Automatic bilge pump not priming

[ruggles]

Hi everyone, getting the boat ready for this season and I want to deal with this pump. I bought the boat last year and I had to deal with more important mechanical issues. So here's the deal. When the bilge fills up with rain water even if the pump is permanently submerged, it buzzes but it doesn't pump. It's cavitating. As soon as I loosed off the out take hose from the pump it starts pumping and I can then put the hose back on and it pumps it all out... Is it because there is a loop in the outtake hose causing an airlock?

Thanks

 

[bruceb58]

Sounds like you need a new pump. What does the impeller look like?

 

[wrench 3]

Take the loop out of the hose and see what happens.

 

[alldodge]

How high is the exit from the bottom of the pump?
Agree with wrench and will ask does the hose have a loop in it

 

[Thalasso]

The discharge hose should go with a gradual upward incline raising above the thru-hull fitting then dropping back down to the thru-hull fitting.
Do not allow the hose to dip or drop anywhere along the hose run, this can cause an air lock.

 

[ruggles]

Thanks for the info guys. It definitely has a loop in the hose and then goes up to the thru hull. I'll reroute it and test it. I can't get to the boat for 3 weeks so I'll report back then. I have to replace my blower as well. What's the quietest 3" blower for the buck?

 

[alldodge]

What's the quietest 3" blower for the buck?

Don't know of any of them that have a sones rating like bathroom fans. I like to hear mine (tells me it's working) but then again once the motor is running I shut it off. So far as sound guess I would look for a quality made one, in most cases quality cost more. I would recommend the Rule model
http://www.iboats.com/135CFM-3-In-L...8351539--session_id.778277613--view_id.167690

 

[Thalasso]

The loop should be above the thru hull. This puts it above the static water line

 

[wrench 3]

It would be wise to go with a blower that's water resistant. I've replaced them on a three year old boat that were seized because the manufacturer used regular ones.