Updated May 28, 2021
When you’re kayaking your base is low with lots of opportunities to take on water, especially in the rapids and waves, or if you capsize. Many sit-on-top models are self-bailing but if your kayak has enclosed compartments, water trapped there is a hassle that can be a major safety concern.
A bilge pump is just what the doctor ordered. They are small and easy to operate and can usually set you right in a hurry.
To help in your selection process, some top models, both electrical and hand-powered, are introduced below. There is a simple comparison table to start you off, followed by descriptions, key features, photos, and videos, and a buying guide to finish up.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of canoes, kayaks, boats, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
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Kayak Bilge Pump Reviews
- NRS Kayak Bilge Pump and Basic Touring Safety Kit
- Rule 25S Marine 500 Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump
- Attwood Tsunami Manual Kayak Bilge Pump
- SeaSense Hand Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump
- Seattle Sports Paddler’s Kayak Bilge Pump
- Scotty #544 Kayak Bilge Pump
- Attwood Sahara Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump
- Vbestlife Floating Kayak Bilge Pump
Kayak Bilge Pump Comparison Table
| Picture | Bilge Pump | Weight | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | NRS Kayak Bilge Pump and Basic Touring Safety Kit | 1.9 lbs | 21 inches | $ |
  | Rule 25S Marine 500 Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump | 1.23 lbs | 7 inches | $$ |
  | Attwood Tsunami Manual Kayak Bilge Pump | 1 lb | 8.5 inches | $$ |
  | SeaSense Hand Kayak Bilge Pump | 1.45 lbs | 18 inches | $ |
  | Seattle Sports Paddler's Kayak Bilge Pump | 12 ounces | 21 inches | $ |
  | Scotty #544 Kayak Bilge Pump | 10.4 ounces | 18.5 inches | $ |
  | Attwood Sahara Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump | 12.8 ounces | 8.1 inches | $ |
  | Vbestlife Floating Kayak Bilge Pump | 12.35 ounces | 18.11 inches | $ |
| Picture | Bilge Pump | Weight | Length | Price |
NRS Kayak Bilge Pump and Basic Touring Safety Kit
This handy low-priced kit has a floating 21-inch bilge pump that can clear 8 gallons per minute.
Also included is a sponge to mop up excess water, a paddle float, and an emergency whistle.
- Length: 21 inches (pump)
- Weight: 1 pound (pump), 1.9 pounds (whole kit)
- Constructed from ABS with a foam coating for flotation
- Rust-resistant stainless steel screws
- Pumps 8 gallons per minute
- Kit includes a whistle, paddle float, sponge (6 x 4 x 2 inches), and bilge pump
- Low-priced
Rule 25S Marine 500 Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump
The Rule 25S Marine 500 Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump is compact and lightweight great for kayaks and other small watercraft.
It runs on a 12-volt power supply which you will need to install. Operating automatically, sensors detect water in your kayak which triggers the pump to start.
When the water level reduces it then also shuts off automatically.
When operating in whitewater or you otherwise are unable to manually remove water it is the ideal option.
It comes with a 3-year limited warranty
- Length: 7 inches
- Weight: 1.23 pounds
- Automatic operation, no external switch required, electronic sensing
- 500 gallon per hour flow rate
- ¾ inch port size
- 12 Volt DC power source required (also available in a 24 Volt model)
- 3-year limited warranty
Attwood Tsunami Manual Kayak Bilge Pump
The Attwood Tsunami Manual Kayak Bilge Pump is a compact, lightweight model that has a powerful 1,200 gallons per hour flow rate to quickly drain your kayak.
With a reputation for quality construction and ease of maintenance, it has an easily replaced motor core, if needed.
You will need to install it with a 12 Volt power source.
The Tsunami requires you to manually turn it on and off.
- Length: 8.5 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Quality construction with a patented shaft seal and caulked and tinned wiring
- Manual operation
- 1,200 gallons per hour flow rate
- Also available in 500 and 800 gallons per hour versions
- ¾ inch port size
- Double filter base
- Replaceable/interchangeable motor cores
- 12 Volt DC power source required
- Comes with a 1 1/8-inch outlet and a 29-inch connection wire
SeaSense Hand Kayak Bilge Pump
The SeaSense Hand Kayak Bilge Pump is lightweight, self-priming, and fast, easily accessing the nooks and crannies where water can accumulate on a kayak or small boat.
Easy to clean and maintain, and corrosion-proof, it has an ergonomic handle and removable hose.
This is the smallest in a line that includes several larger models.
Pricing is quite reasonable.
- Length: 18 inches (pump), 20 inches (hose)
- Also available in a 24-inch model with a 36 or 72-inch hose, and a 36-inch model with a 36-inch hose
- Weight: 1.45 pounds
- Self-priming
- Intake foot filters the water coming in
- Easy-cleaning
- Secure washer seal anti-leak design
- Corrosion-proof plastic construction
- Ergonomic, easy-grip handle
- Removable hose
- Low-priced
Seattle Sports Paddler’s Kayak Bilge Pump
The Seattle Sports Paddler’s Kayak Bilge Pump is a handy easy-to-use model suitable for kayaks and other small boats.
Ultra-low-priced, it is lightweight at 12 ounces with a foam collar to keep it afloat should it make its way overboard, and a quickly spotted bright neon yellow color for easy retrieval.
The rubber handle-grip is comfortable and a 1-inch hose can be added if you want to route the water further away from the boat.
- Length: 21 inches
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Floating foam collar
- Easy-grip ergonomic rubber over-molded handle
- High-visibility neon yellow color
- 1-inch in diameter hose can be added to the output opening (not included)
- Low-priced
The Scotty #544 Kayak Bilge Pump is a durable, high-quality model from the makers of all those Scotty attachments for your kayak.
It is lightweight, compact, and durable with a stainless steel piston rod, an easy-grip handle, and a floating collar.
It doesn’t come with a hose but many users have commented on how forceful the water is ejected to the extent that a hose is not a mandatory accessory.
The pricing is pretty low and there is a lifetime warranty to ensure many years of use.
- Length: 18.25 inches, (pump body length: 13.5 inches)
- Weight: 10.4 ounces
- Floating red collar
- Easy-grip handle
- Durable stainless steel piston rod
- No hose
- Lifetime warranty
- Low-priced
Attwood Sahara Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump
The Attwood Sahara Automatic Kayak Bilge Pump is a quiet, compact, ultra-lightweight model that starts and stops automatically, and has a solid pumping capacity of 500 gallons per hour.
This is great for a kayak in whitewater or larger vessels with sleeping quarters that have to meet government regulations.
Users report easy installation and maintenance.
Pricing is low and there is a 3-year warranty to back it up.
- Length: 8.1 inches
- Weight: 12.8 ounces
- Automatic float switch
- Useful for kayaks and small boats and meets requirements for vessels over 20 feet with sleeping accommodations
- 500 gallon per hour flow rate
- ¾ inch port size
- 12 Volt DC power source required
- Easy installation
- Comes with a ¾-inch interior diameter outlet and a 29-inch length of 16-gauge caulked and tinned copper wire
- 3-year warranty
- Low-priced
Vbestlife Floating Kayak Bilge Pump
The Vbestlife Floating Kayak Bilge Pump is another compact, lightweight, hand pump that will do a great job for your kayak.
It has an efficient and powerful pump rate of .8L per cycle and an EVA sleeve for flotation.
To evacuate water from deeper vessels the outlet can accommodate a 25mm (1-inch) in diameter hose (not included).
Made of durable nylon and EVA it has an easy-grip ergonomic handle.
Pricing is reasonable.
- Length: 18.11 inches
- Weight: 12.35 ounces
- Constructed of nylon and EVA
- Anti-leak design with a removable gasket
- 1cm EVA sleeve for flotation
- Double-drainage design evacuates .8L of water per manual pump cycle
- Ergonomic, easy-grip handle
- Can accommodate a 25mm (1-inch) hose, not included
- Low-priced
Kayak Bilge Pump Buying Guide
Purpose
The lowest section of a boat or kayak is known as the bilge and is located below the water level. Water can build up there from splashing, waves, just dripping from your paddle, or most abruptly through capsizing.
The type of water build-up you anticipate can guide you as to the best bilge pump for your needs.
If you have a small accumulation over a period of time it may be convenient to stop occasionally and use a hand pump to get it out.
When negotiating whitewater or waves and a more or less continuous amount of water gets in, it may be more efficient and convenient to have an electrically powered pump that operates while you continue to paddle.
Power Source
The two methods for powering a bilge pump are manual using your hands and arms, or electric using a battery.
Manual
Generally relatively small and lightweight, manual pumps are cylindrical with an appearance much like a tire pump and operated by moving the handle up and down sucking water from the bilge and forcing it out an opening near the top. These are usually easy to store onboard and convenient when the amount of water to move is not great.
Electric Bilge Pumps
Many of these have a motor powered by a 12V battery and in some cases a 24V or even alkaline batteries. All reviewed above use the 12V version. The major advantage is that they can pump while you continue paddling or other activities. Oftentimes they are capable of expelling large volumes and are convenient when water is continually accumulating such as in waves or whitewater. Some models require you to turn it on to begin operation and turn it off when the water has been cleared. Others have a means of detecting the water level and will start and stop pumping automatically.
Size
The size and flow rate to suit your needs is based on the size of the kayak and the amount of water you could potentially take onboard based on whether you are on flat water, in waves, or whitewater.
For single kayaks, a shorter manual bilge pump in the range of 17.5-20 inches is probably large enough. For longer kayaks or tandem models, look for a pump with a longer cylinder.
A rule of thumb is that a manual pump takes about 8 strokes on average to remove a gallon of water, which is about 8 gallons per minute. That works out to around 500 gallons per hour. The three electric models reviewed all have at least a flow rate of 500 gallons per hour. The Attwood Tsunami model exceeds it with a flow rate of 1,200 gallons per hour.
Installation
Careful consideration should be paid to where your pump will be mounted onboard your kayak.
A hand pump should be located where it will be easily accessed behind or near your seat in the cockpit with a secure attachment. In rough conditions or when capsized, you would not want it to come loose. Most have foam for flotation should it break free.
Battery-operated pumps require a bit of work to install. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions and make sure it is positioned where it doesn’t get in the way. On the floor base behind the seat is recommended with the battery sealed in a waterproof case above it.
Further reading: Kayak Bilge Pump Installation How to Use a Canoe or Kayak Bilge Pump Fitting an Electric Pump to a Sea Kayak
For more reviews of canoes, kayaks, boats, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Inflatable Canoes Electric Pumps for Inflatables Pedal Kayaks Ocean Fishing Kayaks Fishing Kayak Paddles Waterproof Bags Canoe Paddles Canoes Kayak Shoes Kayak Helmets Kayak Wetsuits Kayak Roof Racks Kayak Carts Kayak Drysuit Review Kayak Paddles Kayak Life Vests Women Kayak Life Vests Marine VHF Radios Small Outboard Motors Kayak Trolling Motors Kayak Fish Finders Marine GPS Marine Binoculars Women’s Kayaks Touring Kayaks Tandem Kayaks Whitewater Kayaks for Beginners Lake Kayaks Ocean Kayaks Fishing Kayaks Beginner Kayaks Recreational Kayaks Inflatable Kayaks Inflatable Boats
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