Bilge pump in CD25

[Second Wind]

Just bought 1981 CD25. Has a bilge pump that is not auto. Must manually switch on and this concerns me. What's typical here? I'd think an auto pump that kicked on depending on water level is the wisest. Any tips on installing one on a CD25? How do I get to the bilge to do it...also, what pumps seem to fit the best? Thanks for your help.



Jfsjr@aol.com

[Dave]

I have a CD25 also and she has an auto pump with the float built in. The only thing that I don't like about mine is that I have to leave the main power on all the time if I want the pump to work. But, she doesn't leak a drop so i can leave it off. I think the previous owner actually, mounted it into the lead keel, which i think he used some kind o apoxy. I have sceen one person on here that has it mounted into the bottom of the keel past the lead. He has no idea how his original owner did it. That would be the ideal location for it, but it depends on how long and how upset you want to get installing it down there. I have extended my whale pump to go down further and that can just about take every thing out if I have ice in the box. "Rule" makes some good pumps that have the floats built in. I like those better because it is all enclosed and the float is not as likly to get stuck. I would probably think that a pump that could handle a couple hundred gallons an hour should be fine.

Dave

Just bought 1981 CD25. Has a bilge pump that is not auto. Must manually switch on and this concerns me. What's typical here? I'd think an auto pump that kicked on depending on water level is the wisest. Any tips on installing one on a CD25? How do I get to the bilge to do it...also, what pumps seem to fit the best? Thanks for your help.

[Will]

My CD25, "SUZI Q" Hull #249, came to me with no bilge pump. I did install one and it isnt too hard to do. However, since you should run the power for it through the fuse panel anyway. Like me the person who installed the one that is there now, probably was concerned about leaving a potential battery drain on. If you have to leave your boat unattended for long periods of time or she is taking on lots of water in a short period of time( A whole different problem ), then changing to the auto/switch is probably a good idea. Otherwise I would leave it aloneaq

Just bought 1981 CD25. Has a bilge pump that is not auto. Must manually switch on and this concerns me. What's typical here? I'd think an auto pump that kicked on depending on water level is the wisest. Any tips on installing one on a CD25? How do I get to the bilge to do it...also, what pumps seem to fit the best? Thanks for your help.

willwheatley@starpower..net

[Bruce Bett]

I do not have an automatic bilge pump. I do have manual pump permantly installed in the cockpit.

The following is excerpted from my posting of 4/18/2000:

" The bilge has a sump. It is below and just aft of the icebox. In the 77 model they glassed over the sump(that is the liner covers it). I crawled in the cockpit locker and cut a hole through what appears to be the bottom of the boat (you know it's not because there's a keel down there). The sump is quite deep. I ran about 18" of 1.25" (riged) pvc pipe down there. I attached a strainer at the bottom and a hose at the top. The hose goes to a pump (the Whale urchan that Practical Sailor Thinks so well of), installed through the locker. The hose exits into the laserette through the access hole. "

I'm not sure a standard surbmursable bilge pump would work dow in the sump. You could get it down there by shoving it aft from the access hatch in the cabin, but then it would just kinda fall till it got stuck or hit bottom. If I wanted to install an automatic bilge pump cut an access hole in the liner under the cockpit where I ran my 1 1/4 pvc pipe. There may or may not be room down there for a submurseable pump but unless somebody else jumps in here who's tried it, that's how you'll have to find out. If you do please post the results. I for one would be interested.

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
Cape Dory 25 #496

Just bought 1981 CD25. Has a bilge pump that is not auto. Must manually switch on and this concerns me. What's typical here? I'd think an auto pump that kicked on depending on water level is the wisest. Any tips on installing one on a CD25? How do I get to the bilge to do it...also, what pumps seem to fit the best? Thanks for your help.

bettb@macomb.cc.mi.us

[Jon]

The underside of the cockpit on your '81 is different from the boats built prior to '79. Your cocpit lockers are most likely sealed off and will not provide easy access to the bilge area, as the pre-79 CD25s will. Keep this in mind when comparing notes.

Best of luck
Jon
CD25 Sovereign