Automatic Bilge

Searched this forum and didn't find any recommendations. I want to replace the bilge in new boat with an automatic one. Couple fishing trips we go on boat gets left in the water for a week at a time, and some of the Canadian downpours it can fill up in a hurry. Anybody have a preference for one over the other.

You can buy a float switch for the bilge pump you have. It mounts in the bottom o the boat & kicks on automatically when enuff water gets in, & off when it pumps out. You have to leave ur switch on tho. They're not very expensive. Think I paid about 10 bucks or so. Worked pretty good

my bass boat came with a regular bilge pump. i left it in place and also put in an automatic bilge pump. if i happened to be fishing in a down pour i could pump twice the water out if needed. and if the boat was left out in the weather the auto pump would take care of the rain water.

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Originally Posted by Uncle BS

You can buy a float switch for the bilge pump you have. It mounts in the bottom o the boat & kicks on automatically when enuff water gets in, & off when it pumps out. You have to leave ur switch on tho. They're not very expensive. Think I paid about 10 bucks or so. Worked pretty good

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I put a automatic float switch on mine ,it will come on automatic when water gets in the boat....The way mine is wired I do not have to have my other switch on. Run a hot all the time wire to the float switch, that way you do not have to have your other switch on and your other switch will still work the same if for some reason the float switch ever fails. Only one problem.....everytime I wash the boat it will come on just as I walk by the outlet and give me a good soaking, lol.

Both plus a solar charger if ya leaving it unattended.

I like the idea of an automatic bilge in conjunction with the manual...did you run a new discharge hose for it, as hooking it up to the same discharge hose with some type of "Y" wouldn't double your rate ??? Thanks for the input.

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Originally Posted by catch&crisco

I like the idea of an automatic bilge in conjunction with the manual...did you run a new discharge hose for it, as hooking it up to the same discharge hose with some type of "Y" wouldn't double your rate ??? Thanks for the input.

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On my boat....I have only one bilge pump....and only one discharge....I have a automatic float switch wired direct to the battery so that switch has power to one side at all times.......I also have a manual switch connected to turn it on manually for a back up. If you had Two pumps, two discharges.....yes you would double your rate. I have never felt the need for two pumps. One good pump will move a lot of water quickly.

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Originally Posted by catch&crisco

I like the idea of an automatic bilge in conjunction with the manual...did you run a new discharge hose for it, as hooking it up to the same discharge hose with some type of "Y" wouldn't double your rate ??? Thanks for the input.

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i ran another line so i could use both if needed in an emergency.

If you wire direct to the batt be sure you fuse it! Bilge pumps are the most likely to short out than anything else on the boat! You are limited on the pump rate by the size of your discharge. if you install the add on float switch be sure you install it with the float pointed towards the transom or it will kick on often with no water in it.

catch and crisco, if you are dead set on just putting a float switch on your present bilge pump go check the clearance isle at walmart if they have such an isle there. down here a while ago the walmart had float switches on clearance at half price of 8.00. sea sense was the brand. i looked in the boat dept and a 500 gal automatic bilge was 45.00+. i still had rather have both to be safe but to each his own.