I have the yellow/blue Seattle Sports bilge pump. I like it but it’s an inch or two long to load transverse behind the seat in my kayak (it would fit if I could get it in but since the cockpit coaming is an narrower than the inside and the seats in the way, There is no way to get it in.) So I want to get a shorter pump. I thinking up to 18" would fit.
Use a plastic cup and a Shamwow. In all my years of paddling, the only time I ever used my pump was after washing out my cockpit. The chance of getting very much water in your boat is very remote–especially if it is a sea kayak.
The few times I have gotten much water in the cockpit, I was able to cup my hands and quickly bail enough out to be on my way. The Shamwow sucks water better than a sponge and will finish the job better than any pump.
Magooch, very dangerous advice depending on where/what conditions the OP paddles. Sea kayaks flood for a variety of reasons, even if you don’t wet exit.
I differ from Magooch. I am using pumps often. Skirts leak. Hatches leak. Any waves large enough to go over the deck or rescue practice means some water in the boat. Hopefully just spongeable amounts, but a pump is an important piece of gear to have.
I have an Aquabound Bilge Master. It is 17 5/8" overall and fits behind the seat of my Sterling’s Ice Kap which is 19" wide at that point; works well. https://aquabound.com/pump
Spend some time doing rescue training - especially under realistic conditions - and the need for a bilge pump becomes obvious. As I said in the “squirt gun” thread, some things that seem like good ideas are useless “when the the fecal matter hits the rotary ventilation unit”.
Should be blatantly obvious; squirt guns are totally useless, if you paddle whitewater in open canoe.
I’d love to see a video of someone emptying this whitewater solo canoe, with a squirt gun; after it took on 10 to 15 gallons of water.
Paddler: pblanc in Dagger Prophet at Nantahala Falls.