Bilge Pump Question

[mattbroad]

I have an 04' SAN 210 signature (it does not have keyless ignition) and was wondering if anyone has replaced either or both of the bilge pumps with automatic pumps with a float switch directly wired to the battery.

My boat lives on a lift at a weekend house and if it rains very much water seeps through the cover next at a couple of low spots and the front bilge fills up. The way the pump comes wirede from the factory the only choice is to leave it on or off. If I leave it off it does not empty the bilge. If I leave it on, the battery is dead in about a week.

Anyone out there dealt with this problem?

Thanks.

Matt

[richard]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

my case is same to you and I install a drain plug in the middle hole of the gas tank ,when left on trailer,I remove the drain plug ,so never worry when raining.

[jos]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

I mounted an Ultima switch, easy 2 wires, easily serial conected to the pump directly on the battery, fused. Put new 2 way wire. Its Johnson switch model 34-36303 from www.johnson-pump.com Left the old pumpsystem as it is. Make a new through hull so its independend. The Ultima switch has no moving parts and is easy to test put 2 fingers on the markings. Take the size of pump you want. Has a 9 sec pauze and lower and upper.
Succes

[darrel409]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

Option "C"......This will keep your battery charged. Solar Power, no outlet needed.

[mattbroad]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

I was actually wondering about "option C" also. The boat lift motor is 12v and already has a solar panel connected to the battery that sits on the dock. Could I just run a pair of wires from the boat lift battery to the boat battery?

[Quinner]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

Have you considered a canopy on your lift? I have one on mine and never take in any water so I never leave the pumps on.
Does your boat have the toggle below the throttle that can be switched to "bilge pump only"? I am suprised that the pumps can kill the battery that quickly.

[jos]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

I am interested in those solar things also. But i am in doubt wether the do the job, you cannot check it, and are 100% reliable, if not 100% those are wrong invesments. Battery charging isnt a cheap thing, look into battery chargers and you know.
At first i bought a drip winter charger for my two wheels, after the first battery died I was thold by those same salesguy that such a charger wasnt suitable for a gel battery!!!!!!!!!! Just a classic battery. Wow. No refund of cours.
So a near to 100% reliable pumpsystem is al you need, pumps when water is there, and not pump when there is non.
I have a 1991 SN, so the original automatic punp switch left me when critical on holiday, so now i have this second modern Johnson switcha dn pump all independend. So redundend the call this double pumpsystem. A second battery comes with a main 1/2 switch
Of course its all for short periodes, the only thing for long term is, on shore, with the bottom plug out.

[Mikeski]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

The stock pumps are rule 500's with run dry protection. They "cycle" ever couple minutes, if no flow is detected they turn off after a few seconds. The constant cycling is enough to kill a stock battery in a week or so. The solution would be to replace the pump with a built in flow switch then just leave the switch on. This will still allow you to turn it off if ever needed. You may want to replace the stock Carling switch with the unlighted version so the light bulb does not run the battery down.

[boatech]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

center drain plug quick easy and fool proof/ well unless you forget to put it in but nobody ever does that.lol its the best thing for boats that sit on lifts with no one to keep an eye on them. just a cheap easy fix solar pannels do work as well. but u can still have pump failure wires come loose ive seen the float switches jam/stick plenty of times center drain plug cheap & easy. i perfer to unhook batteries if im gona be away for more than a couple of days ever seen a boat catch fire it aint pretty. just another option for ya. good luck

[darrel409]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

was actually wondering about "option C" also. The boat lift motor is 12v and already has a solar panel connected to the battery that sits on the dock. Could I just run a pair of wires from the boat lift battery to the boat battery?

A solar panel can and will charge multiple batteries, it depends on the power of your panel and length of the leads. I doubt it though, too much current drop. The batteries would need to be sitting near each other. RVUpgrades.com sells a nice 5 and/or 15 watt charger that is a complete kit...controller, panel, wire, led batt. tester. I have one, works very well.
A center drain sounds simple ....the solar is great for keeping your battery full and ready to go.

[mattbroad]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

I originally thought about a canopy (the boat is on a shorestation lift), but the dock dealer discouraged me from getting a canopy because of the tower. Does anyone have any experience with canopies and boats with towers?

Quinner, by the way, you're pretty close to me. Where do you usually ride or ski? We are at Wonder Lake.

I hear everyone on the center drain plug but, man, I really hate to drill a hole in the bottom of a boat unless I have a really good reason.

Thanks,

Matt

[Quinner]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

Matt,

I have an 05' 206 w/tower. Sits on a shorestation as well, I have the 24' canopy and I raised it enough so I can get in and out with the tower up, tower up I can get the boat completely out of the water, rudder by about 2". If you fold the tower I can raise mine pretty tight to the canopy at the highest lift point. The Canopy is great, it really keeps the boat clean and dry, I never leave my bilge on either. about the only down side is in the spring birds will sometimes build nest in the corners, just keep knocking them out or spray some Lysol in there to keep them away.

Call Blair at Chicago Sea Ray if you are thinking about a canopy, he stocks tons of stuff and many different colors.

Grew up in Downers Grove, I am on Deep Lake in Lake Villa now, pretty much just ski here. Did you or do you ski for Wonder Lake?

Chris

[mattbroad]

RE: Bilge Pump Question

Chris:

Thanks. I think the canopy is probably the way to go, even it is the most expensive. I'll give Blair a call in the spring.

I never skied for Wonder Lake. We just moved here from Idaho in 05' so we are just getting used to the area. My son and I mostly wakeboard and my wife and daughter mostly ski. I chose Wonder Lake because it is close (we live in Naperville) and private so it never gets very crowded. The downside, at least compared to what we were used to in Idaho, is the water is very shallow and not particularly clear.

Thanks for the responses.

Matt