Bilge pump blues

[TwoDuckDad]

Bilge pump (Sahara Mk2) is a year old and was installed by the service center at the marina where I bought the boat. My understanding is that the BP has a hot electrical connection even with the batteries turned off and the BP should run when the float rises due to water in the bilge. True?

My BP does not work unless I manually turn it on via the dash switch. The BP switch turns on the BP even with the batteries turned off. I used a hose and put enough water in the bilge to be well above the BP intake vents. When running it works great. I used a hose nozzle and sprayed with good force to the BP vents thinking I could get any debris out. No luck

Before I attempt to pull the pump, anyone have any ideas?

[Titaniumboy]

My understanding is that the BP has a hot electrical connection even with the batteries turned off and the BP should run when the float rises due to water in the bilge. True?

True.

Bilge pump schematic for a 240.
https://www.cobaltchat.com/viewtopic.p ... 50#p109450


The reviews for the Attwood Sahara MK2 bilge pump are absolutely brutal.
https://www.amazon.com/Attwood-Sahara- ... LC5XV?th=1

[SAB220]

Not familiar with a 240 but please note any height restrictions of the pump. Meaning, don't buy a high performance pump that won't fit under the oil pan. Yes, I did that. I have BP thread here someplace with images but it's a 220. good luck

[TwoDuckDad]

I can always count on titaniumboy - thanks for the feedback. After reading more online reviews and watching a couple YouTube videos, I've determined that, in my opinion, a bilge pump that is not submersible, is a problem waiting to happen. Ordered a Rule LP900S "LoPro" BP. Will post before and after photos provided I successfully exit the bilge.

[TwoDuckDad]

Image 9-9-23 at 3.50 PM.jpeg

IMG_1426.jpeg

Before and after "some" bilge cleaning with the old BP. After I cut power to the BP, I'm gonna put some legit bilge cleaning solution in the bilge, add water, and drive around the lake a bit to slosh and hopefully displace some gunk. Post slosh I'll pull the boat out of the water, drive to our HOA dry boat storage area and rinse out all the debris and cleaning solution. Then I'll yank the old pump and install the new Rule LP900S pump. I will not use the check valve and will use a straight discharge hose coupler for max flow and reduced chance of blockage.

Bonus: I recently bought a "Dry Bilge System" from this outfit https://www.dinghydavits.com/products/d ... 2655829176 and will install it as well. My goal is to have a dry bilge when I'm finished boating for the day.