Bilge pump operation???

[brokemerc]

Getting ready to drop my 95 Bayliner capri, 3.0, alpha 1, gen 2 in the water for the first time (first time for me anyway).. Today I put the plug in the boat after running the motor on ears for about half an hour,, I put the water hose in the bilge and let the water run until the water got to the base of the fwd engine mount.. Water was probably 4-5 inches deep.. I turned the bilge switch on and the pump worked great.. My question is this,,, shouldn't the bilge pump have come on by itself,, I would think even with the key off if the bilge filled with water the pump would automatically come on?? Am I wrong??

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

depends on the bilge pump you have. some are manual. some are 3 wire, which are auto and manual. then you have the manual, with a separate float switch. also some boats have a 3 way switch. on/off/ auto.

 

[brokemerc]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

I know the switch on my dash is two position on/off.. I have to look closer at the bilge pump and see how many wires it has going to it. I would have thought expecially with a fish and ski considering that you can't see what's going on in the engine compartment that the pump would automatically kick on if bilge water got above a certain point.. heck you could have 50-75 gallons of water in there before ya knew there was a problem..

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

There are two types of bilge pumps -- one does not have a float switch and the other does. If all you have is an on/off switch I'm betting you don't have an automatic type. That is not uncommon on trailer boats. If your boat is going to live in the water at a marina, you should have a bilge pump with a float switch, or you can add a separate float switch.

 

[brokemerc]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

Yes I'm pretty sure your correct.. I'm definitely either adding the switch or a different pump with an auto function,, I would definitely be more comfortable knowing that the pump will kick in if water were leaking in, could keep me from getting wet..... Thanks for the input...

 

[brokemerc]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

One more question. If I were to change to an automatic pump,,, what would I need a three position switch?? Or a separate switch?? Would it be fairly easy??

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

you could use the same switch. the auto/manual pump has 3 wire, one power from dash switch, to manually operate it. one is ground. 3rd wire is a constant hot feed to it. so if the water rises, the built in auto switch turns it on.

so you would use the 2 wires there, and add a wire with an inline fuse directly to battery, or a constant hot source.

 

[brokemerc]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

Great,,, Thanks... Sounds like I'm going bilge pump shopping... As soon as I make sure mine doesn't have 3 wires.... If it does I may need to troubleshoot first.. Thanks Again..

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

While you are looking around in there, check for a separate float switch. It may be there, just not working.

 

[DJ]

Re: Bilge pump operation???

Great,,, Thanks... Sounds like I'm going bilge pump shopping... As soon as I make sure mine doesn't have 3 wires.... If it does I may need to troubleshoot first.. Thanks Again..

Buy the biggest one you can afford. A 1000 GPM would be a minimum.