Bilge issues

[Marckmann]

Ok--I have a bilge issue.

Both batteries on my 220DA died--thanked to the marina who winterized the boat leaving them on all winter. We got the boat started and the bilge initally worked. Then the boat died again.

So now we are charging the boat batteries. The boat bilge kicks on but no water comes out. The bilge continues to cycle. The boat appears to not be taking on water--at least by the naked eye.

Why would this happen? Any ideas?

Is my boat going to sink?

 

[estebanj]

Could be a stuck float switch. The float is sending a signal to the pump to come one.

Some float switches are exposed while others have a cover. Regardless, you should be able to manually move the floater and see if this activates/deactivates your bilge pump.

Esteban

 

[Dave M.]

Marckmann,

I think the marina owes you a new set of batteries. If you have normal start batteries, and they were left with an electrical load over the winter, they are probably toast. You may get them charged to where they will start the boat right away, but I would not trust them.

 

[RobF300]

you may have one of those computerized pumps that cycle and if they sense water they stay on. Might have never noticed it before?

If it was a stuck switch your pump would stay on until you burned out the pump or the batteries

 

[Marckmann]

It is fixed. It was electrical. As soon as I fully charged up both batteries--my problems went away.

How do you clean the area under your engine where the water collects.

While I was charging my batteries--I manually cupped all the water out of the boat. The water was gross--moldy brown things floating in it.

 

[KIMO]

...like the factory guy who built my previous boat said, "It ain't a submarine, its gonna get a little water inside."

So I learned to use a Beckson hand pump, then finish with a sponge and finally a towel.

But even better, last year I was up in Canada and saw these guys with a boat-hook bailer combination ...and a light went on. Go to this website and check it out: www.bridgenorthbailer.com.

I think they now sell through West Marine or Boaters World here in the U.S.

...be sure to click on the little blue demo box, it is kind of cool.

 

[Dave M.]

How do you clean the area under your engine where the water collects.

You were never in the Army? :smt017

Elbow grease is the first thing you need. When you get most of the crud out of there, then you can put in some fresh soap and water and start scrubbing. It is helpful is you can tilt the bow up and drain it out the drain plug when you are done. Then rinse it with a hose. Then do it again. You can buy bilge cleaner to put in there, let it sit a while, and rinse out.

When I first cleaned mine, it was a mess too. It had been 'professionally maintained', which probably explains why one of the things I found under there in the water was an old spark plug. :smt101

Oh, one of the things you need to do is figure out how you can reach down under there. I can really only reach under to clean from the port side. On mine I can also reach in from the front of the engine. Sometimes I lay a fender down alongside the stringer for something a bit more comfortable to kneel or lay on. Also, I normally lift out the end of the bilge blower tube that is tucked down alongside the rear of the engine. That helps to see and reach down towards the back.

After you get it reasonably clean, then using a sponge to pick up water that somehow gets in works pretty well. Then you can get the little bit that remains with a towel.

 

[Stray Cat]

[quote="KIMO www.bridgenorthbailer.com.
I think they now sell through West Marine or Boaters World here in the U.S....be sure to click on the little blue demo box, it is kind of cool.[/quote]

It pulls double duty as a 50 ft. water cannon with a velocity 30 times faster than the plunger speed... Thanks KIMO :thumbsup:

Probably should be rinsed before getting in a water fight. I could see spraying someone in a white swim suit with oil residue from bilge water :smt043

 

[MLauman]

I second Dave M's statement: The Marina owes you batteries. Your batteries' lives have been significantly shortened by their oversight. Personally, I would not go out with batteries that had been fully discharged all winter - just a matter of time now.

As for getting the water out, I use a shop-vac.

 

[Dave M.]

Personally, I would not go out with batteries that had been fully discharged all winter - just a matter of time now.

As for getting the water out, I use a shop-vac.

I want to emphasize again what MLauman says about the batteries. You asked if your boat was in danger of sinking. It is not in danger of sinking because of the bilge pump thing. But if you take it out on a lake of any size with starting batteries that have been discharged over the winter. then I say you ARE in danger of sinking. The batteries may decide very quickly they are dead, and you may be unable to start your boat while on the water. If this happens when you are trying to escape a windstorm that is suddenly approaching, then you are in trouble.

Unless you can get an anchor out, and get ahold of the bottom, the boat will quickly position itself sideways to the wind, or maybe bow downwind some. You will roll pretty badly, and could easily take on water. I know it is supposed to drain out safely, if in small amounts. But you really don't want to get yourself in that position.

And I forgot about using a shop vac. It is good for when you get the really foul stuff out. I don't think I would use it first.

This thread belongs in the electrical section.

 

[H2ONUT]

I just cleaned the bilge last night.

I bought a toilet bowl brush, then came home and hose clamped a 2' piece of 1" dowel I had in the garage to it.

Next, I hooked up the hose to the hot water shut-off on the washing machine. Throw a little hot water down there, with some Spic N Span powder and scrub away!

Rinse with the hot water again., Oh, and run both bilge pumps with the cleaner still in there.