When should the bilge pump be on?

How and When Should You Turn on a Bilge Pump? The pump may have a float or switch to turn it on automatically when water collects in the bilge. This is especially important if the boat is kept in the water, as you'll want the pump to activate after a heavy rain storm, for example.

How often should a bilge pump come on?

It should check for water every two minutes. Nothing should come out of the bilge unless it has been raining or you have been in rough water.

Should you run the bilge pump all the time?

Keeping Bilge Pumps Clean

Regular automatic bilge pump cleaning is important for all boats. Unfortunately, a lot of boaters let this slide. If you let it go for too long, the bilge water inside can get out of hand. You need to know that even in a brand new boat the bilge area may not be clean.

Does bilge pump automatically come on?

Today, most bilge pumps come on automatically. This is because they are built with an automatic float switch that turns the bilge pump on when water levels in the bilge start to rise.

Why do boats get water in the bilge?

Bilge water is water that does not drain off the side of the deck or through the scupper, and is typically caused by rough seas, excess rain, or untreated leaks in the boat's hull. It is also commonly caused by mast drip, window leaks, excess condensation, or hose pipes that have been compromised by rot and rust.

All about boat bilge pumps. How and why to do a quick check to make sure it's working.

Can a bilge pump drain a battery?

If the switch activates the pump and then fails to turn it off, continued operation of the pump motor can drain the boat's battery, eliminating the protection assumed to be provided by the automatic bilge pump system. Bilge pump switch problems often occur when the liquid in the bilge is not just water.

Why does my bilge pump keep running?

Electronic switches which sense the presence of water without a float are likely to trigger false pumping if the water is dirty. Wet dirt or slime sticking to the sensor allows a signal current to flow, and switch it on, or more likely to keep the pump running after the water has gone.

What does the bilge switch do on a boat?

How and When Should You Turn on a Bilge Pump? The pump may have a float or switch to turn it on automatically when water collects in the bilge. This is especially important if the boat is kept in the water, as you'll want the pump to activate after a heavy rain storm, for example.

How long should a bilge pump run?

Depends on how full your ballast is, how full your gas tank is, it will get totally under water though and you wont be able to see it, I do know that much as I have seen it happen. Mine prob. pumps out about every 20 to 30 minutes. Shaft is dripping as it should, about 10 drops/minute.

Is bilge water normal?

This is normal and should not be a cause for concern as long as the water does not keep entering the boat. As long as the bilge pump is not running often, the amount of water in the bilge should be safe.

How do non automatic bilge pumps know when to switch on?

Bilge Pump System Components

A connection to the boat's battery. A switch to be turned on and off. Most pumps will utilize a manual on/off switch, a float switch, or both. A float switch automatically activates the pump once the water level rises above a certain point and turns the pump off when the water level falls.

When should you use a bilge pump and blower?

The minimum recommended time you should run the blower to ventilate the bilge is four minutes. Before switching it on, however, rely on one of the most sensitive odor-detectors you have — your nose. No bilge blower will rid the compartment of spilled fuel, which will continue to emit vapors.

Do you leave the blower on a boat?

It is a good idea to leave the blower running for a little while more. Doing so will protect your boat from damage, and might even save your life in the process. When you spill some fuel inside the bilge, it will continue to emit flammable vapors inside the bilge.

Can a bilge pump be completely submerged?

A bilge pump can be completely submerged as long as you bought and installed a submersible bilge pump. There are a few other options for getting bilge water out but they go by different names and cannot be completely submerged. A submersible bilge pump is the simplest option.

Why does my bilge pump not shut off?

Re: automatic bilge pump will not shut off

If it does not turn off then normally the culprit is a stuck micro-switch on the float mechanism or the helm switch is engaged overriding the float.

Can bilge pumps run dry?

The filter-free design is self-priming to 9.5' (3 m). It is able to run dry without damaging the pump. The backflow protection reduces water coming back into the bilge. The connections are 3/4" (19 mm) hose barbs for the pickup and discharge hoses.

How do you prime a bilge pump?

When should I charge my boat battery?

Fully charge them about once a month over the winter and they will be ready when you are in the spring. Try to keep them off of concrete floors if possible and cover the terminals to help prevent discharge. The last thing you want is a dead battery on the launch ramp on opening day, or a dead trolling motor battery.

Does battery need to be on for bilge pump?

Bilge pumps have 2 hot lead. 1 for the switch, and the other direct to battery and float switch. No if you turn off the battery, then hit the bilge it will not work.

How do I keep my boat battery charged?

What is bilge on a boat?

The bilge /bɪldʒ/ of a ship or boat is the part of the hull that would rest on the ground if the vessel were unsupported by water. The "turn of the bilge" is the transition from the bottom of a hull to the sides of a hull.

How do you turn off an automatic bilge pump?

In the rear of the boat behind the battery selector,shut off switch, open it up. Then look at your battery, one of the cables attached to the positive terminal is the bilge pump. Take it off of the battery, and move it to the common (lower middle) on the back of the selectior switch.