www.iFourWinns.com

Just replaced the fresh water pump in my 97 Coast Runner. It only operates a transom shower. I left the switch on for a week, which burned up the motor. After removing the pump, I thought I would just cut the factory wire plug off the old one and splice it to the new one. I was surprised to see that the plug had already been cut off once and spliced so this was at least the third replacement for this pump. Wondering if others have left the switch on and burned up this pump. The transom shower is on a switch wired directly to the battery with an inline fuse. I wonder if they make a timer that could be spliced in to turn it off after 10 minutes or so. Here is a photo of the pump.

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Mannix2
Hyde Park, NY

1997 Four Winns 203 Coast Runner-150hp Ocean Pro Evinrude
"BONA 4 TUNA"
1986 19' Bayliner Capri 125 Force

I replaced mine last year but it wasn't burned up. Previous owner never used it and the motor was rusted solid inside. Mine is for a cabin sink but I've thought about adding a transom shower. My power switch is the ACC switch on the dash with all the other lights, blower, bilge pump switches.

My replacement pump looked the same as the picture you posted.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

So your pump shuts off when batteries are switched off. Maybe this is the way to go. Just seems to easy to hit the switch on the transom when I am putting the cover on. Although it's an illuminated switch, cant see the light on real well in the sun.

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Mannix2
Hyde Park, NY

1997 Four Winns 203 Coast Runner-150hp Ocean Pro Evinrude
"BONA 4 TUNA"
1986 19' Bayliner Capri 125 Force

Most pumps won't run unless there's a spigot open. They operate based on detecting pressure changes. Open a tap and the pressure drops, so the pump kicks in. So unless you leave a tap open, or there's a leak, there's not much reason for a pump to stay running.

Me, I turn the breaker to it off whenever I'm not using it. Better to have to stop and flip the breaker back on than deal with fixing the pump.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

That's a great point Bill. I neglected the obvious, also got me thinking do cuddy and cruiser owners turn off the water when at the dock? How long can the pump be switched on if no water is drawn? I must have a leak if the pump cycled so many times it burned out the motor in a week. Looks like I have some more investigating to do with this simple transom shower.

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Mannix2
Hyde Park, NY

1997 Four Winns 203 Coast Runner-150hp Ocean Pro Evinrude
"BONA 4 TUNA"
1986 19' Bayliner Capri 125 Force

You don't use a pump when you're on shore water.

We turn off water at the dock to prevent a broken hose or other major leak from sinking our boat. I have two in-line shut off valves on my hose. One at the boat (using an angled connector) and another at the pedestal. That way I can be SURE the water is off. I've had situations where someone turns on the pedestal valve, probably when looking to run a hose to wash a boat. Sometimes both the pedestal valve AND my in-line one on the hose! Thus the 3rd one at the boat stops their idiocy from becoming my problem. Better safe than sunk.

Most pumps won't last long without water. It sounds like your pump ran dry because of a leak or something left running. That's why it's important to always turn off the breaker associated with the pump when you're not using it. It's too easy for a small leak to lead to the pump running too much, draining the water, running down the batteries and eventually burning out it's impeller. Or worse, if you don't have proper batteries, running them down enough to risk the bilge pumps not running.

Before you buy a whole new pump check to see if a rebuild kit is available for it. Most have at least one kind of kit for rebuilding the 'wet end' of the pump. But it varies from one pump make/model to another.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Yes, my pump shuts off when the battery switch is turned off. No separate breaker for it, the cuddy has a very simple power system.

My cuddy only has a fresh water tank, no hose input for fresh water system. Good point about it only running when the pressure is low. If the engine is off I can hear my pump cycle but it will shut off in a few seconds once it builds pressure. It only turns back on when I open the faucet.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

Then you might want to look into adding some sort of breaker switch for it. I'd use a breaker, and a not a switch, as pumps draw a lot of current. You generally shouldn't run that much through most switches.

It should only ever come on when you open a spigot, or when the system is first powered up. You should never hear the pump cycling unless you've opened a spigot. If you do then you have a leak somewhere in the system. And that, combined with no breaker, would lead to be the death of your pump.

If you end up needing to replace the pump it's not a terribly complicated job. They're typically only held down by two screws and connected with two tubes. It's a simple job. The hardest part is usually getting TO it. I've no idea where it is on your boat. But find it and get the make/model off it. Then check to see if a rebuild kit is available for it. That'd probably be your least expensive course of action.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Just an FYI. On my last boat, my wife turned the water off in the head. She just turned it off just as it was going to cycle on. So the presure was low, it than turned on. It built uo and it leaked ever so slowly. I always trun off the batteries when I am done at the slip. BUT for some reason I forgot!! A few days later I am walking toward the boat and the pump was running. It burned it self out. So now my wife & I know better to turn the water off complety when turnning the handel.

As it has already been said, turn your shore water off at the dock. And I try to turn my battiers off too.

I would not bother with a timer. Just reconnect it to your battery switch.

Yes, you have convinced me, over-thinking it. Just connect it to the battery switch, thanks for the advice and knowledge everyone.

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Mannix2
Hyde Park, NY

1997 Four Winns 203 Coast Runner-150hp Ocean Pro Evinrude
"BONA 4 TUNA"
1986 19' Bayliner Capri 125 Force

I still suggest having a separate switch for it. There's a plenty of times you'd want to have power for everything else without the water. That and if the pump acts up again you'll be able to shut it off by itself and save it from burning out, while you still use the rest of the boat.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I had to change mine recently, but that was because of my own carelessness in not draining it properly for winter storage - the obvious happened, and I went to WM and bought this http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=15532&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10111&subdeptNum=10628&classNum=10630

Its an easy fix, although I agree with Bill the tough part is getting to it and still have the use of both hands. What I found interesting is I paid a little extra for WM's extended warranty as they said they'd gladly replace it "no matter what causes the failure" - ie. even if I make another boneheaded move and don't fully drain it properly...

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2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6

I decided to take your advice, the pump is now connected to the battery switch and I have a seperate switch right next to it on the transom. Thanks everyone for your input and advice. I love this forum since it gives me a chance to bounce ideas off people who have experience.

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Mannix2
Hyde Park, NY

1997 Four Winns 203 Coast Runner-150hp Ocean Pro Evinrude
"BONA 4 TUNA"
1986 19' Bayliner Capri 125 Force

Great! One less thing to worry about now, eh?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista