Bilge pumps

[kjg1951]

I have a 1983 36 albin. How many bilge pumps should I have , what kind and where should they be located.. thanks

[rebuckley]

So - my 83 36 DC Trawler was new off the lot in Cos Cob, CT - in 83 - Albin put nothing on the boat aside from the bare essentials to run the boat - - and the bilge pump was not considered "essential". There should be a manual bilge (if it has not been removed) mounted under the sink - and a hose into the bilge with a brass strainer. The lowest point in the bilge is a small divot in front of the engine (usually under the where the aft tub drains to) typically this is where the main bilge pump would be located.. Now - your 83 may have had multiple changes - so you may have others? I have added 3 more - 1 forward under the forward cabin floor - as there is a stringer that will keep a small pool of water forward - so I pump over that stringer to the main bilge. I added a bilge pump in the lazarette - to pump out any leak the stuffing box (or rain through the hatch) that may accumulate. Finally I have a large "high water" pump rigged to an alarm - which is slightly above the divot for the main bilge. So if the main fails - this will kick in and send an alarm.