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Author Topic:   15ft whaler bilge pump

joenewton posted 08-04-2003 01:13 PM ET (US)
Another question on my newly purhcased '87 15ft center console. I've noticed that sometimes the bilge does not come on until I jiggle the wires leading from the pump to the float switch (a RULE pump and switch). I don't have a switch on the console. At first I thought it might be sand and mess that seems to filter down through the wiring tunnel which I thought was clogging the pump. I would scoop out, with my fingers wads of sand and mess. But, I think it might be a wire problem. Seems like it works 80% of the time. The pump and switch are several years old, I just wondering if it's something I really need to worry about that much if I'm checking the boat every couple of days. Could I run the boat and pull that back-plug behind the float switch if I had a real problem with the water amount. Right now I just don't won't to spend another 70 to 130 dollars on the boat, may be in a couple of months I will replace the pump and switch with new items. Thanks for any input on this.
Bertramp posted 08-04-2003 02:52 PM ET (US)
The pump is a seperate issue, but yeah .... get the boat on plane and pull the plug. All but the last little 1/4 inch will flow right on out ..... just remember to replace the plug !! Best (and safest) done with someone else on board.
wayne baker posted 08-04-2003 04:10 PM ET (US)
when you replace it put in a automatic Rule pump. It runs a cycle every so often and if it feels resiastance at the pump it will continue to run untill dry. You would need a switch at the dash to turn it on and off but you could do away with the float switch all together. I like mine and thought it might be something you might want to look into.
Peter posted 08-04-2003 04:11 PM ET (US)
My 15 came with a traditional bilge pump/float switch. My float switch became unreliable and would not turn the pump on unless there was a significant amount of water in the boat. To fix that, I spent the 40 bucks or so on a Rule automatic pump that doesn't have or need a float switch. It turns itself on for about 5 seconds every 2.5 minutes to sample whether water is present. If water isn't present (no load on pump), it will shut off. If water is present(load on pump), it will run until it doesn't sense any more water (no load on the pump). In the sampling mode there is very little power consumed per day.
Some folks get bothered by the noise of the pump every 2.5 minutes while at rest (underway is no problem as engine noise clearly drowns out pump noise). The cure for that is a switch to turn it off when the motor is not running but the boat is in use. I recommend either using a Rule switch for bilge pumps or the traditional two position pull on/push off navigation switch (what I have).
joenewton posted 08-04-2003 08:02 PM ET (US)
Thanks for your information. I'll will look into the pump without the float switch.

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Author	Topic: 15ft whaler bilge pump
joenewton	posted 08-04-2003 01:13 PM ET (US) Another question on my newly purhcased '87 15ft center console. I've noticed that sometimes the bilge does not come on until I jiggle the wires leading from the pump to the float switch (a RULE pump and switch). I don't have a switch on the console. At first I thought it might be sand and mess that seems to filter down through the wiring tunnel which I thought was clogging the pump. I would scoop out, with my fingers wads of sand and mess. But, I think it might be a wire problem. Seems like it works 80% of the time. The pump and switch are several years old, I just wondering if it's something I really need to worry about that much if I'm checking the boat every couple of days. Could I run the boat and pull that back-plug behind the float switch if I had a real problem with the water amount. Right now I just don't won't to spend another 70 to 130 dollars on the boat, may be in a couple of months I will replace the pump and switch with new items. Thanks for any input on this.
Bertramp	posted 08-04-2003 02:52 PM ET (US) The pump is a seperate issue, but yeah .... get the boat on plane and pull the plug. All but the last little 1/4 inch will flow right on out ..... just remember to replace the plug !! Best (and safest) done with someone else on board.
wayne baker	posted 08-04-2003 04:10 PM ET (US) when you replace it put in a automatic Rule pump. It runs a cycle every so often and if it feels resiastance at the pump it will continue to run untill dry. You would need a switch at the dash to turn it on and off but you could do away with the float switch all together. I like mine and thought it might be something you might want to look into.
Peter	posted 08-04-2003 04:11 PM ET (US) My 15 came with a traditional bilge pump/float switch. My float switch became unreliable and would not turn the pump on unless there was a significant amount of water in the boat. To fix that, I spent the 40 bucks or so on a Rule automatic pump that doesn't have or need a float switch. It turns itself on for about 5 seconds every 2.5 minutes to sample whether water is present. If water isn't present (no load on pump), it will shut off. If water is present(load on pump), it will run until it doesn't sense any more water (no load on the pump). In the sampling mode there is very little power consumed per day. Some folks get bothered by the noise of the pump every 2.5 minutes while at rest (underway is no problem as engine noise clearly drowns out pump noise). The cure for that is a switch to turn it off when the motor is not running but the boat is in use. I recommend either using a Rule switch for bilge pumps or the traditional two position pull on/push off navigation switch (what I have).
joenewton	posted 08-04-2003 08:02 PM ET (US) Thanks for your information. I'll will look into the pump without the float switch.