Why the bilge matters, and why buyers skip it
The bilge is the lowest point of the boat, every drop that gets in collects there. If the bilge pump and float switch do not work, a small leak can sink the boat while it sits on its berth. Buyers rarely look here; that is exactly why the survey does.
What we check
- Automatic pump and float: does it actually cut in, is the float switch stuck, tested in manual and auto.
- Backup pump: is there a second pump; a single-pump boat is a risk.
- Hoses and clamps: cracks in the discharge hose, loose clamps, anti-siphon.
- Dry bilge: if water is always present, we trace the source (shaft seal, raw-water plumbing, deck leak).
- Alarm: high-water alarm, critical on charter and long-berthed boats.
- Through-hulls: seacocks, bonding, leaks, the most common source of sinking risk.
For charter and long-berthed boats
On a boat left on its berth for months or between charters, bilge safety is vital. The survey tests that the automatic pump and alarm actually work and records what is missing. Take it with the electrical survey (the pump's supply).
A five-minute check you can do yourself
Without waiting for a survey, here is a simple check for every visit to the boat:
- Look in the bilge: is there water, and what colour? Oily water comes from the engine, clear fresh water from a tank or rain, salt water from a through-hull.
- Run the pump manually from the panel; listen to it and see water leave the boat.
- Lift the float switch by hand: the pump should start by itself. If not, automatic mode is not working.
- If there is a high-water alarm, press its test button.
- Open and close each seacock once; a seized valve will not close in an emergency.
This does not replace a survey, but it removes the most common reason boats sink alongside.
Pump capacity versus real flow
The flow on a pump label is measured at zero head and full voltage. In reality the height, length and bends of the discharge hose, and voltage drop in undersized cable, reduce flow considerably.
On survey we measure voltage at the pump, check the discharge route and the anti-siphon loop. Where a boat relies on one small pump, a second higher-capacity pump with its own alarm is recommended in the report.
FAQ
Is the bilge included in the survey?
Yes, pump, float, hoses and seacocks are checked in the pre-purchase survey; the automatic pump is tested in manual and auto.
Is one pump enough?
A backup pump is recommended. We note single-pump boats and recommend a second pump and a high-water alarm.