www.iFourWinns.com

I have a question on my '03 Freedom 170 Bilge Pump. Does this pump have and an "automatic on" based on the level of water in the sump? I got the boat last fall and I never checked operation of the bilge pump. A week or so ago in my drive way I connect the battery, put in the drain plug and started filling the sump with my hose. I was waiting for the pump to automatically kick on and it never did. After a while I turned it on via the switch and it worked and started pumping the water out.

I think I would like to upgrade the pump to something that will automatically kick on based on the depth of water in the sump as well as have a manual on/off. Also maybe increase the pump rate.

From the Freedom 170 Manual.

Sounds like your float switch is bad. Replace the switch, or get a new automatic bilge pump. Cheap insurance to know your boat will not be filled with water during a rain storm.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Also, take a look at what model the pump is. Since you're not the original owner, it's possible that the pump has already been replaced with one that doesn't have a float switch...

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

My 03 180 Freedom did not have the float switch. You had to manually hit the toggle button on the helm. I replaced it and added the float as the bilge pump was not working. Pretty easy install.

Pull the old pump and take it with you. There is a different size exit hose and if you get too much bigger, you have to change the hose and possible the exit hole on the side of the boat. I want to say mine had a 500 and I could go to an 800. Any bigger required hose size change.

Here is my new one installed (pardon the messy bildge, came that way and have not had a chance to clean it). EDIT that is DIRTY! I cleaned it. Cannot believe I had not cleaned it when i installed the pump.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

Must have been a mis-print in the Four Winns Freedom Manual then. It does say you have to hit the switch to activate the pump manually. But also states, like quoted above, that an automatic bilge pump is standard on 03' models. Or maybe both your boats had owner installed pumps without the switch.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Mine had no float and i found out the hard way that it did not work! Cost me a starter.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

According to the parts catalog I found on FourWinns website my boat should have come stock with a Rule 500 25DM Bilge Pump. A quick look at the Rule website shows this pump has been discontinued. Looking at the replacement model which is the 25S and a few other similar model none of them are float switch activated. They do have one that is "automatic" and cycles on every 2.5 minutes for a second or less so see if there is water in the bilge.

I should be able to replace with an 800 and use the existing 3/4" hoses.

My owners manual also indicates the pump should be automatic based on water level however I called the guy I got the boat from and he said the pump is original and was never automatic.

I was able to get a kit I think from West MArine with the 800 and the float switch. I can turn it on with the helm switch and the float will kick it on automatically.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

You guys win. 2 to 1. FW must have intended on putting in automatic pumps in the Freedom's, published the manuals, and decided after the fact to not do it.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

My 04 Freedom does NOT have an automatic pump either. The Freedoms were the budget boats, so I guess they skipped the automatic pumps.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

This is what I just replaced my broken pump with:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10624

If your current pump works, you can probably just wire in a float switch...

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

A 500GPH bilge pump with a float switch, but still manually overrided at the dash with a switch is a cheap safety item. 500gph is sufficient for most situations. More is always better, but you run a high risk of having to change out the outlet on the hull and tube.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

800 fits the blue base perfectly and hoses and wiring is all the same as the 500. I got it as a kit at west marine for like $40.

This is what mine looks like. Came as a kit and its the 800 not the 500

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... 58638&BASE

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4