Safe with only 1 bilge pump?

[SkiTundra]

The rear bilge pump in my '08 211 is running constantly and thus draining the battery. It's going to take a while for dealer to get a new one. Dealer recommended just disconnecting the rear pump and continuing to use/store the boat as normal and that the front bilge will be able to take care of everything. Makes sense assuming that the primary purpose of having both is so that one can act as a backup. My concern is if the boat fills with water during a rain (boat is stored in the water in an uncovered marina slip) and gets 'back heavy', eg, water builds up in the rear, and the rear goes down before the front bilge turns on.

Valid concern? Likely? Am I safe using the boat and leaving it in the marina until the replacement pump comes in?

Thanks,

[Chexi]

Check your shaft packing. It may be constantly running because you are taking on water faster than you are supposed to be.

If it really is a bad bilge pump, if yours is like mine, just go to West Marine and buy a new one. I think mine are Rules. Installation should be pretty simple. I guess the only question would be whether the harness is the same, but if it's not, just splice into the old harness with some butt connectors, crimp, and heat shrink tube. No need for a dealer on this one.

If it is an electrical problem, that may be a different story.

[Chexi]

Also, your boat will not sink like the titanic (on its end). The water would reach the front pump long before the boat sunk enough for water to start pouring in over the sides.

All that said, I would not be storing a boat in the water under any circumstances, covered or not, due to the potential for gelcoat blisters to form. It's somewhat random, depending on how well the fiberglass was wetted out and the quality of the resin, but there are nautiques with gelcoat blisters out there.

[SkiTundra]

Thanks. Shaft and rudder packing are good. The pump was clearly running dry. Fortunately, when I went over yesterday to unplug it, it was again cycling correctly. Powered off and on a few times and first couple it cycled correctly, 3rd time it came on continuous, 4th cycled correctly which is how it was when I left. Hopefully it'll continue like this until new one comes in.

Leaving the boat in the water is the only real option for us if we want to use it. Our schedules are just too tight. The dealer we purchased from and CC said that the blister issues are history and that we wouldn't have any problems.

[horkn]

Most older boats like mine only ever had 1 bilge pump.

[DanielC]

Before you buy a new bilge pump, make sure the old one is clean. These pumps sense water by the load the water puts on the pump. If the housing of the pump impeller is dirty, and it drags the motor speed down, the pump thinks it is still moving water, and keeps running.

There is a very good chance your old pump is fine, it just needs to be cleaned out.

[horkn]

Yep, that's the kind I have as well. The pump will rotate a couple times and if there us resistance, aka water, or gunk, it will keep spinning.

These microprocessor ones are nice, but if they get crud in them they get confused. Usually when they don't turn on anymore, there is a problem.

[Laptom]

Our 230 had the same problem. We just cleaned it very good and now it's running properly.

If there is still a problem. Switch the front (correct) pump with the rear. They come off easily.

Good luck.