locating the bilge pump

[boataway]

i see hoses running around, but it looks like it' leads to under the floor somewhere. can anyone tell me where to find the bilge pump on a 1997 Rinker 232 Captiva CC? dash light comes on, but no pumping. water's collecting down there. been scooping it out one coke bottle at a time...

i'll add that the fuse next to the bilge dash switch will pop up if i turn the switch on. not immediately though. (guessing that means there's some kind of short). after i find it, how should i go about fixing it?

 

[southkogs]

Re: locating the bilge pump

Look for your short - bilge pumps tend to outlast boats. However, they are also cheap to replace so you may as well upgrade while you're working on it.

I can't tell you the exact location, but your bilge should be sitting at the very back of the boat directly under the engine and the pump should be mounted on the left or right side at the very back. It's about a 4"x4" round pump. I'd be surprised if the pump is under the floor, unless there is an access door somewhere (again, never heard of that before). You might give the pump hose a gentle tug - sometimes the pumps aren't hard mounted to the walls and just drift around in the bilge.

 

[boataway]

Re: locating the bilge pump

ok.. thanks for the guidance. i'll start pulling on stuff tonight.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: locating the bilge pump

bilge pumps tend to outlast boats

I can't really agree with that statement. They are cheap plastic thingies with a cheap motor. Practically a wear item.

 

[nlain]

Re: locating the bilge pump

I had to replace the bildge pump in my boat this year, it was not a difficult job once I got to it. My boat has a sun pad over the engine with a bench seat all the way across the boat. The back of the seat has to be removed, there are little walls either side of the engine, give storage area, one of them has to be removed, that means supporting the sun pad. Now that there is access to the bildge it is just a few minutes to change out the pump. The pump comes with enough wire attached that you can get above the bildge, or at least, above the normal water that gets in one, to connect the wires. Then you get to put your boat back together again.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: locating the bilge pump

If the fuse takes awhile to blow that could indicate the pump itself is jammed with debris, not shorted.

A short will usually happen immediately (if you have the right fuse)

 

[5150abf]

Re: locating the bilge pump

Yup, very common for a pump to suck up bilge trash, could be a candy wrapper ect ect but it does sound like it still at least trying to work.

They are almost always in the center of the boat at the very back against the transom and are a real PITA to get to, there has ot be some kind of access.

And watch pulling on stuff, it is a good way to break things or cause an actual short, you just need to do your best Gumby impersonation and crawl back there under the deck.

 

[boataway]

Re: locating the bilge pump

i found it! it was mounted to the floor right in front of the engine. the centre section of the seat folds up and gives easy access. the old one was a 500 gpm Johnson, wouldn't turn by hand and was bulging to the side, as if it had melted or something. i replaced it with a 1000 gpm unit.

thanks for the help guys.

now the problem is that 1) it won't stop running and 2) seems like my cabin lights don't have enough juice to turn on (cabin lights and/or floor lights, maybe even dash lights)!! could this be related to the new pump?

re #1, i looked at the float (built in, had to unscrew it) and it's going up and down fine.

 

[nlain]

Re: locating the bilge pump

That sounds good, glad to here that it was fairly easy to get to also.

 

[BIGALF]

Re: locating the bilge pump

Disconnect pump. If you don't have the problem then it is the wiring of the pump to the lights. It should be seperate and maybe have a fuse.

 

[boataway]

Re: locating the bilge pump

FRIK!!

i cut the brown wire (+) going to the pump so it'd stop running. but i'm still having an issue with the rest of the electrical! the dash lights come on and the stereo works, BUT, no nav lights, no cockpit lights, no sink pump (starter works fine).

i'm going to replace the float pump (pic below, can anyone help me with a part number and suggestions on weather i should get that or this). but that shouldn't be screwing everything up should it? especially if the pump's not getting any juice.
from what i can tell, the PO did make any mods to this boat. it should be very stock. not only does it have the original tape deck, but it doesn't even have a VHF radio either!

somebody please help me! i don't want to hand this over to the marina (read: $$$)


View attachment 113935

 

[nlain]

Re: locating the bilge pump

Your picture does not work. I think you have more than one problem. You need a float switch and you have some wiring issues. I would start at the electrical panel, check fuses and breakers, make sure you have power in and power out to everything, you may need to turn on the ignition switch to verify some things. If no power in trace backwards from the electrical panel to the batteries until you locate the source of no power, if you have power in and out, move to the switches and verify power in and out of the switches in the appropriate switch position, then trace on to the component that is not working. You should be able to locate and repair the problem. Be patient as it is probably going to take some time and effort to trace out the electrical system, don't let it get you down. Report back your findings as you go and we will try and advise how to check or repair from that point. Good luck in your search.

 

[boataway]

Re: locating the bilge pump



does that one work?