BOATsmart! Canada
Knowledge Base

Module 02 - Boating Rules, Regulations, and Equipment

Bilge Pumps and Bailing Devices

A bilge pump is a water pump, used to remove water from the bilge of your boat. They are available in both manual, and electric designs:

Manual Bilge Pumps are used to dispel water from your boat manually. Make sure the discharge hose is long enough to reach from the bilge to over the side of your boat.

Electric Bilge Pumps are designed to remove water from the hull of your boat. Some electric bilge pumps will turn on automatically if the water level in the bilge begins to rise.

If your boat is fitted with electric bilge pumps it is recommended that you carry a manual pump or bailing device as a back-up!

BAILING DEVICES:

A bailing device is used to remove water from inside a boat. The Small Vessel Regulations require bailers to:

Be made of metal or plastic
Have a volume of at least 750 ml
Have an opening that is at least 65 cm2 in area

Buckets

Buckets can be used to fight fires and dispel water from your boat.

Motorized boats 12 m in length to 24m in length are required to carry two buckets, with a minimum capacity of 10 litres.
Motorized boats over 24 m in length are required to carry four buckets with a minimum capacity of 10 litres.