Bilge Pump Question

[CRIMAR30]

Since the 170's are not self bailing,and I read here that some of you take your boats out in salt water, does anyone know how much water you could take on, before it was high enough to short out the bilge pump?

[Genelie]

I am not sure by what you mean short out. The bilge is designed to be submerged. When I am cleaning my boat, I am pooring full on hose into the bilge area for cleaning all the scum out. That keeps the bilge working full plus submerged for at least 20 minutes.

[Jim Jenkins]

On an old post, June I think, I shared the experience of a clogged bilge pump intake and learning to clear same. Had the experience of sea water as deep as the deck drains at the stern when angled up on plane.

The pump tried to work but not very well untill I got back to the dock and unsnapped the pump to rinse the screen. Not a big deal the second time you do it. A little tedious the first time with water on board.

No problem with electrical supply. Pump is designed to run under water as stated by Genelie.

[CRIMAR30]

So with that much water in the bilge, it's still not enough to submirge the bilge pump, and cause it to short out? Do you have any idea just how much water you have in there, in inches below the floor boards, I mean?

[CRIMAR30]

After my last reply, I read Jim Jinkins reply, and he answered the question I had, before my post! You guys on here are good, every question I've had, has been answered, and very well, at that!



Thanks guys

[Jim Jenkins]

Crimar30

On the 170 CC, have no idea how many gallons in the bilge but with bow high, the water was 1-2 inches above the deck and extended forward mabe a foot. Down off plane and tied up at the marina, the water was just below the deck. Took 2-3 min. to pump out after cleaning bilge pump screen.

It was a live and learn experience. Pump had always kept up with any water in the bilge, for four years, but on this day, running parallel to Harker's Island, a hard rain squall of short duaration that stacked up a short chop of 2-3 with the wind off the port bow--Southwest wind mabe up to 35 kts. Not spray but heavy deluge into the boat. Just kept slogging toward marina and taking on water faster than clogged pump could handle. Was fully aware of what was taking place but for blockage on pump. Just knew the output of the pump was not normal.

Never felt endangered. Could have put into Calico Jack's or any of the private docks or found a sandy spot to beach the boat. Just went to our marina, Harker's Island, snapped the pump motor off the base, cleaned the mesh strainer and pumped her dry. Wiring slack plenty long to clean pump intake.

The gunk in the screen was an accumulation over the years of ownership including mullet (bait) scales a plastic wire tie, leaf and tree seed residue. Now I clean the bilge pump befor each trip. Lesson learned. Don't remember any precautions on this subject but may be a topic for the DVD video project.

Way too much information... Sorry.

[dkaraluz]

I was going in on the Boynton inlet in the middle of the afternoon in my 170 DC with a lot of bigger boat traffic when suddenly a big wave just crashed into the boat. Had six to eight inches of water above the floor at the back end and water all the way to the front. As I felt the water drenching me I floored the throttle but the boat was hardly moving but at least the bow was up high and we did not get another wave. We limped all the way into the intracoastal and into one of the restaurants. By the time we finished lunch the boat was dry (but not us). Just glad the engine did not quit...

[CRIMAR30]

Which was my concern, if there were scuppers, the water would go back out, but with only the bilge pump to rely on, one good broadside wave could be devistating ,with just the bilge pump to depend on, and it would be hard pressed to keep up with a large amount of water.

[dkaraluz]

I didn't find the water to be a problem (boats this size are unsinkable by law) but rather the lack of power and control. Yes, it took the sump pump about 20 minutes to dry the boat but even 1/2 dozen scoopers would have not drained it in 10 seconds! And at the time I needed to get out of the inlet! I had been thinking I need a prop with 300 to 500 higher RPM and less top speed even before this incident, I think that would have made the first five minutes less "interesting"...

[dbell22]

Check out my PIC's I could get at the BILGE so I did some modifications and it worked out great!