Hey guys I am looking for some information on bilge pumps. I bought a boat last fall and never got it in the water, stored it over the winter and started going through it this spring to get everything ready. My question is does the motor have to be running for the bilge pump to work? I turn on the switch and do not here it kick on. When I hit the switch for my aerator I can hear it kick on. I thought maybe that it was a bad relay switch but connected the bilge pump connections to the ones that the aerator was on and still nothing. If it is garbage whats your recommendations for a new inexpensive pump. I am new to owning a boat and just looking for some help. Thanks in advance!

Schmitty

i would have to say the pump is bad cause i used mine for the first time today and i didn't have to have the main motor going

Does it have a float switch?

It depends entirely on how it was wired.  Many boats have automatic bilge pumps with float switch as mentioned above - these are typically on all the time in order to pump out the boat while docked, etc...  Just get a wire tester and test the leads going to the pump...

Where is the float switch, on the pump itself? But even if there is a float switch should I not still be able to turn the pump on manually? Any recommendations on a good inexpensive pump? Its only a 16ft boat how big of one do I need? Thanks again guys

Auto bilge pump switches can be on the pump itself, built in or a separate switch. If it's separate you'll see the Float assy in the bilge area someplace. If the choice is there, I'd hook the auto switch straight to the battery but also have a second line hooked to the bilge pump switch on the dash as an override. As for size? Get as big as will fit in the area for the pump. If you ever need it in an emergency you'll kick yourself for scrimping the few bucks difference between a 500gph vs a 750 or 1000.

easiest test to see if it's workin, crank your trailer jack all the way up and get the bow high as possible, then put 10 or 15 gallons in the bilge with a hose, see what happens. Sometimes those floats can be clogged with a small amount of debris, or bilge gunk.

The Johnson Mayfair cartridge pumps are inexpensive. My bilge pump and aerator pump take the same cartridge.

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