For the Multi-tasker: Bridgenorth Bailer

Boat hook/deck brush/hand pump gets those hard-to-reach places.

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The Bridgenorth Bailer is a combination hand-pump, telescoping boat hook, and deck brush, but it has more than three uses. As a boat hook, it is&emdash;as Dr. Evil says&emdash;pretty standard, really. The hook tip is smaller than many, but stout, and will work to snag lines and pendants up to about 3/4 of an inch. The tip of the hook has the intake/discharge hole for the pump, and can be fitted into the deck brush.

Bridgenorth Bailer?s

Unlike a typical boat pump like the Beckson Thirsty-Mate, the Bridgenorth has no flow-through valve for a separate discharge&emdash;you push out what you pull in through the same hole, so its not meant for serious de-bailing. Instead, the first purpose of the Bridgenorth is to suck water out of hard-to-reach places like the catacombs of the bilge, a dinghy skeg well, or under floorboards. The second is clean-water squirting. The volume is not great, but the pressure is excellent. Its ideal for spot rinse-offs, and with the brush attached, decks can be scrubbed without hauling around a bucket or hose.

Bridgenorth Bailer?s

The Bridgenorth has nitrile pump seals, a Lexan plastic tip, and foam grips. The pole is anodized aluminum and stainless steel. Its as robust as any telescoping boat hook weve seen, with a pin-lock system thats more secure than twist-locks. The piston seals can withstand the effects of oil and salt, and can be lubricated or replaced.

Weve used the 5-foot Bridgenorth for three months, with no complaints. Boaters World sells the devices for $40 (5 feet) and $50 (8 feet) with a no-rust guarantee.

CONTACT:

BRIDGENORTH BAILER
866/551-2245, bridgenorthbailer.com

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.

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