Is My Bilge Pump Automatic?

[SeaRay]

See my signature for my boat.

Is my bilge pump supposed to be automatic?

And, does automatic mean once I turn the switch on it should turn on once the bilge has enough water in it and then shut off once it is drained?

I assume this works off a float and it is set up this way if the boat is stored outside and it rains.

If this is all accurate, I wonder if my floats is stuck because if I turn it on it comes on, even without water in the bilge?? And it stays on until I shut it off. Or maybe mine is not automatic?

 

[mwph]

Automatic = works on a float. When enough water is present it will kick on, pump water, turn off.

Rainwater is not your only enemy.

Evey with an automatic pump, the switch will over ride the float & the pump will run until you switch it off.

 

[springer3]

+1. Not all switches have a float. Some sense water through some sort of electronic sensor. If your pump runs dry for an extended period, it will get very hot and could get damaged. Water pumps are "water cooled".

 

[PDACPA]

Go look at the wiring. 2 wires means its manual and activated by the switch and a 3 wire is probably automatic with a float switch and a manual turn on/off switch

Though some models have a little computer chip that will kick on the pump even if it is just a 2 wire. However, that will only work if the battery is turned on.

I am redoing my set up. I bought a bigger pump with a float. The switch will allow a manual turn on. However, the float will be wired direct to the battery (As I turn the battery off when the boat is not in use) so it can activate regardless.

 

[User Error]

Mine has an auto float switch and a pump under the engine but I can not get the auto anything to work, turn switch on it's on turn it off it's off... you store the boat in water or out on trailer? Mines on the trailer and I keep the plug out unless I am headed to the ramp which keeps it dry since it can always drain. Of course in the water that isn't going to work...

 

[bamafutbal]

can you put it on the trailer, put the plug in and fill it with water (to a certain degree). if it turns on then its automatic.

 

[mwph]

The spec sheet for the boat lists an automatic bildge pump. Based on it being a 1999 I'm going to bet it has a float switch and that if it is not working properly, (when power is present), that switch is gummed up with debris.

 

[Scottbenson]

There is a fuse holder and a flat blade fuse back by the battery. If it is blown, your automatic function on the bilge pump will not work, but the manual switch will still function. Mine was blown and would not work on auto. I replaced it and have had no further trouble.

 

[User Error]

There is a fuse holder and a flat blade fuse back by the battery. If it is blown, your automatic function on the bilge pump will not work, but the manual switch will still function. Mine was blown and would not work on auto. I replaced it and have had no further trouble.

Scott, Can you post a photo?

 

[Scottbenson]

Reckin the photo is no longer an issue. Sorry to hear about your boat. I have stopped a lot of times and wondered what would happen if some one hit me from behind. I would be realy leary about the stearn drive unit, it's gears, bearings etc. If I were in your shoes, I would try like mad to get cashed out and find another boat just for peace of mind.

 

[User Error]

Reckin the photo is no longer an issue. Sorry to hear about your boat. I have stopped a lot of times and wondered what would happen if some one hit me from behind. I would be realy leary about the stearn drive unit, it's gears, bearings etc. If I were in your shoes, I would try like mad to get cashed out and find another boat just for peace of mind.

yeah man I'm there too... At this point the bottom tip of the foot is chipped/ broke and the prop has a flat spot and the bearing in the lower unit clicks so I'm sure there are drive unit issues since it's gonna be one of those knee bone connected to the theigh bone connected to the you get my point... and yeah the photo's isn't much of an issue at this point but maybe later I might want to look into it... it's just a sit and wait game as of now.

 

[SeaRay]

I checked the fuse and it is good.

It is stored on the trailer and I was planning on just using the hose to fill it up and see what happens. Just thought I would check before I tried.

Not really related to the bilge pump but to pulling the drain plug. I had to tow it one time in the rain so I removed the drain plug but forgot about the drain plug in the ski locker.

It was 3/4 full when I found out that I should have pulled it too - after I got home...:wow:

 

[SeaRay]

Update:

The bilge is automatic and works just fine. I filled it with water and it pumped it out.

I guess I just never got enough water in it that it the float turned the pump on.

Thanks All!

 

[comsnark]

On my boat, the system works as follows;

1) It is automatic. Runs when water is in the bilge to a certain level. AND the automatic bilge pump cirucuit still has power even if the battery selector switch is set to "off".

2) If I hit the bilge pump switch on the dash, it will MANUALLY START the bilge pump, and keep it running till I have the switch off.

Having an automatic bilge pump is important for any boat. . .especially one with an I/O drive. There are a number of through hull penetrations that can leak and sink you. . if you don't have a bilge pump. Of particular concern is the rubber bellows on the drive.

This is why on the bigger boats (not that mine is big. . .but ) that have multiple battery setups the bilge pumps will ALWAYS have power, even if you select "batteries off". When I leave the boat, I leave it hooked up to shore power. If I am not around, the boat ain't gonna sink because the bilge pump drained the battery. .

For a boat that is trailered, this clearly isn't as big an issue. Once you start putting the boat in a slip, consider also ensuring that the boat has TWO bilge pumps.