Bilge Pump... automatic or not??

[5150abf]

Re: Bilge Pump... automatic or not??

I am big on redundancy so I would go with 2 pumps, one full auto and the other auto with a dash switch.

As others have said, Murpy has away and it is best to try and stay ahead of him.

I have a 500 and 1100, both auto and the small one is on a dash switch also, the large one is slightly higher in the bilge so it won't kick on with rain water and has an audible alarm so I know immediately if I have a problem.

The boat is trailered so if it is on the water I am on it.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Bilge Pump... automatic or not??

My boat came with one of those computer pumps and it was junk. The computer did not function properly so I basically only had a manual pump. I will never have another one.

Float switches can and will get stuck.

I use a Johnson Ultima Switch. It has sensors to tell the water level and no moving parts. You wire it just like a float switch. I've had it on for nearly 3 years and no problems. You can mount it separately or attach it to the Johnson pump. The pump also has a removable motor cartridge so that you can change the motor or impeller quickly. I will never use another kind of bilge pump.

I definitely like having the multiple parts that go together instead of one entire unit. It's easier and cheaper to replace anything that goes bad, instead of replacing the entire unit, plus I keep a spare motor cartridge in the boat.

If I were to leave my boat in the water all the time I would have two entire systems set up just in case something goes wrong with one of them.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Bilge Pump... automatic or not??

Yes go with the automatic with float... and YES install a back up as well. In Canada I had one fail in the middle of the night during a horrific storm. Came out in the morning and had almost sunk. I turned the other one on and saved the boat. So now I have two with automatic floats and one of them switched as well. You always want 2 pumps just in case.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bilge Pump... automatic or not??

Well we use our boat 4-5 days a week sometimes... for sure 2 times a week(We live on the lake). I have two deep cycle batteries on boat, one for my starting and the other for my music at the sandbar. Boat is docked all summer, but i do take it out every two weeks for a good wash and wax. So which bilge pump suites me best? Automatic or float?

Thanks for all the responses!!

float switch activated pump. it only runs when you need it. It runs when you don't know you need it, too. A manual switch hooked to the same pump is typical and useful.

So much depends on the boat's size, design, etc. but for the typical iboats boat, one pump will handle rain, splashes and the occasional overwash. No pump will handle a big hole. A battery will pump out your rain water for a couple of weeks at least (on a float). Note that to save the battery you set the float so there has to be an accumulation of water in the bilge--obviously not enough to endanger the boat but enough that it won't kick on too often and drain the battery (like those silly full automatics do). This covders you while you are moored. When you are running, the water in the bilge runs to the back and kicks the pump on; keep the bow up a little while if you must.

he simpler, and fewer electronics (sensors, etc.) the better, says this salt water boater.

Every boat is different but I had vandals launch a 17' skiff without the plug and the battery/bilge pump kept it afloat for probably 18 hours. Not a great battery either. It didn't stay dry; the water built up, I reckon. good to know; don't plan to duplicate to investigate details.