One the average boat there is a variety of pumps but one of the most useful and the one that is used often is this one which I made up from spare parts that I had lying around. It is basically a Jabsco reversible pump taken from a portable oil changer connected to a couple of lengths of hose with the pump itself mounted onto some scrap plywood to keep it stable when in use. Although I don't use it for transferring oil anymore as I have a dedicated built in oil change pump I do use if for pumping water. Being portable I move it to wherever I need it and have used it in the past to pump water from inaccessible areas which can't be reached or emptied completely with the normal bilge pump. I've emptied fish wells and with the pump drawing water from the sea even used it as a poor mans wash down hose. It also saved the day for me on one occasion when the water pump on the engine packed up and I jury rigged it so that I could use it for a substitute raw water pump for the engine. Finally and I hope never have to put it to the test it could even be used as a portable fire hose.
As you can see it is fitted with a couple of crocodile clips and a fuse so when the need arises I can pull it out of a locker clip onto the battery and it is ready for use in no time flat. I've used it so often now that i wonder how I ever managed without it and best of all it cost me next to nothing to make.
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