Bilge filled with water, pump submerged.

[Chris Kasz]

I wet slip the boat and after 3 days I check out the bilge area and its submerged in water, pic attached. Pump never auto turned on and am not sure if this is from rain.
-Any possible culprtis? Leaks?
-Bilge area has always been pretty dry, never saw this much water.

2018 Yamaha 242x with 110hours

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Did it rain??

Does the bilge pump work in manual?

Not sure on your year boat if you have to leave the battery switches on or not.

Did you check the fuse for the auto side of the bilge pump?

 

[ToddW850]

I have a 2017 242X. Did you have the battery switch on for the bilge? You can also test the bilge to make sure it's working. Curious also if it rained? If not, there are other ways to check for a leak.

 

[Chris Kasz]

I have a 2017 242X. Did you have the battery switch on for the bilge? You can also test the bilge to make sure it's working. Curious also if it rained? If not, there are other ways to check for a leak.

No rain that I know of. Battery switches stay off as from my understanding the bilge is an auto sensing bilge even with the batteries off.

 

[marcham]

If you switch the batteries ON, does the bilge pump activate automatically?

How long has it been in the slip for? Could the drain plugs have a bad seal / o-ring?

 

[octavio3311]

I believe - the batteries being off, kills all power, including the bilge pump. Not sure about your model, but that’s the way it works on my model and year.

 

[Judge]

No rain that I know of. Battery switches stay off as from my understanding the bilge is an auto sensing bilge even with the batteries off.

I have a '22 275SD and according to the manual the House Battery switch needs to be ON for the bilge pump to operate.

 

[Thermobrett]

I have a '22 275SD and according to the manual the House Battery switch needs to be ON for the bilge pump to operate.

View attachment 186754View attachment 186755

I agree with my 2022 SX195, I need the battery on but the switch can be off and the auto bildge will still work. I believe pre 2019, the battery and switch needs to be on for the bildge to work.

 

[sunbyrned]

I agree with my 2022 SX195, I need the battery on but the switch can be off and the auto bildge will still work. I believe pre 2019, the battery and switch needs to be on for the bildge to work.

That’s the case with my 2012. Both have to be on.

 

[ToddW850]

@Chris Kasz My 2017 model the battery switch has to be On for the bilge to work, but the ignition key can be off. Maybe yours is different being a year newer? If you turn your battery switches on, does the bilge kick on after 2 minutes? So we know the Pump definitely works.

 

[Chris Kasz]

@Chris Kasz My 2017 model the battery switch has to be On for the bilge to work, but the ignition key can be off. Maybe yours is different being a year newer? If you turn your battery switches on, does the bilge kick on after 2 minutes? So we know the Pump definitely works.

Pump works when turned on. My 2018 ar190 bilge turned on if there was water even if the battery was off .

 

[Julian]

Pump works when turned on. My 2018 ar190 bilge turned on if there was water even if the battery was off .

I always recommend you determine, by testing, how your bilge pump works. Never assume it's wired a particular way. Take a Tupperware container and if you think it should auto sense.....drop it in the Tupperware full of water. If it hasn't pumped it out in 4 minutes....it isn't going to, and you need to look into why (clogged, no power etc)

 

[Yammi]

I wet slip and was worried about what happened to you.

After taking possession of my 2022 FSH 210, set it in the driveway and made sure the batteries were OFF. Filled the bilge area with a hose to test what happens. My bilge pump turned ON.

 

[1WetBoat]

I wet slip and was worried about what happened to you.

After taking possession of my 2022 FSH 210, set it in the driveway and made sure the batteries were OFF. Filled the bilge area with a hose to test what happens. My bilge pump turned ON.

Same here with my 2021 AR, this is how I tested it, even though my manual specifies it, i wanted to be sure after my oil cooler hose burst and my bilge started to fill with water.

 

[LoWeLL216]

On my 2016 AR240 the bilge pump activates (every few minutes) even with both battery switches off.

If I manually turn the autobilge off (on the screen) before I turn off the ignition and the batteries then it doesn't.

Just open your engine bay and listen if you're not sure. You can hear the bilge activate (again - every few min).

 

[Quad]

On my 2020 242SE, the bilge pump is wired directly to the house battery with an inline fuse.

I made a video showing its operation:

 

[The Canuck]

I had a similar issue as you, but mine was due to a couple of reasons. One, the amount of rain we had gotten. The other culprit, and I really had no idea how much of a difference it made, was water-proofing the mooring cover. I recently re-applied a coating, and the boat has been bone dry. And thats with some additional heavy rain. Getting that water to bead off the cover is a huge first step in keeping it dry.

 

[The Canuck]

.... On the safe side and it will go in this fall when it is easier to work on the boat, I will put a second bilge in, that will be connected directly to the house battery. That way I am always protected, as the 2015's had to have the battery in the on position for the bilge or any electronics to work.

 

[Quad]

@The Canuck - what protectant/sealant did you use on the mooring cover? we have the snap on covers and our boat is on a mooring all season, any waterproofing would help.

 

[The Canuck]

303 Fabric Guard - Waterproofing

I ended up putting two coats on. First time I did it, got the cover sprayed, and not 2 hours later, the skies opened up and unleashed a dumping as it was laying out in the sun to dry. Says it takes a good 24 hours to cure. Tried it the next day, and I kid you not it rained again, but I was able to get it under some cover in time. Works great, and will more than likely be an every other year event to re-coat. Doesn't take but 30 min to apply once you have it laid out.