water Extraction:  This is perhaps the most exhilarating (or scariest) way of removing water from your boat.  This solution only works for a few designs where the cockpit is shaped to shed water in the righting process.  When the boat flips over, the water drains out, and when the boat is righted no water re-enters the cockpit.  This method of “quick bailing” is only suitable in warm climates or when rowing with drysuits/wetsuits.  Alternatively, it’s very useful for accidental capsizes, which allows you to right the boat and be underway again in seconds.  It’s extraordinarily reassuring in the panicky conditions that accompany a capsize to have a dry boat, rather than a vessel full of water.  Both our Expedition boat and RowCruiser are designed to shed water in a capsize, and you can see how this concept works in this video.

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