Testing
I pool-tested the installation and was completely satisfied with the results. I hung on the outside of the bow long enough to submerge the through-hull. There was no leakage either into or around the through-hull. I then got in and sculled, with no spray skirt on, to flood the cockpit. I was easily able to pump the cockpit dry in just about one minute. I was a bit disappointed to see that the stream of water exiting the through-hull was only a bit more than a foot in length, as I’d been hoping to use the pump as a super squirt gun. On the plus side though, it’s unlikely that you will accidentally spray either yourself or a companion. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, with the pump button set off to one side, I could use the pump in place of the foot peg as a brace.
An important thing to remember is that a bulkhead-mounted foot-pump is a relatively permanent and personalized modification. Someone with legs much shorter than yours will not be able to reach the pump comfortably. Someone with legs much longer than yours may find your pump an impediment or possibly even a safety risk. If you make the decision to install a foot-operated bilge pump, you should still continue to carry your hand pump in case you need to help another paddler or to pump out one of your bulkhead compartments.

Tom Finn is a freelance technical writer living in southern New Hampshire and an associate with the Selmont Group, a technical marketing firm. A member of the North Shore Paddlers Network, he does not get to spend nearly enough time gunk-holing along the New England coast.

Pump Resources
The Bosworth Company, 930 Waterman Ave., East Providence, RI 02914
(888) 438-1110, bosworthco@aol.com,
www.bosworth.thomasregister.com/olc/bosworth/home.htm
(Manufacturer of Guzzler foot pumps)

Great River Outfitters, 4180 Elizabeth Lake Rd., Waterford, MI 48328
(248) 683-4770, sales@grokayaks.com,
www.grokayaks.com

Materials and Tools Required
*All metal hardware should be 18-8 grade stainless steel or better. If the hardware will be close to a compass, ensure that it is completely non-magnetic.
**The quantities of some materials are miniscule—hopefully you either have them on hand or can borrow them.

Materials—Bulkhead Mount
At approximately $55, the pump is the most expensive part. Total project cost is just over $100.
Foot-operated bilge pump
*(4) 3" x 1/4" x 20 threads-per-inch (t.p.i) pan or round-head machine screws
(12) 1/4" nylon lock nuts
(8) 1/4" interior diameter (i.d.) flat washers
(4) 20 1/4" x 20 t.p.i. acorn/cap nuts
(8) 1/4" i.d. neoprene washers
(4) 1" hose clamps
(2) plastic brackets for 1" electrical
conduit
6 feet of 1" non-crimping bilge hose
One small tube marine caulk
Pump jig: 5" x 8" scrap piece of 1/4"
plywood/masonite
1" to 1 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC coupling
(for strum box)
1" through-hull fitting
One roll, 1/2" double-sided tape
**(2 or 3) 1"x4" fiberglass tape pieces
30-minute or marine-grade epoxy

Tools List
3/8" power drill
1/4" brad point drill bit
1 1/4" hole saw bit
Retracting metal tape measure
Carpenter’s pencil or other marker
Hack saw
Screw driver
Ratchet wrench
Scissors (for cutting fiberglass tape)
A work light or strong flashlight that you can place inside the hull. (Note: hot lights can warp thermoplastics.)

Additional Materials—Bulkhead Stand-Off Mount
3" outside diameter plastic pipe
*(4) 1/4" pan head machine screws (length
as required)

Additional Materials—Bracket Mount
Scrap 3/8" plywood, approx. 6"x14"
Fiberglass cloth, 12 oz.—30"x30"
Fiberglass tape, 9 oz.—2"x10'
Fiberglass resin/qt.
Fiberglass hardener/pt.
Measuring pumps set

Additional Tools—Bracket Mount
Profile gauge, spreaders, vapor respirator, latex gloves. (Vinyl gloves are fine but must be heavy enough to prevent chemicals crossing to skin. Light-duty household-grade gloves aren’t suitable.)