Automatic Bilge Pumps

Perhaps stating the obvious here, but make sure your bilge pump switches are in the auto position. If so, you can disable the bilge pumps by pulling the fuses. I'm not familiar with R23s, but I think you have two bilge pump fuses in the 24/7 fuse block and maybe one other in a switched fused block.

Maybe an unclear description on my part...I have a '21 R27OB but your R23 is likely the same.

At your helm, the switches for the bilge pumps have two positions. One position is the "On/Manual" position; when you "flip the switch" the bilge pump will turn on and run continuously. The other position is more like "Off"; in this position the bilge pump will turn off but it still has power via the 24/7 fuse block and will revert to "Auto" mode, activating momentarily about every 2.5 minutes to check for water.

If your helm switches are in the "Off" position and your pump is still running dry, you have some other issue and will need to deactivate the pump by pulling the fuse. These auto bilge pumps are somewhat notorious for failing, although it seems it's usually the automatic function that goes out first.

And if you're not the original owner, who knows what's been done down there during a rewire. Good luck!

So in order to deactivate looks like I will probably will have to pull the fuses because in the "Off" position it reverts to "Auto " mode and does run every 2.5 minutes. I was hoping that there was somewhere else I could just turn off the "Auto: mode without having to pull the fuses. Thank you again!!

It sounds like your system is running as designed.

Just FYI - even though the factory manual says to not allow the pumps to run dry, that short "whir" sound you hear every 2.5 minutes is exactly what boats that are moored in the water do 24 hours a day. It's the bilge pump activating to check if there is water in the bilge. If there is enough water, the pump will run continuously until there is not enough water to pump. There is no harm in that water-check being active while you are dry-stacked, other than unnecessary wear on your pump and your batteries being depleted if you don't have shorepower or adequate solar to keep them charged. Even so, I always pull the fuses when our boat is on the trailer for more than a day or so.

Great, I think that is what I will do. You have been a great help!! Thank you again!!

So… I have a Rule auto pump in the stern position.

All the above info is correct. My rule pump‘s “auto” feature is broken.

One day I visited the boat and the rule was running continuously - dry.

I pulled the spade fuse and that stopped it. The rule’s auto feature (every few minutes a quick water check) is broken… after research I determined that the pump’s “e-board” is kaput. Very common. I ordered a new pump, it’s here I have to install it. Rule made good on its warranty .

When I press the manual switch inside the boat, the rule does pump out the lubricating water… and I will soon replace the rule to get the auto feature back.

AGLyme said:

So… I have a Rule auto pump in the stern position.

All the above info is correct. My rule pump‘s “auto” feature is broken.

One day I visited the boat and the rule was running continuously - dry.

I pulled the spade fuse and that stopped it. The rule’s auto feature (every few minutes a quick water check) is broken… after research I determined that the pump’s “e-board” is kaput. Very common. I ordered a new pump, it’s here I have to install it. Rule made good on its warranty .

When I press the manual switch inside the boat, the rule does pump out the lubricating water… and I will soon replace the rule to get the auto feature back.

Click to expand...

Please excuse my late reply. I believe that the Rule pump is working as it should be. I just have to find both fuses and pull them when I have the boat stored. I am pretty new to all this. Good stuff to know! Thank you again!!