Bilge Alarm System

[CaptnC]

I installed a Seadog bilge alarm and switch this past weekend. PN 422035-1

Last year right at the end of our normal fishing season, I was 45nmiles offshore when I puched the throttle forward to boat on plane and it wouldn't come up on top!

I popped open a bilge cover and had water to the bottom of the deck! I'm not sure how much more water it would have taken for her to turtled, but I wasn't waiting around to find out.

Because of sinking earlier in the year I had installed a second pump on a manual switch. I turned it on and nothing happened! I had both bilge pumps on, but no water coming out of the though hulls ports!

I never got out of the throttles...I did back down some so as to not overload/overheat the motors, but plenty to keep the boat upright. We were alsdo within a couple miles of a rig...which we circled once we got there. In 33 years of offshore fishing, this was my first full bilge! So I go to bucketing the water out.

Bout 30 minutes later I had the water to the tops of the pumps and we slowed down to see where the water was coming in. It was only spillage from the live well overflow, but still no pumps...one of the guys on board suggested to do the...in and out real fast with the switches...poof! They both came on. I guess because I never turn the swithces on they must have been a bit crusty inside or assembly grease from being brand new.

So any way...I still have the back up pump, but installed this panel for the main pump. I made a new wiring harness with all connection soldered, liquid tapped and heat shrink wrapped. I wasnted to be certain if anything like this happens again I'd be ready.

I also added a manual hand pump to the boat as well.

This panel has a couple nice features... one is even if you forget to turn it to "AUTO" it will still come on if you have some water in the bilge. The other thing is if you switch it to "MANUAL" the switch stays on. I looked at several that the "MANUAL ON" position was a momentary position. If you have water intrusion I want to turn the switch on and go to looking...not stand there and hold the switch on!

I did add the water proof rubber cover over the toggle switch too...to help keep the switch from failing in the future too. That was one place they dropped the ball -IMO

Anyway...I think it's a must have!

[30Tournament]

I made my own recently with a standard bilge pump float switch wired to an alarm buzzer I had laying around. Mounted it about 4" above the usual water level. I hope it never goes off.

[oceandansar]

I made my own float switch 2500 pump and overheat alarm wired directly to the battery, hopefuly pump works and alarm draws attention and I to hope it never goes off. I do check it on a regular basis

[CaptnC]

I made my own float switch 2500 pump and overheat alarm wired directly to the battery, hopefuly pump works and alarm draws attention and I to hope it never goes off. I do check it on a regular basis

I had thought about a do-it-your-self job, but the above switch plate was only $23 and has a power lite that is lit when the power is on...a light that shows when the pump is running and one more light if you have a high water alarm...just incase your hearing is as bad mine is and do't happen to hear it.

My boat had a prefect place to mount another float switch. When they built the boat the made to raised (almost a foot higher than the bilge pnmp switch) flat areas for mounting pumps.

[oceandansar]

trust me if you don't hear mine your deaf

[emudryj]

I had thought about a do-it-your-self job, but the above switch plate was only $23 and has a power lite that is lit when the power is on...a light that shows when the pump is running and one more light if you have a high water alarm...just incase your hearing is as bad mine is and do't happen to hear it.

My boat had a prefect place to mount another float switch. When they built the boat the made to raised (almost a foot higher than the bilge pnmp switch) flat areas for mounting pumps.

Could you share with us where you got that switch pannel???

[CaptnC]

Could you share with us where you got that switch pannel???

Here ya go!

http://www.boatfix.com/shop3/store/listIte...rch=354-4220351

I actually got mine from Go2Marine, but I paided a couple more dollars for it, but this is the same one.