Automatic pumps are often required for small vessels, while personal watercrafts can make do with a manual bilge pump. Pumps are often overlooked by more inexperienced boaters, but they are crucial for safety reasons and should always be available on any boat.
How often should a bilge pump run?
If you’re using an automatic bilge pump, the pump will detect and turn on when water collects in the bilge. You should always ensure that the sensor and pump is clean so wet dirt or other debris do not trigger the signal current and keep the pump running if no water is left in the bilge. For manual pumps, it depends on the weather conditions and the nature of your boating trip. If it is raining heavily, you’ll want to check your bilge every few minutes. In good conditions, you can check less often, around every 45 minutes to an hour.
Canadian Tire offers a range of reliable bilge pumps in different sizes for multiple purposes. To find other important items you might need for your boat, browse our selection of boat parts and accessories.