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To improve the removal of water from the sail store I have decided to replace the existing pump with a higher flow rate one and the choice fell on the submersible pump Europump 3000 Osculati.

The pump is delivered in a white cardboard box, instructions in English included.

The double insulated cable is 140 cm long, enough to keep the contact above waterline, the positive cable being identified by a plate. Conductors are made of copper, 2.5 sq.mm.

The pump dimensions are 20 cm height and about 13 cm diameter at base. It can be freely stowed on the bottom of the peak; only the drain hose has to be clamped.

Due to its high flow rate the pump is provided with a 32mm-hose adaptor and therefore I had to replace the old 25mm-hose.

The electric board is manually operated, without any float switch as the peak is emptied about once a week.

 

INSTALLATION

Wire has been crimped and spread with Xguard paste to protect contacts when underwater and prevent oxidation over time.
The drain hose has been clamped and let free to drain in the anchor locker drainage provided with scuppers where we can perform the tests.

 

TEST

The pump has been tested for about 90 days in alternate cycles.
As water during the most demanding/challenging sailing can enter the sail store from the hatch or come out from the through the anchor locker drainage, seaweeds and other small particles may be found on the peak bottom, causing, however no problem to the pump, well protected by the ring integrated strainer.

The system voltage ranged from 25.40 V to 27.20V without causing variations in the pump flow rate.

The average current draw was approx. 7.8 Ah at 24V.

Up to a head level of 2.10m the pump has not varied its flow rate, which was 3.2 litres per second; at 2.5m the flow rate is 2.7 l/sec, in any case enough to reach the bulkward.

During the proof test the pump has run on a closed cycle, pumping the same water for 30 minutes without interruption, without overheating or performance degradation.

 

 

95% of water is quickly drained. The installation of a gooseneck placed before the drain prevents water from flowing back to the bilge. A small amount of water remains in the pump drip tray and has to be dried by hand.

 

CONCLUSIONS

The pump has proven to be light and sturdy, good-powered and having a high flow rate.

The ring integrated strainer has shown its efficacy to protect the impeller.
The best price/performance ratio has been achieved.

Davide Zerbinati
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