1987 sundancer center bildge pump?

[ProfitOfDoom]

On my dash there is a switch named step down bilge "or pump,I forget now" But im fairly certain there referring to a bilge pump in the center of the boat? Im pretty sure I tried it before and it worked at the start of spring and it actually pumped out a small amount of water. Now Im trying the switch and I dont hear anything,not sure whats going on but I dont see how you even look under the cabin area to locate the bilge,any ideas on how to get to it?
How to float switches work? Could it be possible that it works on a float and when I turned on the power switch to that bilge area it turn on because the float was up and it pumped out what water it had,and now it wont turn on because of no water?

 

[JeffMendenhall]

Not familiar with your size, but on my 300 that pump is for the shower and the switch is in the head marked "Shower". However, mine I can get to.

If you can get to the float switch, flip it up and the pump should come on.

 

[Alibuma]

There should be a trap door on the third step down, righ before you enter the aft cabin. Mine has a silver pullthat you can use to pull open the trap door and reveal the pump. Hope that helps!

 

[andyr]

Do you have a high water bilge pump? This would be a second pump usually in the engine compartment located higher the the primary pump. Standard on a 30' late 80's Sea Ray

 

[JerryS]

The set up on your boat is probably similar to mine. I have two bilge pumps in the engine compartment. One is standard depth and the other is a high water pump. Both are on float switches - ie: they come on automatically when water lifts the float switch. One of the pumps, however, can also be turned on at the dash. The switch on the dash overrides the float switch and turns on the pump when you flip it up.

There is another "bilge" type pump under the middle cushion of the mid berth. It picks up drain water from the shower and refrigerator and A/C if you have it. It has a float switch and comes on automatically. There is no separate switch for that pump. My fresh water pump is also under the mid berth cushion.

From what you are describing, it sounds like one of your engine bilge pumps has crapped out or the switch may be faulty. But - - you didn't say where the water was being pumped out when you saw the pump working. Was it being discharged from the back of the boat or the center area?

 

[ProfitOfDoom]

I cant say for sure,it was wet out when I hit the switch,and I was all scrunched up from crawling under the cover that was still on it,But I for sure heard the sound of water hitting the pavement. I know for sure there is only 1 pump in the engine room,it lays in the V of the boat,On the flat areas where you can stand next to the engine there are none.
If the rain ever stops here I'll look more closely for a hatch door,but I havent seen one yet.
Also from what I seen,it seems that the engine room is totally separate from the rest of the boat,like I mean if you tipped it up,if there was water in the center of the boat it wouldnt drain to the engine room,So if thats the case I would assume there would have to be a pump somewhere,But I just dont see where to enter?
There doesnt appear to be any fuses,all the dash has breaker buttons,and the few fuses I found were good,and Im pretty sure there to other stuff like cb,radi and stuf like that.

 

[JVM225]

The high water pump is likely not controlled by a switch on the dash. It probably is only controlled by a float switch adjoining it. You're likely to know when it goes on because they often have an alarm hooked up to them. If it goes off, your in trouble.
The dash switch could be for either the other (lower) bilge pump in the engine compartment, or a forward bilge pump located under the cabin area somewhere.
The dash switch should over ride any float switch. If the pump doesn't come on when you hit the switch in the dash, the switch could be bad, or the pump itself could be shot.
I might try cleaning the contacts on the switch if you can get to it. If that doesn't do it then you can test the pump by wiring directly to see if it comes on.
I like to use my rechargeable "battery jumper" for wiring things directly. It's usually easier than running wires all over the place.

 

[ProfitOfDoom]

I couldnt take it anymore,I went out just now... I found it!
It was under the 2nd cushion in the aft cabin,I pulled it up and seen a float,Floating in some water
Yo were right,it was in a small compartment with a tube coming from either the bathroom or under the sink/fridge area. Im guessing the bathroom because I see a drain in the floor. Im not sure where all that water came from though? Only thing I can think of is the windows were leaking pretty bad I guess all that water could be built up from all winter,or god knows how long before I fixed them.
But either way the pump would not come on,I guess tomorrow I can test to see if it will power on if I hook it up directly and then go from there... I still dont get it,that area looks like it is partitioned off like the engine room? So the engine area has 1 bilge,and this bilge is just for the shower? The area was like 1' wide by 2' long and looked like it didnt go anywhere but that area. I guess they figure if you get a hole in the cabin area upfront a bilge isnt going to help you anyway?

 

[JerryS]

That pump is just for the cabin area. When you get the water out, you'll probably see a couple of places where drains come in because it is going to pick up water from both the starboard and port sides of the cabin. If the pump didn't come on when you lifted the float switch, it may have crapped out. Running the pump manually when there is no water in there could damage the pump. It is interesting that you don't have a high water bilge pump in the engine compartment. I think that I would add one with a float switch. If that primary pump gives out, you could be in deep do do.
I don't quite understand the logic for having a float switch and a manual switch for your cabin pump. The manual switch, it seems to me, is for emergency use. For example, my primary bilge pump has a float switch and manual switch. In an emergency, where you are taking on water and the primary float switch fails to activate the pump, the secondary bilge pump will come on when it's float switch is lifted. At that point, you would be looking in the bilge to see what is going on and manually turn on the primary bilge pump. Otherwise, I can't think of any reason to manually turn on the pump unless you are just hell bent on damaging the pump. Hmmm, a manual override switch for the cabin pump, but, no back up bilge pump and no manual switch for the primary bilge pump? I believe that I would make some modifications. I hate it when the boat sinks, that ticks me off.

You are right about a hole in the cabin area. If you hit something hard enough to do that, the boat is going to the bottom and you are probably going to the hospital.

By the way, I'm just wondering - is your boat sitting outside on a trailer? I mean, if the windows are leaking ( not uncommon) and the center bilge had to work all winter, it has probably killed your batteries. I'm just wondering - are your batteries still alive?

And, I just noticed something else that you said. You said that there is an engine bilge pump in the bottom of the V, but there is no pump in the flat area where you where standing. - There wouldn't be. Both engine bilge pumps should be in the bottom of the V. It is just that one float switch is located higher in the V than the other. Therefore, the float that is higher controls the so called high water pump.

 

[ProfitOfDoom]

Ok,I got it working. It must have been a loose connection at the switch or something "It took me cutting the wires and running a direct connection to the battery to make sure the pump and switch was still good,They work,ohh well just have to splice back together "
But there are no other tubes or hoses that lead to that area except for the drain in the bathroom floor "I tested it with a bottler of water,so thats where it comes from for sure" So my question is,I should only have water there if someone took a shower and I dont have a shower or plan to install one. The float does work as long as you leave the dash switch in the on postion,but that would seem a waste as there should hardly ever be any water in that area,Should I just wire it as it was,or just get rid of it?
As far as the cabin area floor,I see no area to see whats down there. Should there be any pump down there or not?
And I also have a mystery water hole exit on the side of the boat " Im not sure what yop call those holes on the side of the boat where the water exits from the pumps?"
But I traced all those holes and know where they come from except one. I have 2 on each side at the rear of the boat,1 large one on each side are just the hose drain from the engine hatch deck door,and the 2 small holes on each side are 1 for the engine pump,and the other one is the pump that is for the shower drain under the aft cabin cushions what we were talking about what was to start all this thread.
There is one more drain hole on the port side and that seems to be just a drain on the steps leading to the cabin.
Then there are 2 more drain holes for the sinks,1 for kitchen,1 for bathroom,These are on starboard side. And the last mystery hole is also on starboard side up a little higher on the boat,you can actually see it if you go in the aft cabin and look in the little sliding storage doors,I see the hose come in and goes toward the front of the boat,behind the kitchen area but cant see where it goes to?
Someone mentioned above about a/c and refigerator but they said these could possibly be tied in to the shower drain? or Could this possibly be the mystery hole,But it doesnt seem likely seeing how it would have to travel up to go out,and I would imagine the refridge would only drip and not have enough power to make it up and out?
I know this is a lot to take in,but if anyone has any ideas please let me know,Thanks

 

[JerryS]

1) Holes - Thru Hulls
2) Cabin Floor pump - No
3) Mystery thru hull - possibly if you had A/C, it would be for the seawater pump discharge. Just a guess! The shower pump would pick up the condensate from the A/C
4) A dash switch for the shower pump is unnecessary. You could wire directly to float switch and forget dash switch. Your call.
5) Your boat is unsafe with only a primary bilge pump. You need to install a high water bilge pump. IMHO

 

[ProfitOfDoom]

Ok,I guess I just wont worry about the mystery hole. I went and pulled out the fridge,there is no hoses or anything to catch water,How much moisture do these things put out?
I guess im just going to wire the float and bilge back together and just look in there every once in a while to see if anything is gathering and I guess it wouldnt hurt to just flip the switch if I feel I need the float to work if I leave it,it should draw power if its not running,right?
I'll look into putting a 2nd pump in the engine room,But I honestly dont see how I would get one under the engine,It is super tight and I dont see any more room. But if I did you mean to put the float up high and the pump down low?
Right now there looks to be a float switch and 1 pump on the lowest part in the V and thats it.
Also the boat should take on zero water unless there is a problem with bellows or something right?
Or would it be normal to find small amounts of water in it from time to time?

 

[JerryS]

If you put a second bilge pump in, it should be at lowest point that you can get it. The float switch for it should be a little higher than the float switch for the primary pump.
It's not the bellows, it's the "or something else".