Bilge Pump for 2017 R25-SC

[John McCurdy]

New to boating, I have a new-to-me 2017 R25. A couple of bilge pump related questions.

1. The float switch on the bilge pump is inop, apparently. It's the Jonhson solid state (little black box) sensor, and it's floating loose in the bilge. If you press the test nothing happens. I can turn the bilge pump on manually, but I haven't been able to get it to turn on even with putting fresh water into the bilge with a hose. So I have a few questions about this.

Would it be wiser to replace the pump and the sensor together? I'm thinking if I buy them together they're probably already wired together and it would be easier to wire the pump into the circuit versus the sensor into the pump? Besides, it's not that much more expensive to buy the pump/sensor combo and the pump is already 8 years old. I figure I could replace the pump, clean up the old pump and keep it as a spare.

Is the sensor supposed to be connected to something? It appears to have an indentation on the back that almost looks like it would mount to the drive shaft. I realize it woudn't, but that's about the shape and size of the indentation. It seems weird that it would be hanging loose in the aft part of the bilge.

2. I have a switch at the helm for the bilge pump and another switch for bilge pump 2 (or something to that effect). Bilge pump runs the bilge pump aft of the engine, but bilge pump 2 doesn't do anything. I've searched for another bilge pump but I'm not seeing one. Does anyone know where it is? Is it connected to a float switch? My understanding is there should be a second bilge pump with a switch mounted higher in the bilge but I can't find it.

Finally, I currently have the boat in a slip. There is nothing coming from the packing box, which I intend to repack and adjust, but it occurs to me the previous owner might have tightened up the packing box knowing he had a bilge pump issue. Am I foolish to leave the boat in the water? This thought started bouncing all over the space between my ears at about 1:30 this morning.

Thanks everyone, this is a steep learning curve to say the least!

-John

 

[venajeff]

Just my thoughts. The quality of bilge pumps in general is appalling. In my experience it doesn't seem to matter if you spend $30 or $300. If your current bilge pumps is working (on manual) I would order a new float switch and I stall that on the always on 12v supply.

Amazon.com

I would recommend that you get that installed as soon as possible, but I would wager you are not the only boat in your marina without a working automatic bilge pump, so I would not lose any sleep over it.

 

[John McCurdy]

Just an update...using an iPhone stick I was able to see the second bilge pump just forward of the engine. It's got two float switches up there next to it. The mystery continues...but maybe I found a replacement for my inop switch LOL

 

[Rode Trip]

Just an update...using an iPhone stick I was able to see the second bilge pump just forward of the engine. It's got two float switches up there next to it. The mystery continues...but maybe I found a replacement for my inop switch LOL

One float switch is for the pump, the other higher mounted float switch is for your high water alarm.

 

[John McCurdy]

One float switch is for the pump, the other higher mounted float switch is for your high water alarm.

Makes sense. Thank you!

 

[Red Raven]

Is the sensor supposed to be connected to something? It appears to have an indentation on the back that almost looks like it would mount to the drive shaft. I realize it woudn't, but that's about the shape and size of the indentation. It seems weird that it would be hanging loose in the aft part of the bilge.


-John

The Johnson float switch sits in a cradle next to the bilge pump. The slot in it slides down over a matching vertical “tee” shaped rail in the cradle. I replaced two of mine and the replacements have worked perfectly since for 8 years. No need to buy new pumps. The pumps also sit in a cradle and can be removed without a tool. There is a plastic lever you need to pull or push (can’t remember) while lifting the pump. The pump and cradle housing can then be cleaned of obstructions.

Curt

 

[John McCurdy]

The Johnson float switch sits in a cradle next to the bilge pump. The slot in it slides down over a matching vertical “tee” shaped rail in the cradle. I replaced two of mine and the replacements have worked perfectly since for 8 years. No need to buy new pumps. The pumps also sit in a cradle and can be removed without a tool. There is a plastic lever you need to pull or push (can’t remember) while lifting the pump. The pump and cradle housing can then be cleaned of obstructions.

Curt

Thanks, Curt. Since the rear bilge float switch doesn't work and the front bilge pump doesn't work (I can't tell if the float switch works or not) I just ordered two pump/swith combos and will replace each. Thanks for the information about the mounting cradles, that should make the install pretty easy.