Check your automatic bilge pump

[Hamster]

Today, I replaced the third automatic bilge pump (Rule 27SA) in four years (this was the forward bilge pump and least critical). I had replaced two of the other pumps earlier. These pumps cycle every 2 1/2 minutes, checking for water. I thought all mine were working. I was wrong. I found the third one was no longer cycling (switch worked) when I was winterizing my boat. I replaced the pump and all is good again.

This is an easy thing to overlook but a critical safety feature for your boat. These pumps must wear out after cycling 24/7/365. Check your pumps. You might need them someday.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

Good point Hamster. I checked the pumps on my R-23 last week and found the forward pump did not cycle and therefore didn’t come on even when the pump was submerged. The forward pump only worked when the helm switch was manually turned on which is not what you want if you’ve got water rising in the bilge. Also the high water alarm did not alarm when the water level rose above the monitor even though the high water alarm switch was armed and functioned as though everything was working properly. Only the stern bilge pump work properly. Check your pumps!

 

[briandunnington]

Just replaced both fire and aft bilge pumps (Rule 27SA) in our R23 this past weekend too. Are there any that last longer? Seems like these are practically yearly replacements.

 

[JeffreyAC77]

Is the proper pump 27SA? Cannot find one that says just 27A. thanks.

 

[briandunnington]

Is the proper pump 27SA? Cannot find one that says just 27A. thanks.

Rule 27SA is the one with automatic timer function

 

[JeffreyAC77]

By automatic timer do you mean they activate every couple of minutes automatically?

 

[briandunnington]

By automatic timer do you mean they activate every couple of minutes automatically?

Yes

 

[DMD3]

Curious if we are seeing failures across all models or just the electronic sensing units?

Guess I should go pull the fuses on mine for the winter… forgot to do that this weekend.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

If I’m not mistaken at least one of the bilge pumps on my R-23 ( the stern pump) is hard wired directly to the battery bank with an in-line fuse. Even with the house switch turned off and the fuse pulled from the fuse terminal the pump will cycle every 2-3 minutes.

 

[S. Todd]

I pull the bilge pump fuses on our 2021 R29 whenever I put her on the trailer and that stops the pumps from doing their tests every 2 minutes on a dry bilge (I also pull the bulge drain plug when the boat is put on the trailer). Despite that, I still had the aft one fail this fall when I was winterizing the boat. I carry a spare one in the boat just be cause of their reputation for failure.