www.iFourWinns.com

Howdy folks,

When sponging out my bilge last night looking for a leak (sponged out 2 quarts of water that smelled like sweat), I noticed that the float switch on the port side had two wires laying in the bottom of the bilge water. One has a connector, one is bare wire. I assume this float switch is disconnected ... where does it plug in and what is the bare wire for?

http://homepage.mac.com/mcraigchr/PhotoAlbum72.html

Thanks,
Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I should add ... there is another float switch in front of the pump. My *guess* is that the disconnected switch either 1) connected to another pump that is no longer there or 2) this switch was put in so that an additional pump could be added.

UNLESS ... my pump can be connected to more than one float switch ...

It's in a *fun* spot, so I'll have to practice my acrobatics. Anyone with a 248 have this float switch on port side (next to the mesh A/C cylinder filter)? What is it connected to?

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Sounds like your float switch is disconnected. Both wires should be connected to your bilge pump.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

The switch in the picture looks like the high water alarm. Some boats (mine for example) have two bilge pumps and two switches. The normal pump and switch are as low as they can be in the bilge. A second pump and switch are a little higher up.

Your switch looks like it on a little platform to raise it up, that's how my high water switch looks. The high water switch and pump are higher so that they only come on when the water is coming faster than the lower pump can handle. On my boat the high water switch also sounds an alarm on the dash.

A different theory is that someone added a new switch. Maybe the disconnected switch was too high and the previous owner added a new lower switch to get a drier bilge. Or maybe the old switch stopped working and the previous woner added a replacement, without bothering to remove the old one.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

I think you're correct. After further examination, there is an additional switch (Attwood) in the bottom of the bilge that is plugged into the bilge pump (Attwood).

The switch that unplugged is a Rule. So, as you say, either the original bilge pump has been replaced with the aforementioned Attwood and this switch was left sitting unplugged OR this at one point was plugged into an alarm.

I tend to think it was plugged into an alarm given its location (high on the port side next to the A/C filter).

Thanks for the info.

As a side note, I replaced the fuel filter last night ... ! What genius came up with that design? It's packed in so tight next to hoses that you can't get your hands on it to tighten it down. Suppose to turn the filter 3/4 of turn after initial contact ... I could only muster 1/2 turn with filter pliers. Any more than that and I risk damaging the filter housing ...

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP