Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Bilge Pump		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

binky
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
115 Posts
Initially Posted - 10/08/2012 :  18:19:02  Show Profile
Should I leave my auto bilge on? How much drain does the light have on the battery? I only have one battery and will not be on shore power to recharge for a few more days. I have yet to see any water in the bilge at all..... I know what most are gonna say, or at least think I do....but interested in your opinion.
"Mast Confusion"
1983 SK, #3525
Ken
Hampton Roads, Va
Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts
Response Posted - 10/08/2012 :  18:24:20  Show Profile
In the water? leave it on. Only draws energy when engaged. It's just a switch.

sten
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5377 Posts
Response Posted - 10/08/2012 :  18:42:51  Show Profile
It's fine if you get rainwater in the boat. The pump will remove the water and shut itself off when finished.
If however you have a leaky hull fitting, water will continue to leak into your boat indefinitely and eventually kill your battery. The pump will only forestall the inevitable. But that could be just enough time to save your boat.
If you're in a marina, call the yard boss. If you're on a mooring, you're on your own.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts
Response Posted - 10/08/2012 :  18:44:06  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
My switch has three positions, On / Off / Auto. Auto allows the pump to turn itself on if the float switch tells it to. This is the position I leave it in pretty much 24/7/365. Other than testing the pump, I've never used it in "On" (and hope never to), and I'd only turn it to "Off" if the boat was up on the trailer. Also, my switch only turns on the light when it's actively running, not when it's in "Auto".

Like Sten said, if the boat's in the water, you want to have power to the pump if the float switch engages.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

hewebb
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
761 Posts
Response Posted - 10/11/2012 :  03:32:01  Show Profile
I may have mine wired incorrectly but when I installed it I ran two hot wires direct to each battery with in-line fuses. I cannot turn off the automatic sensor. I did install a separate switch to manually turn it on. The only way I can turn it off completely is remove the in-line fuses.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

tweeet65
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
55 Posts
Response Posted - 10/11/2012 :  15:40:29  Show Profile
Gang, where is the best place to place the bilge pump? We all refer to "the bilge". It's not clear to me where exactly that is. Under sink?

thanks,

dave
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts
Response Posted - 10/11/2012 :  16:47:18  Show Profile
Above the keel. Lowest point in the boat.

True bilge pump story. I have a Honda generator with a wired 2600 gph bilge pump and hose ready to go should the worst happen. I told two Swedish cruising friends about my setup. They later became Captain and Stew for a Danish billionaires $5.5 mil Oyster 62. My big ass backup pump never left my friends mind. One day he decided to buy a big basement sump pump at a hardware store. 300 miles offshore from Greece, water started coming in. A thru hull was bolted to a plate which had separated from the hull. Water at ankle depth, but not up to the generator yet, my friend plugged in the basement sump pump and saved the boat. I get free beer for life whenever our paths cross.

The new automatic bilge pumps eliminate switch problems and are really reliable. 500GPH for $50. Wired to a hot and you are done.

sten
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3476 Posts
Response Posted - 10/12/2012 :  04:01:22  Show Profile
<< new automatic bilge pumps >>

I used a rhule and it rocked. great solution, reliable. worked great. I used on in the front of the power boat to remove rainwater. Had a solar panel to keep the battery up.

I could step up on the front of the boat and it would kick on so we got to test it a lot. Nice not to have to worry about cleaning a switch/float.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts
Response Posted - 10/12/2012 :  06:24:18  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
Tweeet65 - here is a link to an easy-access bilge plate mod. The bilge is under this plate in a fin-keel boat. Same location but different arrangement on the other hulls.

http://littleboatiris.blogspot.ca/2012/05/easiest-mod-ever-quick-access-bilge.html
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

tweeet65
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
55 Posts
Response Posted - 10/15/2012 :  13:31:05  Show Profile
Mine is a cat 25, a977 swing with a dinette plan. The only under floor access is a round plate and it doesn't appear as though there is room in the area (height) for the rule pump I got. I thought I would locate the pump under the sink and plumb it to the sink drain line.

dave
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

glen
Captain

Members Avatar

359 Posts
Response Posted - 10/16/2012 :  11:39:18  Show Profile
Under the sink or the hatch below the starboard quarter berth is a good place on a swinger for the pump, but run the discharge hose to a designated through-hull on the transom. Also consider backflow prevention. There are many different opinions on how backflow should be handled. I’m sure someone will add their thoughts to this. I have the discharge hose loop well above the through-hull, and have never had any problems.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.