Diane Ortiz Profile

Coming into existence during the early 16th century, the bilge pump has traditionally been utilised on boats and ships to remove bilge water, which is termed as water that collects in the bilge of a ship, the lowest compartment of the vessel. The first bilge pump was utilised in a military application, aboard English ships and boats in the early sixteenth century. Through the experience of rough weather, seafarers found that they required a solution to remove excess water safety at the bottom of the vessel.

The first bilge pumps produced were hand held, with their evolution including adaptations to fuel and electricity as a power source to drive the pumps. However, technological advances in materials used in the construction of bilge pumps, as well as increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the upward and downwards strokes, hand held pumps have become a viable and cost effective solution for bilge pumping.

Not only have technological advances increased the performance, but the range of applications has extended well beyond those of removing excess water from boats. Such applications include hand held drum, well, oil and fluid transfer pumps. One prominent extension of the marine focus has included the development of bilge pumps for kayaking, where it is an essential component of the sea kayaker's equipment, where many will not enter the water without having such equipment.

7 BEST BILGE PUMP REVIEWS & BUYING GUIDE (UPDATED OCT, 2020)