Stella Overboardvideo
How We Installed Our Bilge Pump | Johnson Pump Wiking Power 16 – Boat Life DIY!
July 20, 2025 · 3 min · 3K views
What this video covers
Jesse sourced a Johnson Pump Wiking Power 16 bilge pump from Australia after Camille Milligan's first attempt failed because the original pump was too large for the bilge compartment. The installation involves wiring the pump's electrical cables to the boat's power supply, securing screws in a tight, awkward compartment, and routing discharge hoses through the hull. The crew tests the pump on the automatic setting by deliberately flooding the bilge, confirming the float switch activates and water discharges correctly. Camille explains the bilge pump's role as an automatic safety system that removes water from the lowest point of the hull — triggered by rain ingress, rogue waves, or slow leaks — and distinguishes it from the manual backup pump every boat carries for electrical-failure scenarios. The confined installation space and screw alignment in the cramped compartment are the main practical difficulties. Once wired and mounted, the pump runs on auto, meaning it activates without crew input if water accumulates while the boat is unattended. Jesse rates the project straightforward once the correct pump dimensions and wiring direction are understood.
More from Stella Overboard
From Stella Overboard — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.