Bilge pump question

Karla45

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
281
I got a boat last year and when took to mechanic to look over he said bilge pump was out. He put new one in. When I got the boat, at first it would not even come one but next day when mechanic came out it came on. So I go out for awhile, come back in a turn the pump on, i could hear it come on but no water came out, so I thought maybe there was not enough water in boat. Later that evening I was in the boat and I opened up the compartment in the middle of the boat and it was really wet, so I tryed the pump again and alot of water came out. The next day I went out again and when I came back in I turned bilge on and no water came out. My mechanic seems to think it is clogged but to me if it would have been clogged it would not have worked the day before and I do not beleive it could get clogged overnight. Could the pump be bad? What do you think is going on?
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,089
Re: Bilge pump question

The chance of the pump being bad(if new) is slim.
Get in the bildge and see how much gunk is there.Any leaves or sand etc.will clog it up.
Take it off the base and see if there is anything in the impellers.
Use a garden hose to flush out the line.
Then keep the bildege CLEAN!!!! 1 single leaf can sink a $50.000 boat.J
 

Banditz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
168
Re: Bilge pump question

Agreed, but I dont really think i would worry about a $50.00 boat to much...lol. Just kidding!


Sounds to me like you have an intermittent short. Meaning you are loseing connection somewhere. Best advise, learn your boat and do the work yourself. You wouldnt take your car to wal mart for an oil change would you? Kinda the same thing when you take you rboat to just any ole boat mech. Pumps are very easy to check! Only two wires...a hot and a ground. Even if you hook it up backwards it wont do any thing bad. Just wont work! So hook it up the other way and it will be fine. Like he said, make sure there's no crap in the boat to clog the bilge ...and if you are just really worried about it build a little box made of chicken wire really small wire. Then sit the pump in it and that will keep it from getting clogged.
 

Karla45

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
281
Re: Bilge pump question

thanks for your help. The pump not coming on only happened the first day. Could it still be electrical even if the pump comes on?
 

HAV2FISH

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
519
Re: Bilge pump question

I think i would also be trying to find out why you have water coming in the boat.
 

Karla45

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
281
Re: Bilge pump question

I think that the reason compartment in bottom of boat was wet that time was a result of turning the bilge pump on after being out several times and it no water coming out I am just not sure. mechanic came out the other day and checked for clogs, there was nothing there. He put water in and it worked fine, so now I have no idea what is going on. I think although it is new it is working intermittantly, just not sure
 
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