I HATE AUTOMATIC BILGE PUMPS!

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,934
The best auto bilge switches I used were the Sure Bails with the Mercury switches. First one lasted 12 years and the one I put in after that is about the same age now. I bought a spare back then so if this one fails I have a replacement. They don’t make these anymore as far as I know….
 

Horigan

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Messages
735
Gee, I currently use a electronic-sensing auto bilge pump. It has no float to get jammed and they last 5 years or so, before breaking. Every of those pumps that I had (say 6), failed in the electronic water sensor module. The pump would still work on manual.

I transitioned to the auto-sense pump, because a piece of crap got under the float, and guess what happened?
How do you test it?
 

airshot

Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
6,320
Instead of bashing bilge pumps, why not fix the water intrusion issue, then no pump worries... My bilge pump is factory original and still works fine, 34 years old.....I don't see the problem....
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,934
Moored/docked boat always get rain water in the bilge even with waterproofed covers.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,934
True, but I think a lot less than what gets in a ski boat during a active day on the lake.
Agreed
the odd thing is that I find with my boat it gets less in the bilge from rain water when it's actually out on the mooring than when it's in the driveway.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,646
"How do you test an auto sensing bilge pump?" They run every 2-3 minutes for a second or two to see if there is water to pump. So wait 3 min and listen for the pump to come on.
 
Top