Bilge controls

[cazman]

I am a new Nautique owner (2006 Nautique 206). Learned much from this forum in order to make an informed purchase.

I am a litttle confused on the operation of the bilge controls. On my boat, the dash has a button for the bilge pump and there is also a toggle switch to the right of the drivers seat. What is the recommended setting for the toggle switch? It seems that in the on position nothing happpens, until I press the dash button. Auto does not seem to work either and in the off position the engine shuts off. Does this sound right? The manual does not cover the toggle switch.

[s_kelley2000]

The toggle switch is All On/Off and Bilge Only right? The switch needs to be in the On position to run the boat or use any of the accessories. Off will kill power to everything and is the setting that should be used when the boat is stored on dry land and you do not want anything to drain the battery down. Bilge Only just gives power to the bilge pump and is the setting that should be used if the boat is going to be left sitting in the water. I believe the bilge button on the dash must be activated for it to work when it is left in Bilge Only mode.

The auto bilge pump works by "checking for water" every 5 minutes or so. It will run and if it detects a load it will pump out water until the load changes and then it will stop pumping. If you leave them set to auto and listen for 5 minutes or so you should hear them kick on for a few seconds and then shut off assuming there is no water to pump out.

[surroundsound64]

Mine (although not a 2006) will allow me to turn on the bilge pumps with the switch to on without activating the key pad. So, basically, all on or bilge on both allow me to turn on the bilge, but bilge only allows battery drain down protection.

[cazman]

Ok, now I got it. Thanks for the help.

Also, only the forward bilge was pumping out water. I do not know if the front and rear are seperate compartments and maybe the rear was dry or the rear pump is actually broken.

[s_kelley2000]

With your boat being a direct drive I bet it's probably a matter of water collecting more towards the center pump than the rear when the boat is at rest. I don't believe there are any bulkheads to separate the front and rear bilge but I have never crawled around a 206 so I can't say for sure. If you can hear the pump kick on for a few second to test for water every 5 minutes then it is probably working as it should. These pumps are pretty simple and unless they are clogged (rare) they pretty much either work or won't turn on and spin at all.

[cazman]

I believe you are correct. I took on some water and both bilges worked. All set now.

[scottb7]

The way my boat sits in the lift it definitely will get water more toward center long before it would get to the rear pump.