Bilge pump rebuild / spares

[hd002e]

The primary bilge pump on my boat is the Rule 2000. It is a good pump and never had any issues with it. However I want to be prepared just in case and bring spares with me on a trip. Is there a rebuild kit? Any recommendations on what parts to bring? What is the part that usually fails on these things?


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[skipmac]

As far as i know there's nothing you can repair or replace on the pump itself. If it's the automatic version then maybe a spare switch. The only other part I know you can buy is a new strainer for the bottom.

[Lepke]

If you planning for emergencies, get some of this stuff. It plugs holes, now!
Amazon or Ebay should have it.
As far as your pump, I think your pump and many that look just like it are all made in the same Chinese factory. The lifespan and reliability isn't near what we had 20 years ago. I have a wood boat that doesn't leak with 6 bilge areas. Most water comes from wash downs. Yet these new, all look alike pumps are lucky to last more than a couple years. Most of my bilge is bone dry and the pumps might be manually run once a year. Some never pumped water before failing.
They are cheap enough. Carry a spare. I went to more expensive non-Chinese pumps.

[hd002e]

Hi Lepke, what is a non-Chinese bilge pump?


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[lonesoldier0408]

☕️


Still surrounded by anchors.

[Lepke]

Many years ago I bought a wood commercial fishing boat. It came with a Lovett bilge pump. The previous owner said it was about 20 years old and maybe should be replaced. Years later I sold the boat with the same Lovett pump still working. That pump did some work, too. I fished the North Pacific in some rough weather. Seams would open. I used ice to preserve the catch and the pump removed the water from ice melting. Several tons a week.
I went back to Lovett and haven't had a failure since. About $150 online.

What burned me about Rule and other "American" made pumps from my youth, is I leave my pumps off. I check my bilges often so I know what's going with the hull. Mainly I use the engine room pump when I clean the engines. The rest of the time they're off. No power, sitting in a dry bilge. When I bought the boat I put in new pumps with the built in sensor (no float). All failed within 18 months. Except in the stern, my bilges are deep. Laying on the floor plates I can't reach the bottom of the bilge, so I have to crawl in the bilge to make pump changes. And I'm a fat, old guy. I don't care if the dealer will give me a new pump. I don't want to crawl around in the bilge. When I was young, I don't recall ever having to replace any brand pump that was bought new.

[GordMay]

FWIW:
Lovett (LV-900/1200) pumps are repairable ➥ http://www.depcopump.com/catalogs/ol...alog110/32.pdf