Bilge Pump

[Heron]

How often should one expect a bilge pump to run? Ours seems to pump every hour or so and we wondered whether this was excessive.

[Guest]

I think I would be having a look at that, how long does it pump for? what size pump? it does seem excessive and could easily flatten your batteries without shore power over a week or so, and then!

JohnT

[Antares_9]

Bilge pump should not run unless there is a leak or the switch is faulty (unlikely or it would run constantly), find the leak and fix it, could be leaky stern gland, there should only be an occasional drip even if it's the old fashioned stuffing box type, if outdrive could be a boot or gimble housing leak, if wooden boat then it could be caulking. if it only happens when the boat is running then it could be a raw water leak from the coolant.

Give us a bit more on the boat info and we may be able to pin it down :-D :-D

[pks1702]

I would certainly have a look at what is causing this ASAP.

Should the pump fail or Battery flatten you could have a serious issue.

I would check the Stern Gland and skin fittings as first checks.

Hope you get it sorted.

[pks1702]

Aaagh

I have been Antaresed :-D

[Guest]

round six months ago when we left curlew we turned off all power from the isolation key in the rear cabin and in the battery locker when we cam back to the boat four weeks later the water was less than an inch from spilling up through the bilge area into the rear cabin.

when we was down about three weeks ago we let the bilge pump do its job and when moored up at brooms the bilge kept pumping for more than an hour and there is about less than an inch of water in the bottom of the bilge witch will not be sucked up.

:|

puzzling

[Antares_9]

Aaagh

I have been Antaresed :-D

Makes a change from being "Lakesailored" Perry. :-D

[Antares_9]

Goodness me I just googled lakesailored and up it came

[Heron]

Thanks for the replies and advice, only had the boat a few months so still feeling our way. Looks like this will have to have its priority raised. Again, thanks.