7 replies to this topic

[BigRed]

Has anyone watched their bilge pump eject water from the boat? I have turned the bilge on several times and have heard it running but have never been able to see water eject out of the boat. I have been just concluding that the bilge is dry. However, when I pull the boat out of the water and undo the drain plugs, water pours out.

Am I missing something here? Or should I start investigating into the installation of the bilge pump.

[stevenh]

Has anyone watched their bilge pump eject water from the boat? I have turned the bilge on several times and have heard it running but have never been able to see water eject out of the boat. I have been just concluding that the bilge is dry. However, when I pull the boat out of the water and undo the drain plugs, water pours out.

Am I missing something here? Or should I start investigating into the installation of the bilge pump.

Part of my after-run proceedure when running in salt water is to drain the boat, then rinse out the engine compartment with the plug still out, then I plug the hole and run fresh water in until the auto bildge kicks in. This forces fresh water through the pump to help get rid of any salt in there. The pumps from my '03 Sportster and my '05 Speedster 200 both pushed water out at a good clip. It's roughly the same as a garden hose running. The pump will shut off well before all the water is gone. I believe the pick up is at least an inch or so above the floor. After I run the pump, I pull the plug again and always get some water out the drain. By bildge has only kicked in on it's own in very heavy rain when the boat is at the dock, I have never taken in enough water for it to go on while in use, even when doing subs (I get the boat back on a plane quickly if I have taken water into the passenger compartment so I can get it out the scupper before it leaks into the ski locker).

You should probably test your blidge to make sure it will work when/if you need it, but it is probably OK.

Steve

[fslifer]

Water level in bilge must be above bottom of the pump in order to have something to pump ! When it is deep, mine pumps well.

[thumper]

good point stevenh - i always flush a lot of water thru the engine bay - but never put the bungs in to clear the bilge - good point.

[Andrew S.]

I have not rinsed down the engine compartment for worry of spraying something I should not. Do you just spray everything in there down including the engine (the spray the engine with lubricant)? Also I have had to lift my trailer at the tongue almost 90 degrees to get almost all the water out with the plugs out. Does it matter if there is a little water in the middle bottom left over that you can't get out?

Also, the first two times I took it out I left the drain plugs undone but realized shortly after I dropped it in and then brought it out, let it drain out and plugged it before dropping again.

[DW-SATX]

Great topic guys! I had the same concern with my bilge pump as I have never seen it work either. Even after taking on a great deal of water, but I now know that most of that goes right out the scupper. Next time I am cleaning the boat I will make sure to put enough water in there to verify that the bilge is indeed working. Much better to figure out if it is working properly at home than on the water during an emergency. Thanks!

[mrfixitct]

I had similar prob, pump running but not pushing anything.Reverse flushing bilge plumbing showed the issue, leaves had plugged the pump input, after reverse flush and removing debris with wet vac all is well..

[Wolfgang]

Geeze - I didn't know it had an auto-on function! Thought you had to toggle the switch to get it to run. Mine pumps when the switch is toggled and there is water in bilge. I cleaned bilge with Simple Green and it came out nice and clean.