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Post by wellyftw on Mar 23, 2019 6:09:09 GMT
My bilge was full of water this evening. It appears the bilge pump is misbehaving. Worth pointing out that if you bilge is full of water (assuming you mean the bilge behind the engine) that this is not technically a bilge pump problem. The pump is there to deal with unexpected water. If unexpected water is getting there then there must be a reason for it. Oh no doubt. Stern gland definitely needs repacking. Problem I was having is the bilge pump wasn't playing its part. I've re positioned it and it seems to be behaving a little better so will see how it goes. When I moor up in Newark tomorrow I'll see to getting the stern gland repacked.
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Post by wellyftw on Mar 23, 2019 6:10:26 GMT
Might just be blocked. Usually they have a removable bit at the base which acts as a strainer. Have you had a look at it ? I'll take a look at that, might just be blocked as you suggest! Thanks!
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Post by wellyftw on Mar 23, 2019 6:14:28 GMT
Rule are the dogs danglies. No real advantage fixing it hard in position - having gravity do the work means it's easier to lift it and clear any debris from the pump inlet. Best set up is a float switch wired in parallel to a manual switch, that or a fully automatic job if funds stretch - a good battery and a decent pump will shift a fair bit of wet stuff. This one is automatic with a switch to manually run it. Seems to be powerful enough, I think it may just need a bit of a clean as it is certainly sucking water out with plenty of vigor.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2019 6:40:57 GMT
Rule are the dogs danglies. No real advantage fixing it hard in position - having gravity do the work means it's easier to lift it and clear any debris from the pump inlet. Best set up is a float switch wired in parallel to a manual switch, that or a fully automatic job if funds stretch - a good battery and a decent pump will shift a fair bit of wet stuff. This one is automatic with a switch to manually run it. Seems to be powerful enough, I think it may just need a bit of a clean as it is certainly sucking water out with plenty of vigor. That's the first and cheapest plan of action 👍 There may be a non return valve in the hose after the bilge pump - check that too.
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Post by phil70 on Mar 23, 2019 7:51:58 GMT
Have I told you how I nearly sunk my boat with a float switch issue? Phil
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2019 8:28:35 GMT
Another possibility is a kinked hose. I've actually got exactly that on one of my boats and it has reduced the flow from the bilge pump dramatically. Obviously bilge pumps are centrifugal not positive displacement so any restrictions to flow will have a major effect.
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Post by naughtyfox on Mar 23, 2019 9:01:50 GMT
My bilge was full of water this evening. It appears the bilge pump is misbehaving. Worth pointing out that if you bilge is full of water (assuming you mean the bilge behind the engine) that this is not technically a bilge pump problem. The pump is there to deal with unexpected water. If unexpected water is getting there then there must be a reason for it. My first thought - why is there water in the bilge anyway? The bottom of our engine 'ole is always dry, apart from sometimes condensation can run down the walls, and there might be a few drips from the stern gland. We have a little plastic dish (Chinese takeaway) under the stern gland and this usually catches the drips and I can lift it up easily and pour them over the side back into the canal. I test our bilge pump sometimes, by lifting the float thingy, hearing it click and the buzz of the pump. Ours is an Attwood V750. It is 'loose', free to move a couple of centimetres either side, its outlet pipe prevents it from going wherever it likes. I look in the engine room often to check all is OK, when we're on the move perhaps every hour or two. If we had water suddenly appear I'd want to know why there and then. Ours is like this, with a float switch added. Is this a good pump? Seems to work, anyway. I brought it home in August 2014 and took it apart and cleaned it all up, and painted the bottom metal (steel) plate with red oxide, so it won't go rusty any more, and stick to the engine room floor. I think after that I painted this steel plate with a thick, tough blue paint used for painting yachts.
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Post by naughtyfox on Mar 23, 2019 9:14:31 GMT
Have I told you how I nearly sunk my boat with a float switch issue? Phil Is it an interesting story?
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Post by naughtyfox on Mar 23, 2019 9:17:31 GMT
I am often in our engine room wiping with floor with a J-cloth ('household cloths' as seen in Tesco's/Sainsbury's), dampened first with a dash of Fairy washing-up detergent added, after which I go round with kitchen towel to make sure it is all clean and dry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2019 9:21:34 GMT
My bilge is full of old oil from leaks. It protects the steel from rusting. I think you would probably have to have a little lie down after viewing my engine bay as it might be all a little shocking.
It works gets the boat where I want it to go etc so not all bad.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2019 9:22:46 GMT
I have decided that on the 14th of June 2036 at 1430 hours I will get in there and clean it all up. Depending on the weather of course.
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Post by phil70 on Mar 23, 2019 11:01:41 GMT
Have I told you how I nearly sunk my boat with a float switch issue? Phil Is it an interesting story? A cautionary tale, long story short. I was checking my bilge pumps and decided the float switch on one was iffy so left the switch NOT in the bilge but layinf with my tools while I popped to chandlers for a new one I would be a maximum time away of 30 mins. This particular boat I fitted with shore water ( you sure I've not told this before?) When I got back the boat was sitting very low in the water and I could hear water running at pressure. Realising what was happening I swiftly turned of the mains and found a pipe on the Calorifier had popped off and as fast as it drained the shore water filled it. Where was the means to turn on the bilge pump? Not where it bloody well should have been. Phil Sorry if I've told this tale before 🙁
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Post by patty on Mar 23, 2019 11:45:28 GMT
I have decided that on the 14th of June 2036 at 1430 hours I will get in there and clean it all up. Depending on the weather of course. If I remember I will endeavour to remind you... ATM on 14th Junes at 14:30 I will be back home following child minding jaunt that may either see me in the Big Smoke or Brum... It all depends where they decide is best.....
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Post by patty on Mar 23, 2019 11:46:32 GMT
Is it an interesting story? A cautionary tale, long story short. I was checking my bilge pumps and decided the float switch on one was iffy so left the switch NOT in the bilge but layinf with my tools while I popped to chandlers for a new one I would be a maximum time away of 30 mins. This particular boat I fitted with shore water ( you sure I've not told this before?) When I got back the boat was sitting very low in the water and I could hear water running at pressure. Realising what was happening I swiftly turned of the mains and found a pipe on the Calorifier had popped off and as fast as it drained the shore water filled it. Where was the means to turn on the bilge pump? Not where it bloody well should have been. Phil Sorry if I've told this tale before 🙁 Nope don't remember this tale but if u have no doubt someone will tell you....
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Post by naughtyfox on Mar 23, 2019 12:58:38 GMT
It's funny 14th June has been mentioned as only this morning I told someone what we'd probably doing on that day! Unrelated to Magnetman's clean-up and Patty's travels.
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