www.iFourWinns.com :: View topic - My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?

I have a 2008 F224 funship. I just pressed my bilge pump button and it took about 20 minutes for the pump to empty the water. I have 50 hours on the boat. How do I set the bilge to kick on automatic?

bowlboundgman wrote:

I have a 2008 F224 funship. I just pressed my bilge pump button and it took about 20 minutes for the pump to empty the water. I have 50 hours on the boat. How do I set the bilge to kick on automatic?

20 minutes?!?!?! These things tend to pump 100s of gallons per hour so it sounds like you had a huge amount of water in the bilge. Was it pumping a hard steady stream like a normal bilge pump? If so you must have had a lot of water, make sure everything is running ok.

Are you on a trailer? If so you drain plug should be out if you were out of the water.

You need to find that float switch and diagnose from there. But I just like others think that is your problem. Good Luck and let us know.

IMHO, with a working float switch/bilge pump, the standard one "should" be fine. I've never had a problem with my pump keeping up with the amount of water from dive gear, swimming, tubing, etc.

I guess the main question would be where the majority of water is getting in. Does water pool on your cover somewhere, allowing it to leak in? Can you put a pole under your cover to tent it so the water runs off better?

Also assuming that when it doesn't rain, you don't have water issues in your bilge......?

Author:	bowlboundgman [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:04 pm ]
Post subject:	My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
I have a 2008 F224 funship. I just pressed my bilge pump button and it took about 20 minutes for the pump to empty the water. I have 50 hours on the boat. How do I set the bilge to kick on automatic?

Author:	ChicagoTC [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
You have to have a float switch. Look for something like below either connected to the pump or close by. Manually lift it and see if the pump comes on, if it does check for debris/blockage. If the pump doesn't come on perhaps the switch is defective. Also check with the battery switch off to ensure it's wired directly to the battery.

Author:	wkearney99 [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:53 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
The switches are notorious for getting stuck, either in the off or on positions. So you either get no pump action or it sticks on and kills your battery (along with the diaphragm in the pump). Many boaters go so far as to add a second pump and switch. It's less of an issue for a trailer boat, but for boats kept full time in a wet slip it's a very good idea.

Author:	LouC [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:37 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
Are you sure that the boat does not have an auto bilge pump or an auto switch....sometimes the switch on the dash has 2 positions....one for auto and one for manual...I have a hard time believing that FW would not put an auto pump or switch in a boat that costs as much as that one probably did....in any case if you don't have one it's pretty easy to add on...my boat had a 1100 gph Rule pump and I added a Sure-Bail switch to it about 7 years ago and it still works well....

Author:	aguyindallas [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:45 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
My 2008 bilge pump is automatic...and I have a push button on the dash to be able to turn it on manually. I would venture to think yours in the same way.

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Author:	The Kid [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:10 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
Your funship should have an auto bilge and it's located under the engine. Give it a lift and see if it turns on the pump. These new mercury free switches don't have the life span the old ones did!! And it is absolutely a warranty thing if the switch is bad Good luck!!

Author:	captwalt [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:14 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
bowlboundgman wrote: I have a 2008 F224 funship. I just pressed my bilge pump button and it took about 20 minutes for the pump to empty the water. I have 50 hours on the boat. How do I set the bilge to kick on automatic? 20 minutes?!?!?! These things tend to pump 100s of gallons per hour so it sounds like you had a huge amount of water in the bilge. Was it pumping a hard steady stream like a normal bilge pump? If so you must have had a lot of water, make sure everything is running ok. Are you on a trailer? If so you drain plug should be out if you were out of the water. You need to find that float switch and diagnose from there. But I just like others think that is your problem. Good Luck and let us know.

Author:	bowlboundgman [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
captwalt wrote: bowlboundgman wrote: I have a 2008 F224 funship. I just pressed my bilge pump button and it took about 20 minutes for the pump to empty the water. I have 50 hours on the boat. How do I set the bilge to kick on automatic? 20 minutes?!?!?! These things tend to pump 100s of gallons per hour so it sounds like you had a huge amount of water in the bilge. Was it pumping a hard steady stream like a normal bilge pump? If so you must have had a lot of water, make sure everything is running ok. Are you on a trailer? If so you drain plug should be out if you were out of the water. You need to find that float switch and diagnose from there. But I just like others think that is your problem. Good Luck and let us know. I was surprised by the amount of water in the boat. I had a solid stream of water for at least 15 minutes. I am hoping to look at the at it tomorrow. The water seems to be getting in under the bow canvas cover.

Author:	EvilZ [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
Is your boat in the water or on a trailer? From what you're saying, it sounds like you must have it in a slip and either getting a ton of rain which is getting inside your boat, or a leak somewhere (bellows?). Either way, I agree with all the suggestions above re checking your float switch.

Author:	bowlboundgman [ Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
Thanks for all the help. After about an twenty minutes of messing with the float switch, I realized that when my boat was opened for the season, they never connected my positive bilge wire to the battery. I am very disappointed with the amount of water that gets in to the boat. Thanks again for all of your help

Author:	Jim_R [ Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:42 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
captwalt wrote: 20 minutes?!?!?! These things tend to pump 100s of gallons per hour so it sounds like you had a huge amount of water in the bilge. Was it pumping a hard steady stream like a normal bilge pump? If so you must have had a lot of water, make sure everything is running ok. Remember that FW only puts in a Rule 500 as the stock bilge pump. Pretty much a toy, as you can see in the pic below, it's even smaller than the switch. I yanked mine and now only use it to bail out our pedal boat after a storm.

Author:	captwalt [ Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:55 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
at 500 gph 20 mins is roughly 165 gallons of water in the bilge...that is a lot of water in there. I would guess that is enough to fill up higher than the bottom of his engine is where some things like his starter may be. bowlboundgame never said if this boat sits on a trailer or not...if it does he should remove the drain plug to avoid this scenario should the bilge pump fail. if not pulled on a trailer and there was a cover to handle rain storms then I would make sure there is no signifcant leak somewhere in the bilge.

Author:	bowlboundgman [ Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
I keep the boat in a the water. I was not in the boat for two weeks and we got hit with some serious rain. I would guess the water was a few inches from the motor. What type of bilge pump to you recommend I install?

Author:	EvilZ [ Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
IMHO, with a working float switch/bilge pump, the standard one "should" be fine. I've never had a problem with my pump keeping up with the amount of water from dive gear, swimming, tubing, etc. I guess the main question would be where the majority of water is getting in. Does water pool on your cover somewhere, allowing it to leak in? Can you put a pole under your cover to tent it so the water runs off better? Also assuming that when it doesn't rain, you don't have water issues in your bilge......?

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Author:	bowlboundgman [ Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My Bilge pump is not automatic? What do I need to do?
EvilZ wrote: IMHO, with a working float switch/bilge pump, the standard one "should" be fine. I've never had a problem with my pump keeping up with the amount of water from dive gear, swimming, tubing, etc. I guess the main question would be where the majority of water is getting in. Does water pool on your cover somewhere, allowing it to leak in? Can you put a pole under your cover to tent it so the water runs off better? Also assuming that when it doesn't rain, you don't have water issues in your bilge......? The boat is usually very dry. I think the water is coming from under the bow cover near the wind shield and the anchor locker. The carpet/floor and seats are always dry. I have noticed that that the garbage can located under the bow cover has had water in it. I will have to investigate further this weekend.