Auto bilge pump

[Ryan818]

I've decided to go with docking my '09 SP for the summer and need to find out if the battery knob has to be turned on for the auto bilge pump to turn on?

 

[cmeason]

I know in my 05 Sportster it does NOT...according to my owner manual..

 

[Ryan818]

Ah, yes. I'll check the manual.

 

[RFoster130]

its not suppossed to. However, on my 98, I had a small water leak and left the boat in the water overnight last year to come find about 18 inches of water in the ski locker and engine compartment. Lucky it didnt sink. Over the summer I pulled the battery switch out and figured out the bilge pump was on the switched side of the battery swicth. I moved it to the post with the battery lead and the problem is now fixed and so is the leak that caused the problem. You can test it like i did, open the engine compartment and start adding water with a hose. It should kick on.

 

[WAJetboating]

Another way to test a bilge pump...

...is to fill a pickle bucket and set the pump in the bucket. Many bilge pumps are mounted on a floor bracket and can be snapped out of the bracket for cleaning purposes. If yours is like that, you can spare yourself the trouble of filling the engine compartment by using the bucket.

 

[Ryan818]

Smart me finally checked the manual. The auto bilge pump is set up to work with the battery switch in the off position. The manual says that with the battery switch in the off position the radio memory and the bilge will still have power. Now lets just hope I have a properly functioning bilge.