A bilge pump in a kayak can conveniently pump large quantities of water that is not needed on your craft just in case it gets flooded. As it is with bilge pumps, we advise that each kayaker should consider having one. That’s because of bilge pumps inability to maximize safety it precludes almost every kayaker out there.
Bilge pumps may also be used to clean your vessel such as the kayak or the canoe after.
Since kayaks that you can choose from may be too wide to narrow for your needs it can be a daunting task to find the perfect one.
Besides, here are a few electrical bilge pumps that are in high demand – however this review addresses only manual models.
Navigating to and reading our buying guide at the end of this article will provide you with further details on getting the right kayak bilge pump.
Understanding Bilge Pumps
What is a Bilge Pump?
The bilge pump is a piece of equipment made for water removal from the bilge, which is the lower part of a kayak. These pumps are vitally crucial in keeping the vessel steady and preventing it from sinking, of particular importance when the sea is rough or choppy.
Key Functions of Bilge Pumps
A bilge pump’s purpose is to get rid of that unneeded water inside your kayak, whether the water comes from rainfall, waves, or splashes. This is the appliance designed to help you achieve the ultimate stability and efficiency in your kayak.
Types of Kayak Bilge Pumps
Manual Bilge Pumps
These are the type of pumps, operated with hands, and requiring energy from our side to grind out the water. These are minor and not heavy, they can be taken along with the kayak, and they can print even though your kayak is not on electrical power, hence, they are perfect for shorter journeys and as the backup system.
Electric Bilge Pumps
In terms of electric bilge pumps, there is no doubt that their convenience and effectiveness are beyond reproach with the bilge pumps. The bilge pumps use a motorized action that is powered by the kayak’s battery and therefore, they automatically empty the water. To protect the users of small-sized kayaks or those who find themselves in areas with frequent high waves, canopies that can be easily attached are more efficient.
Automatic Bilge Pumps
Automatic pumps are equipped with a float switch to detect water levels and only start running when water gutters the switch. They provide peace of mind, thus water is pumped out even without anyone manually controlling it. Even when water is not being manually operated by anyone, these devices still do their work.
Choosing the Right Bilge Pump for Your Kayak
Factors to Consider
When choosing a bilge pump, think about the range you usually kayak, the size of your kayak and whether there is a possibility that the manual pump will become your only option.
Size and Capacity
Having a bilge pump that is small in size and low in capacity might pose a problem if you kayak a lot and in cases of high water levels. Bigger kayaks, those used in high water levels, or ones designed for aggressive waves and currents may call for pumps having bigger discharge rates.
Power and Efficiency
Go for a pump that can strike a balance between the power usage and the rate at which the water is restored. For an Electric and Automated pump system, you must ensure that the batteries are reliable and that the pumps integrate well with the design of your kayak.
Installation of Bilge Pumps
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
The process of attaching a bilge pump requires the pump mounting, routing a hose and optionally connecting it to the power source if needed. Make sure the pump is firmly tightened and the hose does not lay in the kinks.
Tips for Effective Installation
Sometimes all we need to do is the simple step of putting the pump in the seat part of the kayak. This helps in a more efficient water elimination as, by moles, it would always easily flow downwards. Lining up the connections properly and keeping the battery, if used, charged and functional is necessary.
Maintenance and Care
Routine Maintenance Tips
Keep the pump and hose tidy by removing any obstacles in every place the water is being drawn from. Examine for wear and tear, and replace worn-out parts with new ones to ensure the machine runs at its best.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If the problem is with the power supply or a lack of debris in the intake, inspect for these issues. Routine checkups can highlight bugs before they are destroyed.
Safety Tips While Using Bilge Pumps
Safety Practices
A must-do thing before voyaging is to check your bilge pump, please. Do not skip a manual backup pump when you have an automatic kitchen pump installed.
Emergency Preparedness
Learn any manually of removing standing water manually in case of pump failure. A typical rule of thumb is that all paddlers should wear a life jacket in the water and follow the best kayaking practices that are possible under the circumstances.
The Top 13 Kayak Bilge Pumps in 2024
1. NRS Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: ABS plastic/foam
- Dimensions: 21” x 1.75” x 1”
- Weight: 1lb
- Water removal rate: 8 Gallon per minute
An NRS kayak emergency bilge pump is effortless to handle and gainfully assist out on the water. The lightweight, convenient, and powerful nature makes it the right choice for kayakers who are looking for a quick and skillful way to eliminate the water which is no longer welcomed.
The NRS kayak bilge pump helps to discharge the water very quickly from your kayak with the convenience of using it. Running at 8′’ per minute it can easily be the fastest option to pick from.
The buoyant foam on the cover of this bilge pump is also good for the NRS, as it keeps it from coming into both impact and solar radiation hits.
The wings generate the lift using the displacement of the water which causes the pump to be buoyant and if you drop it in the water, then you can always retrieve it on the surface. A bilge pump that is housed in an NRS kayak is presumably very dependable.
2. Beckson Marine Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: ABS plastic/foam
- Dimensions: 20” x 4” x 3”
- Weight: 0.69 lbs
- Water removal rate: 8 Gallon per minute
This bilge pump is convenient and user-friendly and designed to remove water from your canoe. It is instrumented with an enclosed ball-check and a float-operated switch that brings ease in operation. The red color and low weight make it easy to spot. When the bilge pump runs, it can pump away up to 8 gallons of water per minute.
Compared to other models, it seems according to the number of people that she can move the sand, dust, or dirt without her complaining.
The work of the Beckson Marine bilge pump is to remove water from a yak with simplicity and through handy tools that are easy to use. It is a pump that weighs as low as 0.69 lbs and thus fits the essential term lightweight and is conveniently tucked at the hull of your kayak.
The pump with an output of about 8 gallons per minute is featured in this kayak bilge — they do this best by excelling in taking large volumes of water out of your kayak. The handle and collar grip enhancing round makes it possible to be gripping it while pumping.
As compared to several other products listed in this category, this double diaphragm kayak bilge pump is slightly higher in price still; in short, the pump proves its worth by increasing its reliability and power.
3. Perception Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: Plastic
- Dimensions: 21” x 1.75” x 1”
- Weight: 0.88lbs
- Water removal rate: 5 Gallon per minute
With the Justice Kayak pump on board, you will be confident to pursue a more aggressive kayaking style since you have the tools to take on potentially destructive water.
This water K-bromo pump can suck a tremendous amount of water from your kayak thereby producing a fast draining process. Hence, it can be used to empty a watercraft that has capsized.
This gas station is what holds a comfortable grip and thus makes it easy to use. Being lightweight and compact, the Perception bilge pump can discharge an amount of water which is 4.5 to 5 gallons per minute at the rate of 1 gallon after 13-14 pumps. The food’s combination, together with the possibilities it offers to have a fast recovery, makes it a good choice.
Apart from all that, this bilge pump is affordable and many factors contribute to the lowered price.
4. Harmony Gear Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: Plastic and Foam
- Dimensions: 16” x 5.51” x 2.95”
- Weight: 0.67 lbs
- Water removal rate: 7 Gallon per minute
One of the most chosen kayak bilge pumps designed for removing water from flood kayaks and canoes, the Harmony purchaser kayak bilge pump is the smallest and lightest pump on this list.
Harmony Gear kayak bilge pump is and is made for Portage because of its small size and Deliket design. This show-off is also very economical for the evacuation of water in large quantities from the vessels with a system of this size.
The pump is placed within a nice soft foam which will keep it floating if dropped in the water, and the blue color allows you to be able to see it and allow easy grabbing.
The attached pump is one of the lightest you can locate, allowing you to hook it up easily with cargo lines along the hull anywhere.
5. Seattle Sports Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: ABS plastic/foam
- Dimensions: 21” x 1.75” x 1”
- Weight: 0.8 lbs
- Water removal rate: 5 Gallon per minute
The Seattle Sports kayak bilge pump is easy to employ and the most convenient place you can store it is in its compact size. It has a comfortable grip and features a cushioned collar so that in case the pump is accidentally dropped in the water, it floats.
The remaining advantage of the bilge pump for sports in Seattle from Seattle Sport is it’s being lighter, which makes it portable and movable with ease.
The Seattle sports kayak bilge pump is very user-friendly and there is no difficulty in finding a convenient storage place for it anywhere in your kayak due to its compact size.
It consists of a comfortable handle with a foam collar that provides flotation capability when the pump is submerged in the water. Similarly, Seattle Sports has a bilge pump that is the lightest weight, so it is portable and handily practical for travel.
6. Newport Vessels Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: ABS plastic/foam
- Dimensions: 19” x 1.75” x 1”
- Weight: 2 lbs
- Water removal rate: 7 Gallon per minute
The Newport vessel kayak bilge pump is an extremely dependable one that allows you to pump water out from your kayak in a very quick way.
This Duel-Action Kayak Bilge Pump will be surely helpful to you for getting the similar job done, if you are somewhere stuck with some water inside your kayak.
The switch has a surface foam collar making it float on water even if it is dropped in it. The pump from Newport Vessels comes with a hose as such, it is possible to eject water out of the pump that would otherwise have ended inside the kayak.
Further, the pump works well in both freshwater and saltwater, moreover, you have to look after it by giving it a fresher water rinse after use.
7. Pelican Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: ABS plastic
- Dimensions: 21” x 4” x 2.75”
- Weight: 0.76 lbs
- Water removal rate: 7 Gallon per minute
Pelican kayak pump is a petite, but also powerful bilge that works well in draining the water from your kayak.
This kayak bilge pump is the ideal extra gear that backup a serious kayaker. It saves you time, during which, you will not need to empty the water of your kayak manually by the end of each course.
Let me point out that you must get hold of the bilge pump along with your kayak and you will have a good time when you find yourself in a watery state. The Pelican pump is a unique and portable bilge pump that can be used easily; thus, it is one of the best kayak bilge pumps.
8. Attwood Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: ABS plastic
- Dimensions: 21” x 3” x 3”
- Weight: 0.75 lbs
- Water removal rate: 6 Gallon per minute
The Attwood kayak bilge pump is more of a day than an evening kayak. That’s nicely priced with one of the finest handles. In fact.
The bilge pump on the Attwood kayak excels in spilling water out of your vessel. Though it doesn’t come with a hose, this bilge pump does its job at a quick pace and can remove up to around 6 gallons of water out of your kayak about every minute.
To be honest, it is quite a reliable pump; it is very durable but there are certain cases where this pump might just not stand. For example, leaving the pump out in the sun for long hours where the salt water might not be decently maintained after use in the sun.
9. BEST Marine Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: Plastic and Foam
- Dimensions: 17” x 3” x 3”
- Weight: 1 lbs
- Water removal rate: 5 Gallon per minute
This Bilge pump works with and is easy to use, installed with a hose on a pump that is named ‘Best Marine’ and is designed for hard to hard-to-reach messy places.
The best Kayak bilge pump is a lightweight and compact Bilge pump, which allows you to remove the water right from your Kayak on time.
The Best Marine pump, though smaller than the others, is not the most powerful, yet, it comes in handy in storing because of its nice size that makes it such easy.
10. SeaSense Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: Plastic
- Dimensions: 20.75” x 4.5” x 3.5”
- Weight: 1 lbs
- Water removal rate: 6 Gallon per minute
The SeaSense kayak bilge pump is often used on boats as it can remove a lot of water quickly.
The SeaSense hand bilge pump is a manual hand pump designed to remove large volumes of water from small boats, canoes, and kayaks.
The anti-leak feature of this pump means that it can evacuate water more efficiently as no water drips out when pumping. This pump is not only affordable, but it is also convenient for getting water out of areas that are hard to reach.
11. Amarine Made Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: Polypropylene and Foam
- Dimensions: 19.88” x 5.31” x 2.44”
- Weight: 0.93 lbs
- Water removal rate: 5 Gallon per minute
The SeaSense Kayak bilge pump which is well known for its capacity to pump out significant amounts of water quite fast, often comes in handy when a vessel has large quantities of water.
The SeaSense hand bilge pump is a hands-on teenager detergent used for removing large quantities of water from small boats, canoes, and kayaks.
The feature of that pump is anti-leak which means it can get rid of water up to 100% because no water drips out when dehydrating. This kind of pump which is also cost-saving but easy to use helps one reach those areas that are not easy to reach.
The pocket-size Amarine Have kayak bilge pump is an optimal device for kayakers who need a compact able and efficient bilge pump to carry with them in case of unexpected water leakage.
12. Sea To Summit Kayak Bilge Pump
The Sea to Summit emergency bilge pump has two mechanisms that can get a very fast removal of 14 ounces of water from your vessel. It also feels unique even among the most powerful pumps already on the market today.
The pump from Sea to Sea has done its job very well pumping as much as 6 gallons per minute which is a huge volume of water. Not only is simple to operate, but this kayak bilge pump is also relatively small and light in comparison to other types often making it fit for transporting and storing.
Furthermore, the spout is made of high-quality material which is provided with a comfortable grip when working the water pump. The emblematic orange color helps the bilge keep up with other kayak equipment in the water and, hence, it is easier to find in the hull of your boat.
13. Better Boat Kayak Bilge Pump
Specs & Features
- Material: Plastic
- Dimensions: 16.5” x 3” x 3”
- Weight: 1.1lbs
- Water removal rate: 6 Gallon per minute
The Better Boat kayak bilge pump is so very efficient and reliable was designed with an anti-clog system that covers it and a handle that is ergonomically made is powered by human effort thus easy to use to remove water from your kayak.
The Better Boat Kayak bilge pump is very easy to use and takes out water from the kayak swiftly and mainly. The no-clog filter built-in to the machine will prevent any leaves or other debris from getting stuck in the pump thus leading to a much cleaner and faster discharge of water.
The hose, which is 39” long, is perfect for washing the undernet or kayak. On the other hand, sometimes there has been a problem when trying to join the hoses, which made the process rather challenging for one person. Such individuals can help to keep the hose steady and improve the output efficiency drastically.
The sealing rubber of the Bilge Pump of high quality from Better Boat is used by a watertight gasket that provides a strong suction pressure and is suitable for low-level pumping. I believe this particular bilge pump is worth its money since it’s good value.
Conclusion
For safety and comfort reasons, an effective pump with good Built quality is a must-have item when you are kayaking. The variety of the types, correct installation, and servicing will eventually become a substantial part of your water-based entertainment. Choose bravely according to the exact requirements and revel in every flat water kayaking ride with the utmost confidence!
Nevertheless, the rudimentary feature of a bilge pump is it’s not only determined by its type. Proper setup, periodical maintenance, and a thorough understanding of its operation are useful in case of somewhat urgent use of the pump. Regular cleaning, paying attention to the battery’s lifetime for battery-powered pumps, and verifying the system works before each trip can alleviate the failures when they occur most notably.
Additionally, an ideal bilge pump for kayakers should be chosen to bear in mind the kayaker’s personal requirements as these may not apply to all such as the size of the kayak, the usual paddling conditions, and personal physical capabilities. Adapting to a deck boat pump that fits the Kayak build perfectly is a must for it to offer no hiccups when running in different weather conditions.
In summary, bilge pumps should be considered an integral component of kayak safety, as they offer the most prominent option to dispose of extra water from the hull. Choosing the suitable kayak type, making sure of the right installation, and sticking to the established schedule of kayak maintenance can help paddlers to be peaceful during the adventure and to worry less about the float and stability of their kayak. From hand bailing or electric-powered to automatic bilge pumps; which can clean up the drainage and provide a pleasurable event on the water if you own one or more, is a good gear.
