Blige pump vs drain plug

[tazrig]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

I haven't see the words "Automatic" or "Float Switch" anywhere in this thread.
If your pump does not have a Float Switch or an Automatic Water Sensor built in, it will not run unless you manually turn it on!

I was thinking the exact same thing but then I re-read the OP's 1rst post and he said the only time he's seen it working is when he is washing the boat with a hose and then he talks about after "it" shuts off there is still water left so it sounds like it's activating and stopping by itself. But the more I think and type your right, he hasn't said it's specifically an automatic. :facepalm:

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Blige pump vs drain plug

i too read that and assumed he was automatic. to answer the other question, if you tie the other pump into the same plumbing, you will need 1 way valves to prevent the water from the running pump from discharging out the one that is not

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

I haven't see the words "Automatic" or "Float Switch" anywhere in this thread.
If your pump does not have a Float Switch or an Automatic Water Sensor built in, it will not run unless you manually turn it on!

What Make/Model Pump do you have?

The 3M products are PolyUrethane Based. They are way more appropriate.

I have a blige switch on the dash but it cuts on and back off by itself when
I'm washing the boat. Not sure what type it is because I can only point my
camera blindly in it's direction and snap a picture (engine is in the way).

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Blige pump vs drain plug

All new plumbing and to a separate battery if possible.

Great advise on adding a second blige!! I will start researching it asap. Would you guys
add all new plumbing or tap into the existing stuff?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Blige pump vs drain plug

Absolutely do not tap into existing plumbing... add all new with a new thruhull... keep hose run as short as reasonably possible... if your hose holds a gallon of water, that's a gallon that will run back into the boat each time the pump shuts off... also make sure there are no dips in the hose that trap water as these can cause an airlock and prevent the pump from priming

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

I have a bilge switch on the dash but it cuts on and back off by itself when
I'm washing the boat. Not sure what type it is because I can only point my
camera blindly in it's direction and snap a picture (engine is in the way).

View attachment 191157

That looks to be an older model Rule Mate 500GPH (1890LPH) Automatic Pump. Model RM500.
It is automatic ON at 2.75"and OFF at 0.5".

It was likely pumping and you never noticed it.
I have never seen mine run, but my passengers have stated after the outing,
that they saw the water stream, but it didn't occur to them to mention it.

It looks like a rag laying next to the pump. Clean out that bilge!
Debris is the #1 cause Pumps Fail to operate.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

I have a blige switch on the dash but it cuts on and back off by itself when
I'm washing the boat. Not sure what type it is because I can only point my
camera blindly in it's direction and snap a picture (engine is in the way).

View attachment 191157

I just found a potential problem with your picture. If you look in between the pump and the orange tube (looks like a giant butt connecter) you will see a cloth or a rag or paper towel laying there. Every time the pump turns on it will suck that against the strainer, the pump will stop pumping water and the internal sensor will tell the pump to shut off because there is no longer water present. I wonder if that is why you're ending up with water in the bilge at the end of the day because the pump doesn't stay on long enough each time to pump out ALL the water because it keeps getting clogged and shutting off. Take that paper towel or what ever it is along with anything else that is in the bilge area out and see if that doesn't solve the problem. You'll still have to seal the leak where the water is coming in but that is a separate issue.

 

[ilovevintage81]

Re: Blige pump vs drain plug

I had a bilge that wouldnt come on niether it may need cleaned i had to spray mine everytime i use to have to do that to fish filter pumps too the motor will stick once you move the blade it will go

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

It look like a rag laying next to the pump. Clean out that bilge!
Debris is the #1 cause Pumps Fail to operate.

I saw that too but didn't put the two issues together as a potiential problem.
Must have been there since I bought the boat last year.

Thanks UncleWille and tazrig

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Blige pump vs drain plug

just as important as the location of the pump is the location of the float switch (unless it's an all-in -one unit). It could also be that the float is waterlogged or otherwise impeded.

Anyone else worry about water coming through the transom holes all these years and rotting the wood core?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Blige pump vs drain plug

FWIW - here is my recent thread on relocating the bilge pump . . . it seemed like my previous bilge pump setup would leave a fair amount of water in the bilge, so I relocated the pump to the transom area

Thread: http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topics-questions-not-engine-topics/relocated-bilge-pump-596622.html

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

just as important as the location of the pump is the location of the float switch (unless it's an all-in -one unit). It could also be that the float is waterlogged or otherwise impeded.

The RM500 uses an Electronic Water Sensor, Internal to the pump. No moving Parts/Floats!

Anyone else worry about water coming through the transom holes all these years and rotting the wood core?

Funny you should mention that!

If you search the forum you will find a few threads where owners have looked at the insides of the transoms
and were shocked at what they found.
It appears the manufacturers just drill a hole through the transom for the Garboard/Bilge Plug fitting,
and slip in a piece of 1" PVC Pipe to make it look nice from the outside.

I puller my Garboard Plug Fitting to see how well they had done. Not So Well!
The PVC pipe stub was glued in with a small amount of Silicon. It slid out easily.
The Transom is 2.25" thick. The PVC was only 1.5" long.
So, It could have never extended past the transom core into the bilge.

Next a cheap Web Cam was taped to a stick and fished under the engine to get a look at the inside of the transom.
The back side looks like the Hole Saw broke through, and that was how it remained. Not Pretty! :grumpy:


The good news is, the hole has been sitting open for 6 months over the winter and is now as dry as it is ever going to get. I have machined a custom plastic fitting for the Transom Inside that is going to seal this up Ship-Shape.
I'll start a new thread about this to show the details.

If the PVC Pipe had been an inch longer and some 5200 was used to sealed it to the inside of the transom, it would have been fine. This would have been very inexpensive and easy to do before the engine was installed.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind! :faint2:

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Next a cheap Web Cam was taped to a stick and fished under the engine to get a look at the inside of the transom.
The back side looks like the Hole Saw broke through, and that was how it remained. Not Pretty! :grumpy:
Out of Sight, Out of Mind! :faint2:

I wonder if I should rent a sewer camera to get a good look around my engine. The boat is a 2008
with 86 hours. The bilge blower motor is making a terrible noise. There's no telling what the original owner may have patched or rigged to get by.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Blige pump vs drain plug

If you have access to a hoist, it doesn't take long at all to pull the engine out...... then replace bilge pump and blowers, clean everything up and drop it back in

This is assuming that you really can't reach under it to get at the pump.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

I wonder if I should rent a sewer camera to get a good look around my engine. The boat is a 2008
with 86 hours. The bilge blower motor is making a terrible noise. There's no telling what the original owner may have patched or rigged to get by.

How about just an iPhone . . .

 

[QC]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

The bilge blower motor is making a terrible noise.

I had one that screamed like a banshee. I am sure someone will tell us why this is a horrible idea, but I'd hit the intake of the blower with some spray lube and let it suck it in and see what that does. If you cant reach the suction side, then spray with it off into the pressure side, and let it drip in, and then try again. Would straighten mine out for a little while. BTW, blowers are cheap.

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

I had one that screamed like a banshee. I am sure someone will tell us why this is a horrible idea, but I'd hit the intake of the blower with some spray lube and let it suck it in and see what that does. If you cant reach the suction side, then spray with it off into the pressure side, and let it drip in, and then try again. Would straighten mine out for a little while. BTW, blowers are cheap.

I've seen them for $21 dollars but I can't even find where the thing is. I can hear it loud and clear!

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

How about just an iPhone . . .

My arm can't reach around to the rear where it appears all this bilge stuff is located.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

My arm can't reach around to the rear where it appears all this bilge stuff is located.

+1 on That!
My arm needs to be at least another foot longer but without a second elbow it still out of reach.
So close but so far away!

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

Re: Bilge pump vs drain plug

The captn next to me years ago had the same problem. After a couple large glasses of scotch I asked why not just disconnect and leave it there so we can put in all new 'stuff'. So he had it done-- all ended well!

+1 on That!
My arm needs to be at least another foot longer but without a second elbow it still out of reach.
So close but so far away!