Customer Reviews

Seattle Sports Paddlers Bilge Pump

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This bilge pump is the cheaper (by $8) sibling of the Seattle Sports Super Deluxe Bilge Pump.

Both pumps have the same pump rate - a claimed 8 gallons per minute. I haven't measured it. I'm guessing that this is probably a theoretical limit, but the important thing is that it pumps "a lot" of water, and does it quickly. Water is pumped out on BOTH strokes, not just the downward stroke. I haven't had to use either of them while on the water yet, but I use them a lot when I'm washing the kayaks at the end of the day. I can hose down all of the compartments and pump out the excess water in a few seconds without having to get help flipping the kayak upside down and tilting it back and forth to try to get the water to fall out. Combined with a good bilge sponge to get the last little remnants of water out, you've got yourself a great system that's a real time saver.

Okay, so is the "Super Deluxe" model worth the extra $8?

Of course, the most significant difference is the aluminum construction of the "Super Deluxe", versus the all-plastic standard model here. While the plastic model feels strong, it just can't compare to the feel of the aluminum model.

Physically, they are almost the exact same size: the "Super Deluxe" model is about a half inch longer, though I'm not entirely sure why. The width/diameter is the same, and the aluminum model surprisingly weighs in at 0.8oz less than the plastic model (11.2oz versus 12oz).

The foam grip is larger on the Deluxe model, making hand placement a little less critical, and the foam itself sports a fashionable reflective stripe that the standard model lacks.

Personally, I think that this "Super Deluxe" model is worth the $8 premium over the plastic version. But I like that kind of stuff. I'm a sucker for the upgrades. The fact is that the plastic model will perform just as well in a normal operating environment. It SEEMS that the aluminum model is more resistant to damaging forces, but I haven't attempted to destroy either of them, so I can't say any more than that.

Anyway, it's a strong, sturdy pump. You probably won't need another one for the foreseeable future, so while I feel that the extra money is worth it for the "Super Deluxe" model, there are surely many people that feel the less expensive plastic model is just as good.

It's only rated four stars because I prefer the aluminum model, and I gave that 5 stars. If I had never seen or touched the aluminum model, this would have been a 5 star pump.

Nice inexpensive bilge pump that was sent quickly after my order was placed. Sadly, maybe it is a good thing, I have not used it on the boat yet. But, I have used to cleqar out a basement (a house I am building) after a torrential rain. Worked well and did not get clogged too often ((grin)).

does as advertised, and well too. to make it easier for water escape routing I just added a foot of a "wacky noodle" to the out end. this gives more option for water dispersal. it does remove all (1/4" remains), but gets me back out.

While I have yet to actually need to bail out after an unexpected flip (I'm a fairly cautious paddler with a stable boat), I have used it several times in practice flips and it worked just fine, pulling out water quickly. The bright colors decrease the chance of losing it. I haven't gotten around to getting a piece of tubing to attach to the outlet, as was recommended by a friend to make it easier to pump over the side rather than into the boat, but this isn't essential if you're paying attention.

We bought a used kayak (our first one) and it takes on "a little" water. Actually, it takes on about a gallon per 10 minutes, which is a lot if you plan on staying in the water all day. This pump was up to the task. It has amazing bailing power with each stroke. And it was delivered within four days. Thank you.

This bilge pump is quite sturdy and pumps volumes of water for it's size. These things are a must for kayakers. The first one I had lasted for many years. My only beef is that on my new one, the plunge action was very tight, rendering it almost unusable. I asked a kayak place about them, when inquiring about an alternative brand, and they said they had had this same problem on a noticeable percentage of the product. Furthermore, they didn't know of another brand that was better, so this is all they carried. Ughh... it didn't seem worth returning, so I shot some silicone spray down the shaft. After a few applications, it seemed to resolve the problem. I can't say if silicone will compromise the plunger material, or not, but it pretty much solved the problem. We'll find out next season. FYI, I keep my pumps cleaned out (of sand and debris), and stored in a warm basement over the winter.

The paddlers bilge pump in many states is a piece of mandatory equipment when out on a kayak or canoe as an alternative to a one gallon bucket.

Company models are fairly similar in operation and price but I have not seen an independent assessment of their durability for example when in areas with sand/weeds etc. I've used the Seattle and it works well except for the need to add a short 3" piece of clear PVC hose to the end (you can attach with a couple of heavy duty black electrical ties) or end up having some of the water re-enter your cockpit. The alternative is to have a spray skirt with an entrance hatch/opening.

The float on it is a nice touch and the handle allows for a means of additional securing to your boat. Remember anything not attached to a kayak eventually ends up in the big plastic scrap piles floating in the ocean and killing off the sea life.