Bilge Pump...

[RegalSebring]

I'm new to boating, but I own a 1987 Regal Sebring, with a Mercruiser Alpha I (although I don't think thats important for this thread) but I'll turn my bilge pump on because I see some water right beneath the engine (not an extreme amount by any means...but enough I want to get rid of) and I hear the pump come on, but it almost sounds like a grinding noise, and I don't see the water level dropping. Do I need a new pump? Mine burnt out? How can I find out? How timely/costly is it for a new pump? Any help is appreciated! Thanks

~Anthony

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Bilge Pump...

if it's making a grinding noise it could be clogged up with trash, normally when motors burn out they don't make any noise. I suggest before you throw it away and replace it take the pump out and flush it real good with clean water to see if you can dislodge any debris..

You could also after flushing hook it to 12v while its down in a bucket of water to see if it's pumping.

If the pump is shot you've got to take it out anyways.

Lastly while you're down in the bilge I would suggest giving it a good cleaning esp if you found trash in the pump, could be paint flaking off, metal or just garbage.... A strong magnet will do a good job of picking up any metal debris if they are present.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Bilge Pump...

Depending upon the particular bilge pump and its location, it may not pump ALL of the water out of the bilge. I typically end up with 1/2 to 3/4 inches of water right around the pump, which turns out to be 2 to 3 inches deep at the transom (due to the angle at which the boat sits in the water). When the bilge pump is pumping out the water, and the water level gets low enough, the pump can loose suction and it will make what could possibly be called a "grinding" (or maybe "gurgling") noise. If you have an automatic float switch - depending upon its location - it might be switching off with a little more water in the bilge than you would like to see.

Once I have the boat back on the trailer I pull the plugs at the stern and drain out the last bit of water in the bilge. (And then reach in and pull out the remaining dead minnows, fish hookooks, monofilament scraps, etc.)

 

[jevery]

Re: Bilge Pump...

To just verify it's pumping raise the tongue of the trailer and put the plug in and fill with a couple inches of water. If it won't pump then replace. It might be a cartridge type allowing you to twist out the bad motor pump assembly and easily replace. If you have to replace the whole unit consider one of the new auto pumps with the water "sensing" switch.