R29's fwd and aft periodic auto operated bilge pumps

[baz]

Subject: R29's fwd and aft periodic auto operated bilge pumps

On my 2019 R29 CB Northwest Edition there are two bilge pumps in the engine bay. One is under the exposed prop shaft and stuffing box that drips water (aft one) and the other is fwd of the engine's front face and slightly aft of the rear cabin wall (fwd one).

Both of these pumps are operated automatically every 2 to 2.5 minutes. The idea is that if water is at a level the pump deems to pump out, the pump will continue beyond it momentary operation and pump out the water, down to some level where the pump deems as being OK.

The way the boat sits in the water, and if water is in the bilge, the water will be at a higher level in the aft bilge pump's area, with little water (if any) under or at the fwd bilge pumps location.

This aspect means that unless there's buckets and buckets of water in the bilge area under the engine such that water is present under the fwd bilge pump, the fwd bilge pump is rarely (if ever) used effectively. Thus, its periodic auto operation is somewhat of a waste of electrical resource and possibly unwanted wear&tare on the pump. To me, it would make sense for the fwd bilge pump be the kind that will only operate if water is in its area and needs to be pumped out.

 

[S. Todd]

Barry,
I agree with you 100% that the "cycling on" pump arrangement makes no sense for the forward high water bilge pump.
I will go one further, because the Ranger Tugs, other than the new 41, are advertised as trailerable trawlers, and for some of us they will spend a large portion of their time on the trailer, the "cycling on" pump no makes sense for the aft pump either. We had zero problems in 6 seasons with the earlier models that used the water sensors to turn on the pumps because we made a point of keeping our bilge clean.
Hopefully when they build our 29S someone at the factory will read this before they install the pumps, otherwise changing bilge pumps will likely be our first "upgrade"!

 

[Andrew Custis]

Barry,

Appreciate the post. My two cents is that these pumps have been much more reliable than the Johnson pumps we have used in the past. Not to mention, I think exercising the pump is a good thing as most of the failed Johnson cartridges we did install were seized up. Like any bilge pump, I have seen failures but the Rule brand has proven to be much more reliable versus what I see from years past.

I think there are pros and cons to everything (specially parts related) but the electrical impact I find to be very minimal.

Thanks for posting,

 

[jlhowland]

You want automatic bilge pumps. Lots of folks out there have learned this lesson the hard way, me included. There are several flavors of automatic bilge pumps, you may have a different favorite, but the ones that cycle every 2.5 min are not a bad choice. The momentary cycling draws next to no power and gives you a warm and fuzzy that the little fella is still on the job. If on a trailer or on the hard for the winter, you can pull the fuses on the 24/7 panel and they will not draw from the battery. Put the fuses in a ziplock bag and zip-tie them to the steering wheel so you don't forget to put them back in next time the boat goes in the water.

 

[baz]

You want automatic bilge pumps. Lots of folks out there have learned this lesson the hard way, me included. There are several flavors of automatic bilge pumps, you may have a different favorite, but the ones that cycle every 2.5 min are not a bad choice. The momentary cycling draws next to no power and gives you a warm and fuzzy that the little fella is still on the job. If on a trailer or on the hard for the winter, you can pull the fuses on the 24/7 panel and they will not draw from the battery. Put the fuses in a ziplock bag and zip-tie them to the steering wheel so you don't forget to put them back in next time the boat goes in the water.

A very good sensible, no real-effort solution.

The issue for me at least was that the most need aft bilge was not working at all recently after open the engine hatch and seeing bilge water level above the pups top - the pump was complete submerged in water. I tried the manual switch and it did not operate. I fixed as I posted in another thread and got it work properly, even the 2.5 minute cycling start working again.

I have to say, when the cycling pumps operate periodically and the engine hatch is closed down I cannot hear them at all - so I get no "warm and fuzzy" that they are in fact working, unless I lift the engine hatch and wait for the little fella to crank up. It would be nice if the manual bilge pump switches on the helm console had a small flickering LED to indicate the pump is running when auto cycling. I guess I could put a 'screaming' water sensor at a level above the aft pump that grabs my attention.... "water in the bilge....".