CHECK your Auto Bilge FLOAT SWITCH!
#11
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Location: Deland, Florida
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First thing I do is disconnect the damn things. I've had a lot more dead batteries due to them than I have boats saved because of them.

#12
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Location: Fairport,NY
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And I thought I was the only one with this problem! I keep my boat on a Hydro-Hoist but water collects in the bilge after a hard rain. A couple of years ago, the pump came on after a lot of rain and ran the batteries down. Over that winter I hit the pivot with spray Gunk. The pump still works (It's a Rule). Since that time I take no chances on the hoist while I'm gone. I've got a stick that I slide down between the headers that rests on the flapper valve. I've never forgotten to remove it since I'm always checking stuff back there before I go out. Replacing the switch in my boat would be a nightmare. I always check the pump to make sure it's working before I go out. The pivot hasn't stuck since.
#17
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Those Rule automatic pumps Milord listed switch on every 2.5 minutes, looking for water, and cost a ton.
The Water Witch was the first solid-state switch I ever saw, and came out about 10 years ago. There's a new on out called SensaSwitch that's smaller, completely sealed, reasonably priced, and has no exposed sensors. Costs $25 for small pumps (up 12 amps): SensaSwitch . I'm putting one in the boat I'm re-rigging now.
In the meantime, I checked the Rule (not Attwood) switches in my Formula. They're vented, but can get gummed up by the usual bilge gunk. A good shot with a garden hose around the base of the switch, and through the vent hole sorts that right out...
By the way, is anyone looking for a 1250 gph Atwood pump? I just pulled one of this re-rig job. It's in good shape, but since I can't get to it with the engine in the boat, I figured this was a good time to change it out. It's only got 170 hours on it.
The Water Witch was the first solid-state switch I ever saw, and came out about 10 years ago. There's a new on out called SensaSwitch that's smaller, completely sealed, reasonably priced, and has no exposed sensors. Costs $25 for small pumps (up 12 amps): SensaSwitch . I'm putting one in the boat I'm re-rigging now.
In the meantime, I checked the Rule (not Attwood) switches in my Formula. They're vented, but can get gummed up by the usual bilge gunk. A good shot with a garden hose around the base of the switch, and through the vent hole sorts that right out...
By the way, is anyone looking for a 1250 gph Atwood pump? I just pulled one of this re-rig job. It's in good shape, but since I can't get to it with the engine in the boat, I figured this was a good time to change it out. It's only got 170 hours on it.
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Retired! Boating full-time now.
Retired! Boating full-time now.
Last edited by C_Spray; 08-24-2004 at 01:16 PM.