Bilge pump placement - theory

[Sospikey]

So I sunk my ski this last week. After some subs and fountains it died...
I've got dual Rule 500's, but sunk nevertheless. So I started thinking;
the Rules are notorious for cavitation. I run dual cooling and have ditched the stock bilge. I had both bilges underneath the couplers. IF the bilges cavitate, you can slowly build up significant amounts of water doing subs, stabs etc.
Once the level of water reaches the couplers, you'll have a 90 hp blender creating nice, foamy chop! Try pumping that!:thinking:
I decided to "verify" this. I used the garden hose, sprayed next to the couplers with a high, steady flow. And sure enough, the pumps cavitated, and the water started to rise.
This is probably what happened to me. But what to do about it? Sure, a scupper would do it, but that is off-season work. What else? I decided to move one of the bilges. I placed it next to (and zip tied to) the steering cable.
I did the same test as above, and now it works much better. Granted, it will not drain as much water as in the other position, but it will not cavitate either. Just my 2 cents, feel free to comment!:fing02:

 

[ski4]

wow that sucks
i can say with 3 or 4 different pumps i have had rule, rule mate and some wal mart one, i have never had that problem??
i have a scupper though too? so mine is just there to help when needed.

is yours with auto or float switch? or manual

 

[Sospikey]

wow that sucks
i can say with 3 or 4 different pumps i have had rule, rule mate and some wal mart one, i have never had that problem??
i have a scupper though too? so mine is just there to help when needed.

is yours with auto or float switch? or manual

Manual, I turn it on and keep it running.

 

[D-Roc]

install a scupper or two and use the pumps as backups.

 

[hangtime]

User Attwood pumps ,they don't bind up

 

[Zerfman34]

sucks dude i run one rule 500 i gotta do something about that.

 

[Flat Brapp]

I just leave my pumps on the entire time, but i noticed what you are talking about if allot of water enters the bilge at once.

 

[madscientist]

i run a 550 gph ad insatalled a 1" scupper w/ a versaplug for the end

 

[227]

I heard that only the Rule 500gph pumps cavitate and that the Rule 750gph's don't seem to have that problem. Any one know if this is true?

 

[rrlc]

I have a Rule 500 under the coupler, in a bracket and it usually won't pump water if I give any throttle at all. I want to install a second one behind the fuel tank because I think there will be less "churning" of water in that location. (It's a RN SJ)

 

[ADDict]

I did the scupper install on my X2 a few weeks ago. I wasn't down long. I was running dual attwood 500's before the scupper, and running the hell out of them. Now I have one single 360 rule that I very rarely even turn on. I used the flotec 1 1/2 one way valve from home depot. Works amazingly. Every time I would roll unsuccessfully before I would have to circle around for a couple minutes to let the pumps get all the water out before trying again. Now just a couple braps on the throttle and I'm dry and ready to hit it again.

 

[djkorn1]

This will not cavitate. Rulemate 1100 gph. (750 if you want to use stock bilge fitting) It has a Floating ping-pong-ball switch. Throw your crappy handlebars switches away for good! The only time it has failed me is when my battery was dead. Plus it pumps like a mofo! :usa2:

ps...this does not pump every couple seconds. It is always on when needed and always off when not.

 

[dbrutherford]

I have had Rule 500 before and yes they hydro locked all the time. I would just turn it on and off via a switch on the handle bar.

I have a Rule 800 to try out next year.

 

[hangtime]

Most people dont have room for the 1100 .just use attwoods dammit

 

[aranka]

i used to run dual 500's on my 750 sx and i always had issues with placement under the coupler. to compensate, (before the scupper) i placed on in front of the flywheel. it worked pretty good, but scupper is the way to go.

 

[227]

Most people dont have room for the 1100 .just use attwoods dammit

Yes I went to Wal Mart the other day to check out the Attwoods and the one I saw was hour glass shaped and wouldn't fit in my bracket. Do they have other models or do you mount them a different way?

 

[SuperJETT]

Yes I went to Wal Mart the other day to check out the Attwoods and the one I saw was hour glass shaped and wouldn't fit in my bracket. Do they have other models or do you mount them a different way?

unfortunately the V-series is dead, the Tsunami series replaced them and are quite a bit larger, plus you can't chop the top outer housing off to make them tiny anymore.

 

[oxnard111]

unfortunately the V-series is dead, the Tsunami series replaced them and are quite a bit larger, plus you can't chop the top outer housing off to make them tiny anymore.

booo on the Tsunami

 

[Mark Gomez]

On the Subject

Does anybody have a problem keeping the damn bilge pumps from ejecting from the blue bases?
Not breaking off the tabs just simply coming off from surf abuse.

My first bilge blew up for sucking something up too big, then my second one just fell out in Oregon and my driveline got it pretty well while taking one of the bracket loops on the side off.
I feel like i buy bilge pumps more than i buy oil or spark plugs. so right now im not running them and I am very vulnerable in the surf with just my scupper... oh wait it did sink:icon16:

 

[feartheride]

Does anybody have a problem keeping the damn bilge pumps from ejecting from the blue bases?
Not breaking off the tabs just simply coming off from surf abuse.

:

you can put a large oring around the pump that will slide down behind the pumps not allowing the tabs to move


My rules always cavitate time to try something else