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 RULE
500 GPH AUTOMATIC
We may have mentioned that our favourite pumps
aboard are our Rule 3500 submersibles, in spite of the fact that we were
slightly misled by the manufacturer's truthful but irrelevant claims for it -
what a pump can do at surface level is not that important - what one needs to
know is how it will perform at different levels of submersion!
Pumps of that size are, perhaps, not relevant to
the vast majority of boat owners, so we asked around and found two boat owners
using the same model of Rule pump, the 500 Gph (gallon per hour)
Automatic.
Mike Silvers has a 24' open fibreglass boat and
Pete Dennison has a 36' yacht, also in fibreglass.
Commanded by an internal computer chip, the pump
starts by checking for water every two and a half minutes and shutting down
immediately if no liquid is present. After three dry cycles, the length of time
between checks is extended to ten minutes. There is a strainer built in to the
base and this 'snaps' off for ease of cleaning. The pump is housed in materials
that are not subject to corrosion and is guaranteed for one year.
Both gentlemen agreed that, if there is any
disadvantage attached to this model, it is that it must be switched off if the
boat is to be left unattended for any real length of time with no ongoing charge
being provided to the battery bank.
In Pete's case, this is not a problem as he uses
a solar panel to feed the battery. Mike just turns his off with a flick of a
switch and doesn't worry about it. He has a stronger emergency pump, with a
float switch placed higher up. If water starts to accumulate in the bottom of
the boat while he is absent, the emergency pump should come on and clear the
bulk of it.
Both are very happy with this model and would
choose the same one again, which is always a good sign. Mike's came from West
Marine and Pete's was a birthday present from his son, so he isn't absolutely
certain where it was purchased but he thinks the local chandler might be able to
answer that question!
The pump is very small, making it possible to fit
almost anywhere. Actually, that was one of the things that first attracted us to
Rule pumps in general. They are remarkably compact, considering the amount of
water they can shift.
Rumour has it that the company has been bought by
a large corporation and that the probable result will be a lowering of
manufacturing standards in future Rule pumps, to cut costs and create the
built-in obsolescence that is so popular with manufacturers these days. We very
much hope that this will not be the case.
A good pump may be all that stands between an
ocean sailor and the ocean floor, in times of trouble. A pump purchased in good
faith and paid for with good money should give good service when the time comes
to call upon it. So far, our Rule pumps have always been ready and willing to go
to work when called upon. That deserves an accolade because it is more than can
be said for some of the other brands we have brought aboard.
Which pumps do you favour and why?
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