Dock "fish Cleaning Stations" Question.

[Billfo]

A year or two ago, the corp made us remove our electric water pump from the lake. We had one that was hanging in the water. A ltttle switch & we had water on our fish cleaning station. Apparently there was a "shock hazzard". We have not replaced it with something safer yet. Now it is MY new task of finding some kind of water pump (cheaply) for our fish cleaning station on the dock.

What are some of yor other dock people using for a water pump on your cleaning stations ?

Pictures are always welcome

Wonder of one of these hand bilge pumps would work. One hose in the water & the other on the cleaning station.

Thanks, Bill

[gitnby]

we have a huge electric pump on the dock with an intake pipe that is under the water. OK, that's not a cheap alternative.

How about a bucket on a rope? Used that for years on our old dock when I was a kid.

You could try using a small electric pump (Little Giant or Simer) mounted on the dock with a hose you stick in the water.

Just put a check valve on the end of the intake so that water stays in that line to keep from burning up the pump.

or you could try one of these : http://www.harborfreight.com/all-purpose-drill-water-pump-34302.html

[bfishn]

Most manual bilge pumps don't have the suction lift you'll need (6-8'). The old-timey pitcher pump will pull from at least 20'; Usually around $50 at Home Depot, Tractor Supply, etc.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-Pitcher-Pump-No-Lead-PP500NL/203449574

You'll need to add a drop pipe (use the same diameter pipe as the pump fitting). If you add a good foot valve at the bottom of the drop pipe you can forego the priming routine, but you'd need to remove or drain it in winter to avoid freezeup. It could be a year-round installation without the foot valve, but you'll have to prime it every time, and some of the users might lack the patience to wait for the leather to wet and ruin the pump by working it dry too long.

[pvspmo]

Billfo, the way we understood the regulation was that you could still use the pumps... you just could not leave them there permanently. We keep ours in the dock locker and only use it when cleaning fish. I don't know for sure, we may be bending the rule...

[bfishn]

There's no reason you can't use an electric pump IF the complete installation meets the National Electrical Code requirements for wet locations. That means gasketed NEMA-4 boxes, GFCI circuit breakers, waterproof conduit & fittings, etc. Even if you have a savvy, licensed electrician volunteer the labor, the materials won't likely meet your "cheap" requirement.

USACE TR dock electrical handout at;

http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Portals/50/docs/tablerocklake/Shoreline/electrical_handout.pdf

[Billfo]

^{Thanks for the replies. The priming issue along with the freezing issue makes the choice difficult. As you know there is always one in every copmmunity dock that cant get along & do things right.. Thats kind of why I am looking at a manual pump type. EZ...Permanent instalation. I have noticed that the more lift ya need the more they cost.}

^{bfishen, I like the idea of the pitcher pump. I will have to go check one out & see if it would be hold up to freezing. If it would be fine. Looks easy enough to mount on the cleaning table with a pipe straight down to the water (with a screen).. great suggestion.}

[Old plug]

there is bo reason any dock with electric service should not meet the code. On LOZ they must. We had our share of electrocutions up here from improperly wired docks.

[fishinwrench]

May be a tad too redneck for your taste, but you could rig up a 12volt bilge pump easy enough.

[Old plug]

The way I interpret what has been said here is that the corp is hot on the water pumps but does not have rules concerning the proper grounding of a dock with electric service.

[Craig]

I use a self priming 12v wash down pump that is out of the water. The electric connections need to be waterproof, if less than 20" from water line I believe. Got an electrician to sign off on it. I need to disconnect water hoses in the winter to prevent damage to pump diaphragm. This is on Beaver lake. Was thinking if pump was on a boat in the dock and you you hooked up to it when needed. The Corp would be out of the loop.