Engines out so want to replace bilge pump. Any recommendations for size or brand? Had an Attwood V1250 plus float switch.

.Plus, how to power up electrical with engines out to check operation?

Thanks in advance for your feedback

I think the top guys out there making bilge pumps right now are Attwood Rule and Whale.
Size wise get the biggest you can afford and fit in there. These are for emergency situations and if you have an actual emergency you want that water out as fast as possible!!
A lot of guys will put a small pump as a primary everyday kinda use thing and have a big daddy pump mounted at the same level as the smaller one but the float switch will be higher so it kicks in only if there is an actual need for it.
As far as powering the systems to check operation....are you talking about testing the pumps or something else on the boat? If pumps...they should be hard wired to the batteries for the floats. There is also a secondary power wire that would be run from the dash to the pump for manual override. If you wanted to power the system up i would just run a jumper to the dash fuse box since engines are out...

To add to Wally, the bigger pumps never get the level down as much as a small one, but I use large pumps. Stay away from Rule, I have went through so many of those POS I will never use one again. Sure wish Lovete pumps (the bilge pump not the porn star) were still made.

What have you had luck with? Current boat has 6 Rules. Three were dead when I got it and 2 floats.

Thanks Wally, think I will go with the Attwood then. On the power issue, I was wanting to power all if possible as I was redoing some wiring. I ran a jumper with known 12 volts to positive in the dash fuse box but still had nothing. I am thinking I need to run a negative to the fuse box also. Would that be the issue? Brain fog on this for some reason.

Can not find the option to attach picture to the post.

Yes you need a ground to complete the circuit.
Should be one under the dash as well....

New Rule 35A float last year dead on arrival. Frustrating.

Baja32,

I like this one.

The really cool thing about this one is that, if the pump gives up, you simply twist it out, wire in a new pump, and twist it back in. No need to remove any screws from the hull bottom, which can be a major PITA.

For the float switch, this one almost seems to be made to pair with the pump linked above, the way they key together.

These were in my PQ, presumably OEM. The pump had fried, so I replaced the whole set while the engine was out.

Thanks. Brad.

The new to me boat has some old Lovettes that work great, keeping them in. After that I would try a Johnson pump. My buddy that had a marine repair shop said he has had good luck with them.

My old 32' had those too they were great was nice to not have separate floats and all that. Rebuildable too which would have been nice to be able to do rather than just replace them.

I must have missed it what did you replace your 32' with?! Must be another Fountain if you have the Lovettes.