Oh-Oh. Bilge Pump Problem on my New CD22?

Bill3558

Just cleaned out the boat and waited for the bilge pump to come on. And waited and waited. According to the manual its supposed to check for water every 10 minutes. 30 minutes later the pump is still submerged. I turn it on manually and it pumps right out till its dry and shuts off. I put more water in the bilge, and again it never comes on. Switch only has 2 positions. On and auto, so it cant be that.

Any suggestions? Dealer is way far away.

SEA3PO · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject:

Be glad it didn't work on automatic ! Mine did... and worked just fine until the battery went dead... there is a sperate wire that goes to the automatic side of the pump....and it does check the level of the bilge every couple minutes.... but I found that line was directly wired to the battery... yep the battery was dead...so I pulled the fuse ...and that disabled the automatic side of the pump.
It's not a cheep pump, it's a very good one...I just hate that buzz=buzz=buzz so I never use the automatic feature (put the fuse back in)

Joel
SEA3PO

Captains Cat · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

What is the model number/make of your pump? Probably a RULE 1500.

According to the mfr,

"Rule Automatic Bilge Pumps feature computerized operation on the principle of impeller resistance. Float switches are not required. The pump will turn on every 2-1/2 minutes to sense for water. If water is present, the pump will sense resistance and continue to run until all the water is removed. Thereafter, it will check for water every 2-1/2 minutes. Power use in the checking mode is minimal."

How many wires does it have coming out of it and what color are they? Is there any model/make info on your switch? We'll fix this thing.

Charlie

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject:

The pump coming one every ten minutes drove me crazy in a very short time when I had my 22. I also disabled the automatic feature.

Bill3558 · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies.

I did install a second house battery and switch today. There was a brown wire that I hooked directly to the starting battery that I thought was the only pump wire. If there is another wire for the sensing, that may be the problem. I hooked all else to the "common" terminal on the switch.
I'll take another look in the morning.

Interesting that 2 of you disconnected the sensing wire. I didnt realize it made a sound during its "sensing". I can see that would be annoying if your sleeping on board.

Joel, why would your battery go dead? The book says it draws very little power to "sense" for the presence of water. Did you have alot of pumping going on?

Thing is, I plan to eventually leave the boat in the water. The automatic feature will be essential. I dont want to worry in the middle of the night after a storm goes thru that I have boat full of water.

Thanks again, don't know what I would do without you alls help.

thataway · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:00 pm Post subject:

I have never used a computerized bilge pump and probably won't. If you are leaving the boat in the water, I would suggest getting a "slant back" cockpit cover, which will let the water run off, rather than collect in the cockpit (or get a full camper back). The chance of getting much water in the C Dory (except rain) is minimal, since most do not have thru hulls below the waterline (except the raw water wash down). This is one of the beauties of the C Dory 22.

I am not sure about your C dory 22, but many allow the water to correct in the foreward end of the cockpit rather than the aft part. Some seem to have a pump in the foreward end of the cockpit also. Best to just keep the water out in the first palce.

mikeporterinmd · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:33 pm Post subject:

I like the 500gph automatic pumps, and a large pump
mounted higher with a normal float switch. The automatic pumps
will pump as much water out of the bilge as is practical. I used to
constrict the output side so I would get as little as possible backflow
(I don't use checkvalves).

The 500gph is meant to keep the boat dry, not pump any serious
water. The larger pumps, being that they are mounted high stay clean
and dry until they are really needed.

I don't know if I will bother with this setup on the CD-22. We have
the slant back cover and will probably use it.

Rule used to make a "Platinum" series pump that did a slow, quiet
start, and then if it found water, it sped up. They were quieter
than the red automatic pumps. Don't know if they still make the
platinum pumps. (checked their website - I guess they don't.)

Mike