[Public-List] deck mounted bilge pump

[Gordon Laco]

Hello David, 

A black casing may indicate your pump is a Patay… those are British pumps and although very good quality, are unknown in the USA.  We distribute them but have not made much of an effort to promote them in the USA.  

Henderson pumps also have black bodies… some Alberg 30’s had them installed as a retrofit.


If you send me a photograph, that would clinch the matter.   Parts are available for all three types, although as I wrote, I think I’m the only source for Patay pumps.


Anecdote, as usual.  When I bought TOUCH WOOD, my Danish-built Folkboat, she had a Patay pump beneath her cockpit.  It’s output was not impressive, and quickly got worse that first fall I had the boat.  I lifted the teak gratings that formed her cockpit sole and looked at the unfamiliar pump.  Patays have a clever lever arrangement that allows the main pumping body and valves exposed by throwing the lever and removing the cover plate.  I did this… and found the entire pump was jammed with beer bottle caps, screws, and mush.  Out they all came… and the pump worked well for years after…  hahaha.

I eventually replaced the Patay with a Gusher 25 double acting pump.   When I was rebuilding TW I bought a double acting Patay for her.    And oh yes, I put a strainer/foot valve on the bilge pump intake.


Gordon Laco
Surprise 426





> On Sep 15, 2021, at 8:43 AM, David Terrell via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
> I would prefer to have this pump working. A yellow casing has been
> mentioned. Mine is black. I do not know if this matters. it is
> attached to the deck with two bolts that are imbedded in the deck. I
> think this needs to be attended to be someone who knows how to do it.
> That is probably a off season activity. 
> I did find the gusher 10 on the whale site. There is also a video on
> servicing the unit which I will watch.
> I do not know if this is the law in the US or in Michigan where we
> live.
> David
> 
> 	-----------------------------------------From: "Winslow Ayer via
> Public-List" 
> 
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all"
> Cc: "Winslow Ayer"
> Sent: Wednesday September 15 2021 4:21:09AM
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] deck mounted bilge pump
> 
> I agree with Gordon. Having a manual pump is just a good idea. Parts
> for the pump are readily available. You can just Google Whale bilge
> pumps and find the kits for an easy fix.
> 
> Winslow
> 
>> On Sep 15, 2021, at 5:06 AM, Gordon Laco via Public-List  wrote:
>> 
>> Good morning,
>> 
>> It is possible that all that is wrong with the pump is a bit of
> debris stuck in one of the pump’s two valves. You can clear this by
> removing the large hose clamp which secures the main diaphragm of the
> pump to the yellow aluminium casting, then running a finger through
> each valve.
>> 
>> If a valve or the diaphragm is torn, you can very easily order new
> parts which come in a kit. Whale of Ireland is still in business, but
> very inexpensive parts from knock-off companies are readily available.
>> 
>> I would suggest that a functional manual pump is not only the law,
> if you are in Canada, it is good seamanship. An electric pump is the
> one that is the ‘would like but not need’ side of the equation.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> 
>> Gordon Laco
>> Surprise 426
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Sep 14, 2021, at 9:49 PM, David Terrell via Public-List  wrote:
>>> 
>>> My Alberg 30 is 51 years old. I have recently discovered that the
> deck
>>> mounted bilge pump is no longer functional.
>>> Is there a replacement part? I am assuming that the current one is
> a
>>> Whale pump and they might have an upgrade.
>>> I would welcome any thoughts on removing the old unit and
> replacing it
>>> with a new pump. I recognize that this work may be above my pay
> grade.
>>> Since I have a functional rule bilge pump, I think this is a want
> and
>>> not a need at this time.
>>> David, 432
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