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Bilge Pumps

Resolved Question: what is a bilge pump?

do you have to have one? or does every boat come with one? more

Resolved Question: That does it. A non-festive individual has just annoyed me, would you be a bit annoyed ?

Hi Boaties. My cheerful narrowboat was tied to a tree, whilst I sorted out the usual weed aroung the prop. I highly grumpy fisherman had a go at me. I dismay, and tried to point out that the Inland Waterways were built with a lot of effort to improve transportation, not the fish stock you & others have bunged in. He was indignant, & felt like throwing the beggar in. Great big carbon fibre rods, they sit on the towpath side, blocking up folks on a stroll, and I get abuse for using a fully licenced boat, as the twits have to lift their rods in salute. Sorry "Anglers" or whatever you call yourselves, but next time I get "Hey, we are in a competition to catch a carp" I shall turn off the engine in their midst. What to do ? I shall also put the bilge pump on, and hoot the hooter. If you want to sit looking miserable all day, anarack, umbrella, thermos, upon a transport system, it is not my prob. Any thoughts ? Bob more

Resolved Question: bilge pump blowing fuses?

one of my bilge pumps keeps blowing fuses when the switch is in the automatic mode. the on mode its doesn blow the fuse but doesn't work either. How can I determine if the fault is in the switch, ground or positive leads? more

Resolved Question: Is it possible to wick water up and out of my boat bilge - if?

Is it possible to wick water up and out of my boat bilge - if? Is it possible to wick water up and out of my sailboat bilge if the end terminates at a lower point than that of the wicking start point? In other words I want to use this real cottony type sisal twine and stick it down in this small hole in the bilge where the keel is ( can't get a pump in there ) and then run the cottony sisal twine out the boat and over the side and into the driveway.. Will the water wick itself out? Thanks more

Resolved Question: How do I change Bilge pump?

I have a 1998 Four WInns 205 Sundowner and the bilge pump needs changed? Any one know if this is an easy job I could do myself? more

Voting Question: Where can i get a 2-1/2 amp fuse & 12 volt battery for a "rule" 24 bilge pump?

I have a "RULE" 24 BILGE PUMP its asking for a 12 volt battery and a 2-1/2 amp fuse...this fuse is suppose to connect to the brown wire somewhere between the pump and the battery. I just cant seem to find this anywhere unless im looking in the wrong places. There are so many different fuses out here and i just want to know where to get the right one for this pump, a picture of the fuse (if possible), and the same for the 12volt battery if possible....but my main focus is the fuse, but if you have info on both that would be a blessing! Please serious people only, i need to get this taken care of ASAP. I was told this was good to use to drain out the rest of the water from my pool.Thanks to all in advance! more

Resolved Question: How much water is "ok" to come into the boat while on the water?

It is a 1985 fiberglass runabout boat with an i/o OMC motor. The water comes up between the seats from the bilge because there is nothing separating them. I understand that it is ok for some water to come into the boat while its on the water, but how much is too much? We started and stopped quite a few times and got about an inch of water. Also, how can I tell if I have an automatic bilge pump that will turn on when the water reaches a certain level? Is there a way to test when it will come on? Thanks for your help. more

Resolved Question: How much water is "normal" to come into the boat while on the water?

I understand that it is ok for some water to come into the boat while its on the water, but how much is too much? We started and stopped quite a few times and got about an inch of water. Also, how can I tell if I have an automatic bilge pump that will turn on when the water reaches a certain level? Is there a way to test when it will come on? Thanks for your help. more

Resolved Question: Serious anglers and boaters, how do you feel about this?

Boat Anglers Avoid Federal Regulation, Big Fines! You could have been slapped with a $32,500 fine... all for just running your bilge pump. Or letting rain run-off your boat, or pumping water from your livewell. Luckily, that shipwreck has been averted thanks to a government act that, well, disregards a government act. In 2006, a federal judge's ruling lumped fishing boats in with commercial vessels which must follow strict rules about water discharge. Commercial vessels must get special permits and are subject to an incredible number of regulations about water-based liquids from their rigs for the purposes of pollution control. If a vessel fails to meet such a rule, it faces a fine up to $32,500 per day. And the way things stood, so would your 20-foot Ranger starting Sept. 30, if you didn't go through the process of getting a permit. But President George W. Bush recently signed the The Clean Boating Act of 2008 (S. 2766) into law, which re-established the fact that small boats are free from such stringent regulations. Now you can e-mail your friends the coast is clear. And by the way, 39 congressmen co-sponsored the bill... which proves Washington isn't totally void of common sense. more

Resolved Question: What type of wood survives in the bilge? (EASY QUESTION)?

Hey I'm adding a submersible bilge pump to my 1970's Aquasport 22-2 and I would like to mount the pump to a piece of wood that I will epoxy to the bottom of the bilge. What type of wood will survive under bilge conditions? (Also if there is another alternate method of mounting the pump please share) Thank you for all the answers! I have a spare sheet of plexi down at the shop so I will try that. If it is too tough to work with (cracks/etc) my friend has a strip of mahogany I can poly up. Thanks guys! more

Voting Question: No power to bildge pump,ship to shore radio or nav. lights.?

My brother took the boat out on the gulf,got to their fishing spot,and when they were done couldnt start the boat,they got a jump and it started and they shut the damned thing off to go fishing again!guess what it wouldnt start,They disconnected everything that ran to the batterey ,navlights,radio,bilge pump,to save the juice in battery,..the 2nd time A jump did not help,they jumped it from the starter,and got it home,I hooked the wires back to the battery and nothing works except gauges, Is there main fuses or circut breakers I am unaware of,I checked fuses on dash and the were fine,I have a 92 johnson 175 engine,on a 92 renkin 23 ft boat. more

Resolved Question: What to do : I cant hold my breath long enough to get down deep enough to start the bilge pumps on my boat?

Resolved Question: Do Rule-Mate automatic bilge pumps have three-wire control system?

Hey guys I want to buy a Rule-Mate 750 automatic bilge pump from west marine for my aquasport. However, I know how unpredictable the word "automatic" is when we're talking about a bilge pump so I want to control my pump with a nice 3-way (Auto, Off, Manual On) bilge switch panel made by Rule themselves. However, my logic tells me that the bilge pump will need 3 wires coming out of it for everything to work well. One would be ground, the other would be 12v to the built in float switch and another would be 12v bypassing the float switch for auto on. So, does the pump I want have a three wire system or will I be stuck with two wire system (just Auto/Off) more

Resolved Question: Bilge Pump ran out battery

I'm keeping my boat on the water this summer I usually keep it in dry storage. It's been sitting for about 2 weeks. When I put jumper cables on the bilge fired up right away and pumped out quite a bit of water. Could the bilge kill a battery in normal use? or do I have a bigger problem with water getting in the boat? My boat is fiberglass more

Resolved Question: whats the easiest way to fix a bilge pump on a runabout?

I have a 18 ft. i/o.....can i get to the old pump? more

Resolved Question: Jet ski filled up with water.

I am new to the jet ski world and have had this particular model for about a month, kawasaki 1100ZXI, and today we were on the lake and the ski filled up with water. Put it back on the trailer and drained water, replaced plug and put back into lake and here comes more water. Started ski while in water and couldn't find anything leaking from any hoses or anything. Drained water again did this 3 or 4 times couldn't find any leaks. Brought ski home filled up with water hose and watched for leaks and nothing, from the inside out. Anybody have any ideas what could be causing this? When you run the ski across the lake water is pumped out by bilge pumps, then when you stop and float is when it starts to fill up. more

Voting Question: when do I use the Bilge pump and Blower on my wakeboarding boat?

Resolved Question: Pardon my "French" .............. but?

I am not a boat owner - just curious. I am familiar with the term bilge pump, but what about a bilge fan? Does a bilge fan 'suck' or 'blow'? When do you turn it on or is it automatic? What exactly does it do? more

Resolved Question: what should i do to fix up my 14 ft deep v jon boat?

it has a 6 hp mercury trolling motor a huge battery 2 coolers and a small gas tank i have alot of time so i can do alot but i dont want to make it to heavy so my car cant pull it and i already have a bilge pump and nothing is hard wired and i would like to more

Voting Question: Boat Value?

Hi i am looking at a boat and was wondering what the value of it. It is a 14 foot Mirrocraft with a 15 h.p. force motor. Both are in great shape. It has a bilge pump. The owner re-did the inside. It 3 has benches with cushion chairs. Thanks more

Resolved Question: Having trim problem I/O 1992 Cobia San Marino 4.3Liter v6 mercruiser--boat question?

We just bought a new (used) boat from a private party. It's a 1992 Cobia San Marino with a 4.3 V6 mercruiser I/O motor. This is our first boat. The first day we took it out everything was fine...but when we left, the bilge pump was still running after the boat was on the trailer. At the time I didn't know that they automatically turn on and off as needed so I disconnected the negative terminal on the battery. I connected the battery back up the next day and it was fine. So we took it out yesterday and my uncle drove it from the boat launch to his pier(about a mile). It took him an hour. He said the trim wouldn't work. After about 5-10 minutes I checked the engine compartment....didn't notice that there were two negative wires--I only reconnected one. So I connected it and the trim worked. Now today we took the boat out and everything worked fine-until we got out to the middle of the lake. I adjusted the trim and noticed that it would only intermittently work. Then, the trim gauge was jumping up and down like crazy and the trim stopped working all together. The gauge would still move around but not a sound when I hit the trim button. There are no blown fuses or anything. The rocker switch for the trim is on the throttle control. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what probably happened. Is it possible that we damaged something by pushing the trim buttons while the negative was disconnected from the battery??? or is it possible that the switch is damaged? I know there are a lot of possibilities when it comes to electrical problems but I'm hoping someone who maybe had this same problem may know. I didn't have tools with me to take the throttle arm apart and check the switch. But anyways, What I'm really hoping is that I didn't damage something on the boat---because the trim was stuck all the way down and we had to drive through some really shallow stuff and the prop was in the muck for at least 100 yards---had no choice. So if anyone can please help me out---it'd be much appreciated. thank you Tom more

Resolved Question: my 1995 vxr pro wave runner takes on water under throttle any sugestions the bilge pump works but can't keep u

Voting Question: My Daughters Kawasaki Jet Ski Wont Start....?

So I bought two jet skis for the summer, a 1994 750ss and a 1991 440 (both Kawasaki). Both started up when I bought them, and right before taking them to the river. We got to the river, put them in and the 440 would not start... cranked over, started to start then died. Tried several times, it only cranked then...by then I figured I had flooded it, so left it tied to the dock, and we rode around on the other one. After a couple hours, I came back, pulled it onto the trailer to change the spark plugs, and noticed there was about two inches of water in the hull. 1. Will it normally take on water if it just sits in the water for a few hours, obviously the bilge pump not running... and tied to the dock, rather choppy water. Or do I have a seal leaking or something? Hull is in perfect shape. 2. Any idea why it started before fine, but now wont? Im getting fuel, but doesnt seem like getting spark now. FYI new plugs, starter, and battery. Good compression, Thanks in advance more

Voting Question: Small submersible water pump for heated water?

I am looking for a submersible small water pump to be in 40-60 degree celcius water permanently (we currently use small cheap bilge pumps but they are not in the heated water). more

Resolved Question: i have an attwood v500 bilge pump for my boat i was just wondering if i need a fuse for it?

12 volt battery 13.6 volt dc pump and where can i get a bilge pump kit to hook it up more

Resolved Question: Is it possible to make a fish aerator out of a bilge pump?

Currently I use a "D" battery operated aerator and I would like to use a bilge pump connected to my marine battery and I would like to know how to do this? more

Resolved Question: Multiplayer Game?

I know of one really fun game that everyone should join; does anybody know of any other great games? Every activity in Puzzle Pirates is a quick fun game, from commanding a fleet of warships, to pumping the bilge out of one! And with thousands of fellow pirates about there's always friends for a hand of cards, a friendly swordfight or a rowdy drink! Create and customize a pirate, collect booty and join player-run crews! Everything is built on yer own personality and puzzling skills! Click link below to join: http://www.puzzlepirates.com/game/pirate.xhtml?pname=Seahawk&ocean=viridian&affiliate=r1178792&lang=en http://www.puzzlepirates.com/?affiliate=r1178813&lang=en more

Resolved Question: I just got a 15ft jon boat, what do I need for it? bilge pump?please explain reasons?

Voting Question: bilge pump working but not removing water?

when i turn on my bilge pump it runs but does not remove the water. i disconnected the hose connected to the bilge pump and ran it again, and the bilge pump shoots out the water no problem. So i imagine the hose connected to it must blocked. How do i clear the hose? its a C&C 33 1985 more

Resolved Question: how do i install a bilge pump into a whitewater canoe?

Resolved Question: Anyone know what this be worth roughly - Aussy dollars?

20 Foot half cabin fibreglass boat. Vessel manufactor: MAKO CRAFT PTY LTD with V6 200 hp Johnson 1984 /1986 motor (unsure of the exact year) electric winch fish finder marine radio twin batterys 200litre stainless steel fuel tank bilge pump fish rod holders electric trim and tilt looks in great condition.. Thanks people more

Resolved Question: Who could repair wooden hull on old coast guard station.It is in H20&no motor.Now leaking & cant be dry docked

The boat has been at current Marina for 12 years and sits on the bottom at low tide. Believe this had created stress points that are now leaking. Have installed numerous bilge pumps that are now going off/pumping all the time. We don;t have the resources right now to pull it out and fiberglass the bottom. Looking for a fix while still in the water and not too costly. Would like to get another year out of her before dry docking. We are on the gulf just north of Clearwater,Florida. HELP - My husband is so afraid we are going to sink and lose our investment. more

Resolved Question: Where do I find the fuses in my boat?

I have a 92 Chris Craft 187 with a Cobra OMC outdrive and a Ford V8 5.0 liter engine. This morning I charged my battery and when I put the terminals back on I put them on the wrong sides (causing a spark) My mechanic thinks I may have blown a 50 amp fuse (or one of the other 2 fuses) and he tried to describe to me where the fuses were located near the air intake. But when I went to look I could not locate the rubber inline boots that he had described to me. Does anyone know where I can find a diagram of this engine with a detail of where I can find these fuses that my mechanic is talking about? At this point my gauges will work, my blower and bilge pump will work but I get nothing when I try to crank the engine (not even a clicking) more

Resolved Question: will my 17.5 ft. fiberglass boat sink if the bilge fills up with water?

it is a outboard 120 hp it filled up once and i got on plane asap and turned on the pump,but what if i wouldnt have caught it in time would the boat sink? more

Resolved Question: how long can you run a 12v bilge pump for?

i have a 12v 18amp hour battery powering a 12v 1.5amp bilge pump that is in a 150 litre container for a small irrigation system for a area of my garden which is 3 by 1 metre big and the specifications for the bilge pump is TMC BILGE PUMP Output - 450GPH Outlet - 19mm (3/4") Power - 12V (1.5A) xsailor3... i live in australia and my household power is 240v more

Resolved Question: Can someone tell me how long a 12v pump which draws 4amps will run off of a 12v lead acid batt rated at 200cca

Energiser Lawn & garden Batt running 12v bilge pump for sump back-up more

Resolved Question: I need a new bilge pump rubber?

i have a whale gusher bilge pump on my boat and the rubber diaphram has split, i cant find anywhere where i can purchase JUST the rubber, you have to buy the whole kit , does anyone know where i can buy the rubber only ? more

Resolved Question: Possible to make working supercharger from a leafblower or something similar?

So I've seen alot of bogus plans for making a supercharger out of stuff like a bilge pump, I know that those are a hoax. However I was looking through a tool catalog and saw a dust collector, and the motor to it looked alot like a turbocharger turbine. The specs said it pumps out about 923cfm, so it got me wondering, would it actually be feasable to put a high flow filter on it and hook it up to the intake of a car, and power it by a power inverter? I've also got a powerful shop vac with detachable blower, I don't know the cfm, but its rated at 265mph wind, it seems like that would pump alot more air through the engine. Are these things possible? more

Resolved Question: Vetus Bilge Water Oil / Water Filter to UK BSS standards?

Looking at installing a Vetus oil / water separator in my bilge pump line to comply with BSS certification, rather than sticking the wife's washing up bowl under the sump. Has anyone installed a Vetus filter in order to comply with the BSS Certificate and did it pass muster? Can't seem to find the specs in Parts Per Million for this filter, as laid down by the BSS specification. If not, does anyone know of one which is to specification, where to purchase and how much? Installation conditions: Bayliner 192, bilge pump capacity 500gph, oil absorbing mats lining bilge, no oil leaks, do not wish to fit catchment tray to comply with BSS cert. First BSS inspection imminent. more

Resolved Question: Needed: 30ft Grady White Sailfish (or other) wiring schematic for 2 bilges?

Im looking for a copy of the wiring diagram for this boat. I did go to the Grady site but it asks for the year in order to download the owners manual. I dont know the year of the schematic I need... as its going to be used for another boat. The importantance of the 30ft one was that it has two bilge pumps which is what will be used. I tried 1997 but only shows one pump on the diagram. Anyone know which year or model etc. would be the right one for 30ft and/or 2 bilges? ... or anyone can find a diagram to send me? Appreciated!!!!!! more

Resolved Question: How do I find where my boat is leaking?

I have a 16.5 foot fiberglass bass boat. It is a 1990 Sprint Pro Bass 266. I bought it in July from someone who hadn't had it in the water for a couple of years. Anyway, I keep it in a wet slip on the lake. Whenever I go out there, even if I haven't driven my boat, I can turn on the bilge pump and pump water out of it. I would estimate that I can pump about a gallon per day. If I go a couple of weeks, that bilge will run for a pretty long time before running dry. I inspected the hull and there is one spot on the bottom where it has been pretty crudely patched with epoxy (about the size of my palm). How can I tell if that is where it is leaking. Also, is it normal for a boat to take on a little water just sitting in a slip? more

Resolved Question: I NEED HELP!!!! Please read!?

I installed a bilge pump in a boat that I'm restoring and I went to screw it in the boat and I used a screw that was too long... The two screws went right through the hull of the boat and I'm so angry at myself. I don't know too much about boats, but if anyone has suggestions on how to fix this, let me know! My husband mentioned using marine epoxy, but I don't know how that's going to hold and if it will be as durable as the fiberglass once was. The screw is not huge, but there's a hole in the hull nonetheless. Please HELP! Thanks! The boat is not in the water by the way, so the hole (from the outside) is easily accesible if need be. more

Resolved Question: how many amps is too much?...?

back to the bilge pump, when i replace it i'm thinking about upgrading from 500 gph (draws 1.5 amps) to 750 gph (draws 2.8 amps). i don't want to overload my system. how do i know if this will not draw too much electricity? i have a 17' bayliner capri, with a 12 v battery in the aft area. thanks more

Resolved Question: do i need a repair manual?..?

hi, thanks for your answers about the bilge pump. truth is it is my fault it is not working - i left it on, walked away & forgot about it. :o ( anyway, i see no way to get into the guts of our bayliner capri to replace anything. the back seat is on hinges and will swing up but not far enough to get in there to get a good look. there must be some way to remove that seat from the hinges but i can't see how. would you say i need a repair manual? any idea where to get one? i did a quick search on the net and did not find one specifically for that model. anyone, help! more

Resolved Question: How did Noah get all the urine & feces out of the lowest level of the Ark?

Did he have a bilge pump or was it a bucket brigade? more

Resolved Question: Is ground the black wire or the brown wire?

I have a DC marine bilge pump. It has only two wires - black and brown. Which one is ground? I know a motor can run in both directions... so I want to hook it up properly, so it works better. I tested it out. As I guessed, the motor runs in both directions. But it only pumps in one direction. The black wire is ground. The brown wire is positive. Why brown? Who knows. :) Ahh... 45 cal, I saw your post just a hair too late. Well, you have a best answer coming your way. Thx! more

Resolved Question: Can I get a drain/fill pump for my bait well?

I have a 16' bass boat that I keep in a wet slip. I had to plug the bait well drain because water was seeping in to the well. I had the well valve closed, but I guess it is stuck. Since I store my boat in a slip, the drain outlet for the bait wells is below the water line. I would like to be able to pump water into the well to use it for bait and then drain the well again when I am in the slip. Is there a pump that I can install that will fill and drain the wells? Or even just drain them. My bilge pump doesn't seem to drain the wells. more

Resolved Question: With all these so-called "Real" life TV programs how about a real life fishing show not another boat show?

I have been fishing for about 35 years I started back when my dad was stationed in Turkey,Cigli Air Base in Izmir Turkey. Dad and I fished in Izmir Bay right in back of base/post housing beyond the 360 degree perimeter fence. I was probably in early grade school. And we didn't have a boat but I have fished out of a boat in about 300 feet or more of icy cold water in Puget Sound in Seattle Washington state. But most of my (99.99 % has been off some kind of fixed platform). In Izmir it was off a bank. In Oklahoma it was in a lake off a rocky bank under some trees, or off a bank near a reservoir, in Virginia it was off a pier or a point in WA state it was off a "Lock" or a pier in New Hampshire or off periwinkle covered rocks. The point is that not everyone can afford a boat and really not everyone wants a boat i.e. PFD's,operating the boat, needing a bilge pump, boating rules of the road etc. I am thinking about having a fishing show from the "bank",or a bridge, or a pier etc. Email me. more

Resolved Question: Bilge pump on a 20 ft. monterey 1995 cut on but does not pump out water?

I left my pump on for around maybe 15 without shutting it off and I think I burned it up, I can still hear it click on but no water will come out? How should I go about trouble shooting this issue? more

Resolved Question: what does it take to change a bilge pump in a Chris craft 1988 scorpion210 v8 boat/$$$?

the float could be stuck on this boats bilge ? more