PoleVaultPower.com

http://www.trackandfieldstuff.com/vault-box-pump.html

Gill and M-F sell pumps for about $100. This one is a lot cheaper, has anyone used it? Our box is always half full of water, it comes up from the ground. My kids are used to it, but when we host meets the other vaulters freak out, so it would be nice to be able to empty the box faster.

Also, with box pumps, can they get clogged from the dead worms and other crap that gets in the box?

Becca, I used one that we got from academy sports and for about $12.99. Worked great.... looked alot like that one... emptied it all in 2 minutes max!

Suggestion: Get an extra 2" PVC piece (5-10 ft, $2 at local hardware store) to act as an extension... The water will go out of the pump and into the PVC and 5-10 feet off the track and out of the way...

Best of luck!

There is an easier, cheaper, more effective way to get water out of a vault box. All you need is a heavy duty contractor trash bag. I always carry a couple around in my bag. You take the bag, open it up, straddle the box, and then slide the open end of the bag down along the contours of the box starting at the runway (wide) end. Keep the top edge of the bag opening above the water level as you press the bottom edge of the bag tightly to the bottom and sides of the box while you slide it down to and up along the pit (narrow) end. If you are careful, all but a few ounces of the water will be trapped in the bag. The "more effective" part of this method is that you can dispose of the water away from the pit and the runway by simply carrying the bag to a drain or other out-of-the-way place where you can dump the water. Here are links to two videos I put up on YouTube demonstrating this process. I used a bag with tie flaps in the videos but the regular, flat edged bags from Husky work much better. The first video is an end view, the second is a side view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyVR6Squ ... re=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG74NmJLy6c

Darth

I know pole vaulting equipment is unique, but sometimes MF and GILL really over price generic items. I wanted to buy this same pump from them too, especially when I tried it at a local high school that just got one. It works perfect and even sucks up most sand, gravel and rubber granuals from the track. I couldn't see spending $100.00 on it. I searched around and found the exact same pump, literally, from a marine place:

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0037805018256a.shtml?cmCat=perf&rid=0987654321&cm_mmc=Performics-_-CSE-_-GoogleBaseUSA-_-0037805018256a&mr:trackingCode=D55E84C8-958E-DF11-A0C8-002219318F67&mr:referralID=NA

I think it was even on sale for $15.00 when I bought it about a month ago. 1/5 the price of MF and GILL. It is the exact same pump and works beautifully. The only extra thing I did was buy a 12' length of this thin, blue rubber drain hose from a local hardware store that I put over the plastic outlet on the pump. The plastic hose it comes with is way too short to pump the water away from your mats. I used a hose clamp to secure the blue rubber hose to the outlet and I was all set. I use it every time now and it drains the plant box so well, you don't even need to use a rag to soak up the remaining water. There is remaining water, but not even enough to make a splash when the pole tip hits. This pump is a must have for sure.

Also check Amazon.com. They might have a good deal with free shipping if you are a Prime member...