All About Boat Bilge Pumps
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มิ.ย. 2024
- Almost every boat that has a hull (aluminum or fiberglass) has a bilge pump. What does it do and how should you operate it? Good question. In this video we will cover all about boat bilge pumps:
0:00 Intro
0:34 How does a boat bilge pump work?
1:40 How do I use the bilge pump?
3:05 Boat bilge pump tips.
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Is your bilge pump automatic float switch wired directly to your battery (always on)? Tell us your opinion on this.
The bilge pump most often is the only component that over rides the battery switch being turned off.
I rewired ours with its own fuse directly to the battery as our boat would have required leaving the battery switch on for the auto feature to work.
@@brian395 well done!
Always, preferably an all in one unit. My current boat has a separate switch that I attached a floaty to so it engages earlier and keeps the hull fully drained. I can't imagine any reason why not to have the bilge wired for always on. Sure there's a risk something happens and your battery is drained, if that's a huge concern, get a solar trickle charger. But as someone who's had a boat sink at the dock, it's worth it to just leave it on.
Mine is just an on-off switch, no float. 1976 simplicity!
Super good. ! I learned a lot.
That was helpful; how about a video on bilge maintenance.
Great video, and thank you for the continued informational boating videos! Would you consider doing a video in the future on trailer maintenance (coupler / surge brakes, bearing lubrication systems such as grease, oil bath, vault, etc.)?
Thanks!
Brandon. So are you suggesting reviewing what are common trailer maintenance items?
@@boatinglessons Yes, that would be great. With particular attention to bearings if you could please.
@@brandoni3326 good timing - we are shooting today. I will see if we can for that in :)
I remember growing up on Lake Norman, NC, my dad was dockmaster at a lakeside condo development. In the 8 or so years we lived there, 4 boats went down due to muskrats. My dad would go check the docks every morning, and he would find one down. Interesting times as a young lad.
who asked
@@sophieoztoprak5208 Nobody I guess.
Hi, I have a highfield 420 classic coach boat and I don’t know what to do with the scuppers at the end of the day. The bilge pump always runs (connected straight to the battery) and is automatic. On the manual it says (N/A) as opposed to (closed or open) so I don’t know if it’s best to leave them open overnight while the boat is still on the water, but not being used (moored). I’ve done some tests and I’ve realized that the bilge pump doesn’t pump all the water out, but when the scuppers (they look like plugs) are taken off the rest of the water in the boat that wasn’t initially pumped starts draining out through the scuppers and the bilge pump goes on and pumps water out. I started to think that the scupper plugs are connected to the chamber where the bilge pump is located and as water goes through the hole the bilge pump activates. I don’t know if there is a problem with leaving the scuppers open when the boat is moored. If you know the answer can you please explain why the boat has scuppers, why the bilge pump doesn’t pump all water out and why is the bilge pump hidden in a chamber?
Good idea to keep one with 20' of wire and two alligator clips for a portable back up. If you see a boat in distress, you can lend it ... even use it from your battery with boats tied together....
What is your thoughts on boat lifts vs leaving a 21 feet open deck boat in the water with boat whips?
Boat lifts are always superior for protection and longevity of your boat. They cost more and require more maintenance.
Hi Len, have you ever come across that the automatic float switch was not working. I was about to replace a new Float switch, after I remove the old float switch by cutting the 2 brown wires. I was testing to see if the bilge pump would work so I touched the 2 brown wires together and the bilge did not turn on. But I can manually hit the bilge button and the bilge does turn on.
The five amp fuse of the automatic bilge pump was intact.
Any thought ?
My bilge is a rule 1100 GPH ( does not have a built-in automatic)
Thanks in advance
Yes absolutely, the switches fail frequently. We replace several a year
No matter how it is configured, one of the wires has to go to the bilge pump. Find out which float switch wire has continuity to the bilge pump to what polarity it is connected. If you don't have that, that's the problem. If you do, then the other side of float switch is open and you will know its polarity. You can make a test jumper to connect directly to the battery from the float switch to run the pump.
Len, what is the % of boats that have water in their bilges that sit in the marina? I mean is it almost every single one?
Yes, bilges are almost always damp when they are in the water and only really dry when they have been on land, inside, with the drain plug out and at the right angle for a while
Can you do a video on Bimini tops. How to adjust it properly? Tight or loose? Mine is always coming loose. Big pain in the butt to always adjust it. I see the arms are all adjustable. Why?
What type of boat is it?
@@boatinglessons Hello! We have a Larson. 22ft cuddy.
@@boatinglessons We love your videos!
What happens if the bilge stayed on because I forgot to to manual off. Does it burn out if no water? Thanks and sub'd
They're mostly cooled by fluid flowing through them, much like fuel pumps. Running dry could certainly cause damage to the pump
This is why it's better to just buy either a pump that's automatic (my personal preference) or one with a switch in the bilge, leaves a lot less room for human error.
Len, I know this is a bilge pump video but do you know the recommended time to replace a water pump. I have a 2020 Robalo. My mechanic recommended every 3 years which means I would be replacing it next year.
Hi Robert. I agree with that recommendation. It likely is ok to five years but the peace of mind is priceless. Have you seen our impeller video?
th-cam.com/video/m97mrI5s3QU/w-d-xo.html
@@boatinglessons I have watched that. I'm sure that might be on the maintenance list to but the mechanic made the water pump recommendation last year when I put the boat in. At the time the boat only had 165 hours on it. Thank you for the quick reply.
@@robertstorms5539 the years (time) is often a bigger factor than the hours (use).
5 years is what I was always told but then again we are freshwater less corrosive issues
Nice video! Small note: we don't have basements in the south western United States, so all those sump pump references mean nothing to like a third of America! Lol
I totally knew that, dumb of me not to remember - biased from the North! 🤣
@@boatinglessons All good! Love your tutorial videos! Big ups from Las Vegas!
Why do they fail so often??? The manufacturer seems to blame the dealer and vice versa. I hear these are common problems on Key West Boats.
if my boat has a bilge pumps do i still need drain plug? and why?
A bilge pump does not completely drain a boat as it cannot suck every last drop out. The drain plug is to be removed when the boat is out of the water.
1:33 'condensate"
Does a bass boat from 94 have one ???
Yes, it should. On a bass boat though they are often very rare to see/access
@@boatinglessons thanks
Lol, ya just change the old towel once a season. 😂
Condensate is not a word.
"all" about? ..c'mon
-1
Sorry but no, not every boat has a bilge pump. Don't spread misinformation.
He said almost every…. Don’t be an idiot
He said “almost” every boat. You should have listened first
Well it is up to the owner to put one in.
My basement doesn't have a sump pump. Sometimes I think it should......
Our education system has failed him 🥹