Manual Bilge Pump for Kayaks and Small Boats, Video Review

The right tool for this job

Manual Hand Bilge Pump

Portable hand pump with a long hose and filtered nozzle. Choose regular or large based on the hose length and pump size you want onboard.

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Yes, a manual bilge pump is a good choice for kayaks and small boats. It needs no battery, no wiring and no electrical switch, so it still works when an electric pump fails or was never installed. It is also small enough to keep within arm's reach in the cockpit. A hand pump helps with routine water and small leaks, but it is not a substitute for getting to safety if a boat is flooding quickly.

Big Bear Fishing Reviews the Better Boat Manual Bilge Pump

Big Bear Fishing reviews the Better Boat Manual Bilge Pump and shows why he believes it is essential for any watercraft owner. A manual bilge pump is lightweight and easy to use. This particular pump is compact and can be stored easily and securely in a small space. It is a smart item to keep on a kayak or boat, because a failing electric bilge pump should not ruin a day on the water.

View the Better Boat Manual Bilge Pump product page

Are Manual Bilge Pumps Good?

For small craft, they are. A hand pump does not depend on a battery that may be dead, and it does not need wiring or an electrical switch. It can be used from any spot in the boat that the hose reaches. The tradeoff is effort. Someone has to work the handle, so a hand pump suits kayaks, canoes, dinghies and small boats better than a larger boat that takes on water quickly.

How a Hand Bilge Pump Works

A hand bilge pump is a hollow tube with a handle and a plunger. Pulling the handle draws water in through the intake end. Pushing it sends that water out through the hose. Full, steady strokes generally help the pump work as intended, though actual output varies with how well the pump is primed, how high the water must be lifted, how the hose is routed and the condition of the pump.

The Better Boat Manual Bilge Pump is listed in a regular size with a 16.5 inch pump body, a 39 inch hose, 1.25 inch hose diameter, 20 GPM suction and 115 cubic inches per stroke. The listing also notes a filtered nozzle that helps reduce debris clogs while bailing. It comes in regular and large variants, so check the product page to pick the hose length and pump size that fit the boat.

How to Use a Hand Bilge Pump

Before pumping, make sure everyone aboard is wearing a properly fitted life jacket and that the boat is under control. Follow the boat, engine and pump manufacturers' instructions for your craft. If water is coming in faster than it can be removed, or the boat feels unstable, head toward safety and call for help instead of relying on the pump alone.

1. When it is safe to do so, stop paddling or shut off the motor and keep the boat steady so water is not sloshing away from the intake. In current, surf or boat traffic, keep control of the craft first.
2. Place the intake end in the lowest part of the cockpit or bilge where water has collected.
3. Point the hose over the side so the water leaves the boat and does not run back in.
4. Pull the handle all the way out and push it all the way in with a smooth, steady rhythm.
5. Shift the intake as the water level drops, then keep pumping until the pump starts to suck air.
6. Rinse the pump with fresh water after use, especially in salt water, and let it dry before stowing it.

Using a Manual Bilge Pump on a Kayak

On a sit-on-top kayak, water normally drains out through the scupper holes, so keep them unobstructed. Handle any enclosed hatch or compartment according to the kayak maker's instructions, since opening one on the water can let in more water or upset the boat. On a sit-in kayak, water collects in the cockpit around the paddler. Before pumping a flooded cockpit, stabilize the kayak or raft up with another paddler when possible, wear a properly fitted life jacket, and follow the kayak manufacturer's capsize and reentry procedure. Not every paddler can safely pump while seated in a flooded boat. A few tips help in real conditions.

Better Boat pick

Small Floating Bilge Pump

Manual bilge pump clears cockpit water from kayaks, canoes, dinghies, and small craft.

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• Practice once on calm water so the first time using the pump is not during an emergency.
• Keep the hose from kinking by feeding it straight over the side.
• Keep the pump from drifting away by using the attachment point or retention method the kayak manufacturer recommends. If a tether is used, keep it short and managed, and avoid loose lines that could snag or tangle around a paddler during a capsize or reentry.
• Wear a life vest the whole time. A good one is covered in this guide to kayak life vests.

Paddlers who want a pump that stays on top of the water if it slips from their hands can look at the Small Floating Bilge Pump. The listing describes a floating foam grip, a 24 inch hose that connects to either end, and a raised side intake that helps avoid loose gear, leaves and silt. It is listed at 15.75 inches long with a manual output of 5 gallons per minute.

Where to Stow a Manual Bilge Pump

A pump is only useful if it can be grabbed in seconds. Keep it where it can be reached from the seat, not buried under gear in a closed hatch.

• On a kayak, stow it within reach of the cockpit using the deck rigging or attachment points the kayak maker recommends, and keep any bungee or line short and tidy so nothing can snag.
• On a jon boat or dinghy, keep it near the seat or secure it to a thwart with a short line that cannot tangle underfoot.
• On a small powerboat, keep it in a bow or console compartment that opens easily, and make sure everyone aboard knows where it is.
• Avoid spots that trap water around the pump, and let it dry after each trip.

Manual vs Electric Bilge Pump Backup

An automatic electric pump can remove water without anyone working a handle, while a manual pump works without electrical power. Actual output depends on the pump, the installation and the operating conditions. Because an electric pump depends on a battery, wiring and a working switch, a hand pump provides an independent backup when the electrical system or the electric pump is unavailable. A dead battery or a clogged electric pump can make a separate manual backup useful, though a hand pump needs a clear intake and a person to work it.

Better Boat pick

Automatic Bilge Pump For Boats Auto Float Switch

Built in float switch activates when water rises above the base height. Choose 750 GPH or 1100 GPH to match your boat size and water removal needs.

Shop the Automatic Bilge Pump with Float Switch

Pairing the two is a common setup. An automatic bilge pump with a float switch handles routine water, and a hand pump covers the day when power fails. The automatic bilge pump video review shows that side of the setup. For more on choosing and caring for electric pumps, see the bilge pump buying guide and these tips for maintaining a bilge pump.

Rules about carrying a manual pump or other bailing device vary by boat type and location. Read why it is so important to have a manual bilge pump, and check your state rules and US Coast Guard requirements for your own boat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a manual pump worth it?

For a kayak, canoe, dinghy or small boat, yes. It takes little space, needs no power and works when electrical gear fails. On a larger boat it can still serve as a separate backup to an electric pump.

What is the best manual bilge pump?

The best one fits the boat. Look at hose length, pump size and how easily it stores. The Better Boat Manual Bilge Pump comes in regular and large sizes, and the Small Floating Bilge Pump suits paddlers who want a pump with a floating grip.

Can you leave a bilge pump on all the time?

A hand pump only runs when someone works the handle, so there is nothing to leave on. Automatic electric pumps are made to switch on when water rises, but follow the pump maker's manual for wiring, fuse size and how the pump is meant to be used.

What is the purpose of a bilge on a boat?

The bilge is the lowest interior area of a boat, where rain, spray and leaks collect. A bilge pump, electric or manual, removes that accumulated water and moves it overboard.

How do you use a hand bilge pump on a kayak?

Once the kayak is stable and the paddler is wearing a life jacket, put the intake in the lowest point of the cockpit, aim the hose over the side, and pull and push the handle with full, steady strokes. Move the intake as the water drops and keep pumping until it draws air. Follow the kayak maker's capsize and reentry steps first if the boat has flipped.

How should a manual bilge pump be stored?

Keep it within reach of the seat, held in place with the retention method the boat or kayak maker recommends. Avoid long or loose lines that could snag. Rinse the pump with fresh water after use and let it dry before putting it away.

Keep reading

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Ready to try a manual bilge pump? The Manual Hand Bilge Pump is available at betterboat.com.