I just wish my pump was mounted lower in "V" of the bilge. I bet there are 15-20 gallons in mine before it will suck water....If the motor ever needs to come out again, I'll change it around.

I am glad to see I'm not the only one here with that last little bit of water driving me crazy.

Really like the tennis ball idea gonna try that this year
http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/...pstnrzinwd.jpg
Thought I'd throw a lift pic in lol

Although I have never tried it, was told to use powder laundry detergent and a couple bags of ice cubes in the bilge, then go out and run the hell out of it.

I use Purple Power or Castrol Super Clean, hose and shop vac.

I normally do not get any water in the bilge as everything is properly sealed and the cockpit is a self-bailing design that routes everything overboard via multiple thru-hull fittings. However, for whatever reason the damn anchor locker drains to the bilge! Brilliant! So I do get the occasional dirty water from there into the bilge along with the occasional bit of oil from an oil change (me spilling new oil), dust, carpet fibers, etc. It doesn't help that my lift, even though I have the arms mounted higher in the front than in the rear, runs slightly downhill back to front due to the dock flotation sucking b@lls. That makes everything want to run forward under the gas tank. I can actually climb down onto the lift pontoon and remove the drain plug but it really does no good.

^^^^wish more boats where designed with self bailing cockpit^^^ it's unreal how much sand and water winds up in the bilge after a day at the beach

I'm probably preaching to the choir on this one.

A couple of folks indicated that their bilge constantly has water in it - Just a reminder that each gallon of water is 8 pounds - so hauling around an additional 10-20 gallons of bilge "stuffs" can add weight to the boat quite fast - this coupled with the routine beverages can have some impact on the speed of the boat and fuel consumption. I have a number of friends that constantly complain on speed issues- but then I remind them of all the "crap" they are carrying with them and then the light bulb get lit.

3pointstar

I guess I hadn't given it much thought yet, but you're right on. Last weekend I was wondering why the hell there was water in my front step. That is exactly why. Thanks.

I'm thinking about sewing some vinyl in the cover over the anchor locker to keep it nice and dry.

My cig has the third little bilge pump wired with the starboard pump. The little diaphragm pump is on the firewall and the pick up is way down in the bottom. Kick the starboard on in manual and it sucks out just about every last drop. They do burn out though since it's just a water transfer pump (no oil or chemical resistance) but it works surprisingly well.

I assumed it was standard issue but maybe a previous owner added it.

That's another gem idea. That could work very well.