2000 Sundancer bilge pump operation

[jim_m5]

Morning,

Can someone pls confirm how the bilge pumps operate?

In the engine bilge, between the batteries are 2 bilge pumps, both with separate floats (colred blue).

1) the 1st pump is the lowest one closest to stern. Seems to ONLY operate when you turn on the bilge pump switch at the helm. Is this just a "manual pump" with NO automatic turn on when float is triggered?
1a) If you leave bilge pump on will it run continuously or will the float trigger the pump to turn on/off?

2) the 2nd pump is mounted a higher but right in front of the 1st pump. This seems to operate automatically regardless of shore power. So if you are the slip or out on the hook, this pump will always turn on if it detects high water in bilge?

Is my understanding above accurate?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sort of

-- You have a lower pump (regular bilge pump) and a higher pump ("high water" or "emergency" pump)
-- The high water pump is only activated by it's float switch.
-- The regular pump can be activated manually by the dash switch or automatically by the float switch.
-- If a pump is activated by the float switch, it will turn back off when the float switch lowers enough.

If you have manually raised the float switch for the regular bilge pump and the pump did not turn on (but the pump does turn on via the dash switch), then either the float is shot... wiring is shot... or the fuse/breaker is blown. The float switches are wired directly to a battery source -- on your boat, it should be at the main DC breaker panel.

 

[Express 390]

Morning,

Can someone pls confirm how the bilge pumps operate?

In the engine bilge, between the batteries are 2 bilge pumps, both with separate floats (colred blue).

1) the 1st pump is the lowest one closest to stern. Seems to ONLY operate when you turn on the bilge pump switch at the helm. Is this just a "manual pump" with NO automatic turn on when float is triggered?
1a) If you leave bilge pump on will it run continuously or will the float trigger the pump to turn on/off?

2) the 2nd pump is mounted a higher but right in front of the 1st pump. This seems to operate automatically regardless of shore power. So if you are the slip or out on the hook, this pump will always turn on if it detects high water in bilge?

Is my understanding above accurate?

The first pump should work on automatic as well, The higher pump should also have and audible sound if it comes on so you know you have a high water condition Known as the high water alarm. Get a voltage tester and check to see you have power going in and out of the of the first pumps float switch it could be bad

 

[jim_m5]

Sort of

-- You have a lower pump (regular bilge pump) and a higher pump ("high water" or "emergency" pump)
-- The high water pump is only activated by it's float switch.
-- The regular pump can be activated manually by the dash switch or automatically by the float switch.
-- If a pump is activated by the float switch, it will turn back off when the float switch lowers enough.

If you have manually raised the float switch for the regular bilge pump and the pump did not turn on (but the pump does turn on via the dash switch), then either the float is shot... wiring is shot... or the fuse/breaker is blown. The float switches are wired directly to a battery source -- on your boat, it should be at the main DC breaker panel.

thanks Dennis. Any tips on how best to reach those pumps, they are in a difficult place down in the bilge

 

[Lazy Daze]

thanks Dennis. Any tips on how best to reach those pumps, they are in a difficult place down in the bilge

Unfortunately there are no "tricks", Jim. You just have to wiggle down there - possibly on your side, between the engines. Often times, we work by feel - can't always have eyes and hands on at the same time.

Well... there is one trick... hire a "bilge monkey" - in other words, a 12-year old kid. They work cheap!

 

[boatmailster]

Before you dive to reach float switch make sure that fuse or breaker are ok. Depends on float switch installed you may be able to lift it with coat hanger or something similar

 

[mesquito_creek]

I hung a friend from his feet, head first, from a fork lift to get to the bilge pump on an early 90s sundancer once.....

 

[jim_m5]

the bilge pump floats are 'blue and rectangular'. what is the right replacement model?

 

[Lazy Daze]

the bilge pump floats are 'blue and rectangular'. what is the right replacement model?

Doesn't really matter. It's just a simple switch. Sounds like you have a Sure Bail - did it say that right on top of the box? But, I don't believe that one is made anymore. Maybe the Rule brand will allow you to use the same screw holes - not sure. You could switch to a Water Witch, which will evacuate more water before turning the pump off.

 

[jim_m5]

Yes. It is a ‘sure bail’

 

[jim_m5]

Dennis. What model ‘water witch’ do you recommend. And I assume it interfaces to the existing bilge bump?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Dennis. What model ‘water witch’ do you recommend. And I assume it interfaces to the existing bilge bump?

The one I'm most familiar with is the black one with orange writing. Yup - simply takes the place of the existing float. You just need to add a ground wire for the unit.