Need some advice on what kind/size bilge pump to put in the Texas Maid 15 foot aluminum runabout. Photo is attached. There is no bilge per se, just the space between the deck and hull (pretty shallow at the transom) and the drain hole is situated about 5 inches forward of the starboard corner of the transom.
Last time I took it out for a trial run to test the dual outboards, it shipped about 3 cups of water in about 2 hours so I know it leaks/seeps a little water.
I'm thinking a 500 to 750 gph pump centered on the transom at the back of the boat would work, wired to run automatically and plumbed to pump the water into the splash well or out over the transom (don't want to mess with any thru hull fittings).
Do you have to wire an automatic bilge pump to a switch or can it be wired directly with an in-line fuse on the hot wire? Don't really want to cut any holes in the dash for a switch if I can avoid it.
All of this brings me to ask, is a bilge pump really necessary on a boat this size? And what happened to the self bailer's you used to see...had one on my old 73 Ebbtide Lakemaster trihull that had a pickup/collector in the bilge well and the water went out a tube over the transom to an upright stainless tube that clamped to the cavitation plate on the outboard. This used the venturi effect to suck the bilge dry anytime the boat was moving.
I know you can pull the plug to accomplish the same thing while moving, but really don't want to mess with that as the fuel tanks and battery will keep the lateral bilge access panel weighted down.
This boat/rig will see service on inland canyon lakes in the southwest about 4 to 6 times a year, operating in open weather and relatively calm waters, on day fishing trips.
Last time I took it out for a trial run to test the dual outboards, it shipped about 3 cups of water in about 2 hours so I know it leaks/seeps a little water.
I'm thinking a 500 to 750 gph pump centered on the transom at the back of the boat would work, wired to run automatically and plumbed to pump the water into the splash well or out over the transom (don't want to mess with any thru hull fittings).
Do you have to wire an automatic bilge pump to a switch or can it be wired directly with an in-line fuse on the hot wire? Don't really want to cut any holes in the dash for a switch if I can avoid it.
All of this brings me to ask, is a bilge pump really necessary on a boat this size? And what happened to the self bailer's you used to see...had one on my old 73 Ebbtide Lakemaster trihull that had a pickup/collector in the bilge well and the water went out a tube over the transom to an upright stainless tube that clamped to the cavitation plate on the outboard. This used the venturi effect to suck the bilge dry anytime the boat was moving.
I know you can pull the plug to accomplish the same thing while moving, but really don't want to mess with that as the fuel tanks and battery will keep the lateral bilge access panel weighted down.
This boat/rig will see service on inland canyon lakes in the southwest about 4 to 6 times a year, operating in open weather and relatively calm waters, on day fishing trips.
