Diaphragm Bilge Pump - Best choice?

[SaltyGirl]

We have a Jabsco diaphragm bilge pump (this one).

This was put on by a PO long ago and I am wondering if it is best for our situation.

The pump sits above the water line and a hose goes to the bottom of the bilge. This is our primary pump, and there is an Ultra pumpswitch at the bottom of the bilge to turn on and off the pump.

So the question is, is a diaphragm still the best option for that scenario? Obviously it has to pull the water up 2 or three feet and then pump it overboard.

The pump just broke (no suction, but motor works). We replaced the valve set (inlet and outlet) and it still doesn't provide suction. Before purchasing a new diaphragm for this pump I'm thinking of just buying a new one just like it. But if there is a simpler pump that can do that job I would love to know about it.

[paulk]

It may need to be primed somehow, before it will start working again. We also found that holes in our intake hose kept our bilge pump from working properly. (pesky polyestermites, or their cousins the rubberborer beetles, we think). Electric motors often run centrifugal, rather than diaphragm pumps. The steady load seems to suit motors better than the on/off load that a diaphragm pump constantly goes through. Our diaphragm pump works manually, from the cockpit (in case of emergencies) and we have a little electric centrifugal pump in the bilge for general use. You may have issues with the height you're pumping that calls for a diaphragm pump, but a centrifugal pump may work better.

[Gladrags1]

What about the Whale supersub bilge pump (Whale SuperSub Smart IC 1100 Bilge Pump)? My diaphram pump also died and I like the concept of this pump with it's integral automatic switch. Seems to pump more volume as well. I have bought it but have not installed it yet so I cannot tell you how well it functions.

Tod

[olson34]

Stick to a diaphram pump -- no threat of back-syphoning.
(Tried that changeover once for a season... results weren't purdy after a hard day's sailing... lot o' water entered the bilge.)

A common Par pump on high-$ boats for decades is the 37202 series. My boat had two of 'em installed by the factory. I find that they can usually last about 20 years.
There is a newer model also in production now with a cover over the cam action.

These type of pumps do not need priming.

L

[CalebD]

My experience with Jabsco diaphragm pumps being used as a main bilge pump has not been pleasant.
Our boat came rigged as yours, with a diaphragm pump as the main bilge pump. It worked fine for a few years then stopped working (perhaps we did not keep the bilge as clean as the PO). I bought the expensive service kit for it and never could get it to work again even though the motor was still fine. Bought a newer Jabsco diaphragm pump that worked for less then a year. Tried to fix that one with another expensive service kit and still no joy. I spent over $400 on a new pump and 2 service kits which were useless.

I finally bought a Rule centrifugal pump for way less money then the expensive service kit for the Jabsco. It has worked flawlessly. When it dies I will just replace it with another inexpensive Rule pump.

The diaphragm pumps are great for clean water systems, shower sump pumps and the like. Some folks even use them for bilge pumps. I will never use one again as a bilge pump on my boat.