I've suspected the bilge pump of being faulty, so I finally took the time to track it down. Good news is that it and the float switch function just fine. The bad news is their location. The pump is mounted underneath the front of the engine, and it's not even mounted in the center (lowest portion of the bilge). It's mounted about 3/4 of the way up towards the stringer supporting the engine. The float switch is even worse - it's also mounted under the front of the engine, but it's right up next to the stringer - the highest possible location.
Due to the location of the float switch, the bilge pump will not activate until the entire bilge area underneath the engine is flooded. Worse, if the boat sits with a stern-heavy attitude (which it usually does), water will spill out the limber holes to fill up the rear of the boat near the transom before the bilge pump ever activates.
Before I set about correcting this, I want to make sure there isn't some reason the pump and float switch are mounted where they are. I would think you'd want the pump to be as low in the bilge as possible, and close to the stern since the boat usually pitches up while accelerating causing water to pile up at the stern. And the float switch should be slightly above the pump. Is that right, or should I leave them where they are?
Due to the location of the float switch, the bilge pump will not activate until the entire bilge area underneath the engine is flooded. Worse, if the boat sits with a stern-heavy attitude (which it usually does), water will spill out the limber holes to fill up the rear of the boat near the transom before the bilge pump ever activates.
Before I set about correcting this, I want to make sure there isn't some reason the pump and float switch are mounted where they are. I would think you'd want the pump to be as low in the bilge as possible, and close to the stern since the boat usually pitches up while accelerating causing water to pile up at the stern. And the float switch should be slightly above the pump. Is that right, or should I leave them where they are?
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