Bilge pump buzzing?

[Captain Mike]

Went out for new years. Tied up at a local dock and heard a buzzing noise coming form the rear of the boat. At first I thought it was the bathroom bilge pump running (has happened in the past) but after further checking it was coming from the engine room. Buzzing continued all night and as a result it drained our house batteries.
So I think it is the bilge pump at the front end of the engine.
Any ideas as to how one might go about accessing this pump, it looks like it must be under the engine somewhere?

 

[GaylesFaerie]

If your 25 Classic is anything like my 27 Classic (2012) then there should be a high water bilge pump located just in front of the engine and difficult to see. Looking from the port side of the boat with the engine hatch open you should be able to get a look at the top of it but probably not physically get to it. There is probably a high water alarm right next to it, so don't confuse the two. To physically access the pump, you'll need to go thru the inside access hatch built into the step as you enter the cabin. Hopefully, like others, your boat has been modified to open up that access by making a portion of the step removable to make things more accessible. If you've never accessed the engine that way (you need to in order to change the impeller and belts), you'll also need to remove the sliding panel directly behind the hatch that separates the engine compartment from the cabin. You do that by disassembling the fur wall in the quarter berth next to the step. Visibility is greatly enhanced if you do this with the engine hatch open and even have a second set of eyes looking from that direction. HTH, Gary

 

[tlkenyon]

Is the aft bilge pump submerged in water? Sometimes our aft pump will turn on when needed but not pump any water because of an airlock in the piping. This usually happens the first night afloat when the boat (2015 R25sc) has been on the trailer for a while. I unlatch the pump and lift it an inch or so to relieve the airlock and then it starts pumping. HTH.

 

[knotflying]

You may want to also check the aft pump impeller for hair and dust build up. If there is any, it will turn on but not pump out the water and stay on. Also, usually when the automatic feature on the pump is engaged the light will go on at the panel. This should identify the pump at issue. If you turn the manual on and then off sometimes the sensor will reset. The forward sensor and pump require long arms if you access from the cockpit. If you access from the interior step it requires feeling around for it.

 

[SJI Sailor]

A similar case we experienced turned out to be the raw water pump for cockpit washdown. We had bumped the switch accidentally while docking or something, but the outlet was capped so there was no outflow and we didn't notice, just constant pump noise that took a few hours to track down. Sounds like your case differs but wanted to note this possibility if it's helpful. (After that incident we removed the fuse so it doesn't happen again.)

 

[GaylesFaerie]

...bumped the switch accidentally...

Ditto on that as well as the cockpit lights rocker switch near the swim step door. Rather than pull the fuses I found some waterproof foam and cut it to fit under the ON side of the rocker switch to prevent accidental activation. To use the switch I just pluck out the foam and put it in one of the cup holders or under the OFF side of the switch. HTH, Gary

 

[Captain Mike]

Thanks to all for the comments and advice, will go back down to the boat today to see what I can see.
I have owned this boat for about two years now and have had a lot of trouble. Seems like every time we go out, something goes wrong. Getting more than a bit frustrated.

Thanks again