Automatic bilge pump operation on my Cat?

[Red]

Hey guys, just one more question. I think I have the water in my port sponson question narrowed down to either the bilge pump outlet or the battery hatch (as I’ve sealed or replaced everything in the area). Question is should both the bilges come on automatically (port & starboard) if water gets into either one seperately? I have to manually pump my port bilge unless I get enough water in the starboard sponson, and that hasn’t happened yet.[/img]

[thataway]

Each hull's bilge pump should come automatically if the sensor/float switch is functioning. Some boats are wired with separate "on" switches for each side, which would be considered "manual" which is separate from the float switch/sensor. Manual may also mean putting a piston pump into the bilge, and then pulling the water out by hand.

[Schuster]

Red, it sounds as though your pumps are wired to run off of 1 float switch. On any boat I have ever owned over the years the bilge pumps were wired to run independently and have their own float switch. I would trace out all the wiring to the bilge pumps and see if they are wired to 1 float switch. If so I would definitely change it to have a float switch for each pump. If you only have 1 manual toggle switch on the dash, you may consider adding another toggle switch so you have one for each pump. As to why that pump isn't coming on automatically you may find that there is a float switch that has had the wiring corroded off or disconnected for some reason.

But, that doesn't answer the question as to how you're getting so much water in that sponson. You mentioned it could be the bilge pump outlet. Usually there is a rubber check valve (diaphragm inside the discharge hose) that only allows water to flow in one direction (in this case overboard) You can check that by removing the hose at the bulkhead or at the pump discharge and see it it has one in there. I'm not familiar with the routing of the overboard discharge for your bilge pump, but on my CD 25 it is about a foot above the waterline so no water has a chance of coming back in that way.
I'll be interested to see how this works out for you. Good luck.

[Red]

Thanx Dave and Bob, all good answers. I guess my question was mainly to anyone who might have around a 2000 24’ Tomcat wheather the boat was origanlly wired for both bilges to be automatic or both to just run off thr starboard automatic bilge pump. I’ll be checking this out in the spring and definitely get back to ya’all. Thanx

[Molly Brown]

Red....
In my 03 each bilge pump is auto activated by the it's own float switch, independently of the other. The only time both pumps come on at the same time is if I push the dash bilge switch.
Originally from the factory, each bilge pump had a separate float switch, which if yours is still set up that way, you can just reach down and lift it to confirm it works. I replaced mine with bilge pumps the have an internal float switch. The pump has a small round protrusion that you turn to test. I'll admit it is not easy getting way down there, hope you have long arms. Helps if you remove the hatch cover first.

James

[Red]

Thanx James, that’s good to know. I only have one manual bilge dash switch. This spring I’ll tear it all down and replace the port bilge and reroute the bilge hoses. Thanx again everyone for all the help.