Bilge Water Strainer

[TerryM]

I have a Vetus bilge water strainer fitted to my vessel. I am informed by a BSS inspector that the Broads Authority no longer allow these filters and as such can cause a vessel to fail a BSS inspection.

Brian Wards in Brundall say that their cheapest BA approved strainer is a Wavestream unit costing about £140 plus the fittings costing another £10. Have other boaters had problems with their boats passing the BSS due to having unapproved bilge strainers?

[mikeyboy1966]

Afaik,and I’m happy to be corrected,

the BSS examination is not area specific??

I had my inspection done last week and the examiner didn’t seem to look at the bilge pumps,if he did it was very cursory.I have no strainers /filters fitted at all.

[Smoggy]

The bss inspector is talking crap, bss is nowt to do with the broads it's inland waterways in general, bss doesn’t allow a bilge pump from under an engine unless an oil catch tray is in place but strainers don't come into it.

Unless of course he is talking about an oil separator of some sort, in which case just get an oil tray for under the engine if you can't move the pump to elsewhere. 

 

[BrundallNavy]

Remove the bilge pump and get it reinspected then refit it. Simples. 

[mikeyboy1966]

I’m failing to understand what bilge pumps have to do with boat safety 

Ive no drip tray,engine bilge turned on.

BSS chap never even looked or asked me.

maybe you chaps/chappesses on the east coast need to find some non jobsworths.

he was interested in ventilation,gas ,electrical install and fire fighting etc

the stuff that stops you dying.

[TerryM]

Thank all for you comments. I will contact the Broads Authority next week and will let you have details of their reply.

[stumpy]

We have a Wavestream filter, it removes oil and other pollutants from the bilge pump outlet, dead simple cartridge filter. Passed three BSS tests so far, apparently you can drink the output but I've never tried it.

[Smoggy]

What boat and engine setup?

[TerryM]

Yacht with BMC 1500cc engine Smoggy.

[Smoggy]

So under engine is the deepest part of bilge then, oil catch tray is the solution for bss, but oil absorbing pads (also hold diesel) work really well and float on water so it can be pumped out underneath fairly cleanly, I always have them under my engines as it keeps the grp a lot cleaner.

[CambridgeCabby]

If the bilge hoses are not attached when the bss is done then you do not need to have filters fitted .

[mikeyboy1966]

Part 9

page 81

https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/299273/bss-examination-checking-procedures-interim-public-version.pdf

[BrundallNavy]

From the above if the bilge pump draws from the engine catch tray or sealed area it needs a filter if it takes water from elsewhere it does not. If it’s the former the owner should be encouraged to remove it and no record noted. 

[CambridgeCabby]

On Cerise Lady , the engine bilge hoses were in the bottom of the bilge , I was informed that if the hoses were in place for my BSS then they would fail it but if the hoses were removed from the bilges whilst the test was conducted then it would pass 

[TerryM]

Some very interesting replys. However, should this actually be a boat safety matter anyway. Bilge strainers have nothing to do with gas, fuel or electric. Surely this is an environmental matter, nothing to do with the safety of the vessel being either on the mooring or out on the river!

[mikeyboy1966]

2 hours ago, TerryM said:

Some very interesting replys. However, should this actually be a boat safety matter anyway. Bilge strainers have nothing to do with gas, fuel or electric. Surely this is an environmental matter, nothing to do with the safety of the vessel being either on the mooring or out on the river!

Personally I don’t think it should be anything to do with boat safety certificate,

It should be down to the relevant rules of the waterways the boat is on,

much like toilet holding tanks etc

[JanetAnne]

Surely the real issue here is the pumping of oils and fuels into the rivers. Agreed, it's not a safety issue for the boat itself but, whilst it's part of the BSS, at least someone is checking it!

[annv]

Hi Be aware that Wavestream filters require a stronger pump and as they collect any oils they gradually become   blocked and stop the pump from working. you dont need a filter fitted to a bilge pump, engines should now have a tray or a self contained space under the engine and gear box to collect and hold all drips. Bilge filters were used before this requirement for a contained space/tray came into force on all inland water ways. If they become blocked they will stop the pump from working and could possibly sink your boat .  John

[Smoggy]

So why was a ba guy inspecting your boat in the first place? Or was it a bss guy and slip of the keyboard?

[TerryM]

It was BSS Smoggy!