It’s no fun to roll out of your berth at 4:30 a.m. and stumble toward the shower only to find your boat’s water pressure is producing little more than spit. Likewise, if you’re ever stuck in some backwoods marina where the only excuse for a fuel pump is a couple of rusted 55-gallon drums, it would be wise to consider a GP301-12 Pump from Reverso. This pump is relatively compact, inexpensive, and well suited for priming filters and transferring diesel fuel, water, and antifreeze. It moves fluids at three gallons a minute and generates 55psi of water pressure, which is equivalent to your home shower. Most pumps’ internal rubber impellers keep fluid flowing but wear down over time. And if the pump runs dry, the impeller will fry and can derail the pump.
Diesel Fact
Does your diesel get the winter doldrums? Your fuel could be the depressing culprit. Most of the fuel you buy is known as Number 2 Diesel, which gels at low temperatures and can foul up your fuel lines and filters. For a quick fix, use a hair dryer to heat up the lines. For long-term help, add a low-temperature fuel supplement, which will keep your engine running smoothly.
Instead, the GP301-12 uses bronze gears and stainless-steel shafts, which the company claims will outlast rubber impellers. A lip seal ensures leak-free operation, and a brass body helps keep the GP301-12 cool. It also comes with three groovy switches for momentary, on-off, or reverse controls. What else? It’s about half the price and size of other three-gallon-a-minute pumps. You can fit this 7″-by-4 1/2″-by-3 1/4″ baby just about anywhere. So the next time you need to transfer some fuel from the transom tank to the waterbike on the flying bridge or from the starboard tank into the port…just pump it up. You’ll never have to use one of those little finger pumps to prime an engine again. Price: $345.
