Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

[Robertpel9]

I keep my 1995 Chris Craft 19ft BowRider in a wet slip in my N'hood. Wife and I took the boat to dinner last night and there was a little water in the bilge. I turned the pump on and nothing happened, no noise no nothing. Checked the switch and the harness and both are getting power do i figured The pump must have just died. It is an interesting setup under there and who knows what the previous owner did over the 13 years he had it:

There is a fairly large unit on the floor of the bilge in front on the engine that says Atwood automatic float control. Behind that about 9 inches under the front of the engine is a small circular bilge pump which i cannot identify. They are wired together off of a harness.

I am not seeing anything at boaters world that will just pop into the old strainers / mounting brackets in the bottom. I am think i should get a quality Rule unit. Here are my questions

1) Which Rule units are better the ones with the float switch that only come on when the float switch activates or the once that come on for 1 second every 2.5 minutes and pump if they sense water? My boat is always in the water and when it rains hard some water gets thru the cover into the bilge so i think it will get a fair amount of use. I think what happened with the original unit is the float switch got stuck open and fried the pump

2) Is it best to remove the old float switch and pump and leave the mounting brackets in place so i do not create holes in the bottom of the bilge or should i remove everything and fill in the holes with silicone

3) Is there anything tricky about wiring the new one up. Now i will have just one unit that is a float switch and pump at the same time vs two separate units. Anything i need to be careful of

4) Anything to be careful or concerned about when drilling new holes for the new unit. Is there a special way to do this or is it no big deal

I am not good with electronics but have a friend new to the area who is very mechanically and electrically inclined. Just want to make sure i am going into this the right way

Please let me know if you have any advice, input, as always it is greatly appreciated

 

[rndn]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

Was the automatic pump float in enough water to cause it to come on?

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

I drill the new screen(s) to prevent putting more holes in the boat. Make sure to put some 4200 on the screws (which must be stainless). Wiring will be basically the same with a switched 12v, unswitched 12v and a ground. I prefer the float type vs the auto-check versions and activate it momentarily with my finger each time I go out. Any Rule 500-750gph should suit you fine.

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

What do you mean by drill the new screens???

As for the other question, i do not know if it was or not. I had not been in the boat in about a week and we had gotten some decent rain at the beginning of the week where it may have. There was enough water in the bilge that the pump would have pushed some out had it been able to be turned on with the switch yesterday

I drill the new screen(s) to prevent putting more holes in the boat. Make sure to put some 4200 on the screws (which must be stainless). Wiring will be basically the same with a switched 12v, unswitched 12v and a ground. I prefer the float type vs the auto-check versions and activate it momentarily with my finger each time I go out. Any Rule 500-750gph should suit you fine.

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

Drill out the new base to match the holes of the old base. Then you can use the same mounting holes in the bilge (no filling the old holes and drilling new ones(.

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

Drill out the new base to match the holes of the old base. Then you can use the same mounting holes in the bilge (no filling the old holes and drilling new ones(.

O see, thanks that is a good idea.

I am paranoid as i am not replacing it until sunday morning and it is pouring out right now. I do not own a two vehicle. Do you think the boat will be ok in the meantime? If worse come to worst I can just bail some water out of the bilge with a cup right?? I have it in a slip at the end of my road under a cover so not too much water should get in but i am still not comfortable not having a pump right now. MY friend cannot help me until Sunday morning and i am 6'4" and cannot get access to the pump to try and change it myself

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

It's gonna take a lot of water to give you a real problem, and since it is covered, you should be fine. Just check on it later today and tomorrow. And there are some real cheap mechanical siphon pumps with a pickup hose that can reach down around the I/O to help you pump it out. If hose too short, buy a longer pick up hose. Also, make sure you have a test meter to check the voltages of the three wires needed, and be sure to have spare fuses just in case. . Good luck.

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

Looks like i need a new cover too, i thouht i could get away with just spraying the one i have with water repellant, it is the original cover from 1995. I went to check on i just now in the middle of a pouring rain storm and water gets thru the cover into the boat. It is mostly dripping onto the carpet which i know will rot my deck eventually so a new cover is going on tomorrow. In the meantime the bilge does not seem to be picking up much if any water yet. I will check it again before bed and then once tomorrow. Is it a lot most cost effective to get a cover online vs boaters world??

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

The iboats store has free shipping on covers right now and 10% off with promo code COVER0708.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

I always say get the largest bilge pump that u can fit in there. Those 500 gph pumps that come with most boats are practically worthless. For one thing, they won't pump anywhere near what they are rated for & I wouldn't want to have to rely on some 500 gph cheapo pump to get me out of trouble in case I take on a lot of water. Some people think that because you have a runabout u only need a small bilge pump. Well, the opposite is true for obvious reasons. I have an 1100 gph Rule, plus a hand pump in my 19ftr.

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

The iboats store has free shipping on covers right now and 10% off with promo code COVER0708.

I just went there and bought an Outdura Semicustom cover for less than $220 delivered. Thanks for the code I hope this was a good choice. Seemed like the best material offered there. Any thoughts?

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Replacing my Bilge Pump, Have a few questions

Went to boaters world and picked up the rectangular shaped rule 750 lookes like a stout unit, some butt end connector and some heat shrink, lets hoep all it is was a friend bilge pump, installing it tomorrow morning. I emptied the bilge out last night with a 16 oz mug