I can cite two specific instances that a boat that I owned was damaged and the other nearly sunk by the absence of an automatic bilge pump switch. Both had properly functioning bilge pumps but no float switches. The first was my Irwin. The boat was new to me and within one week a very slow leak from the centerboard stuffing box put a full foot of water in my cabin. After activating the pump and drying out the boat I installed a float switch. I never had a problem again with rising water and the switch never failed while I had the boat (10+ years).
The second was a 18 foot speedboat I bought brand new. It lived on a trailer except on the weekends. After returning from a day trip we had one of those huge Florida rain storms that dumped a ton of rain everywhere. Enough rain fell in the boat that it covered the starter motor in rainwater and had to be replaced. I installed a float switch on the brand new bilge pump in the brand new boat and I never had the problem again. That switch also lasted for at least as long as I owned the boat (7 years).
I would have immediately added the float switch to the speed boat had I known it did not have one. I lit up the dealer for not telling me the boat did not have one. Stupid me for not checking. The first thing I did when I looked at my present boat was to determine the status of the bilge pump and its float switch. This is why I believe an AUTOMATIC bilge pump is a critical piece of equipment to safeguard your investment. I think it is foolish to not have one unless you are constantly on your boat.
The second was a 18 foot speedboat I bought brand new. It lived on a trailer except on the weekends. After returning from a day trip we had one of those huge Florida rain storms that dumped a ton of rain everywhere. Enough rain fell in the boat that it covered the starter motor in rainwater and had to be replaced. I installed a float switch on the brand new bilge pump in the brand new boat and I never had the problem again. That switch also lasted for at least as long as I owned the boat (7 years).
I would have immediately added the float switch to the speed boat had I known it did not have one. I lit up the dealer for not telling me the boat did not have one. Stupid me for not checking. The first thing I did when I looked at my present boat was to determine the status of the bilge pump and its float switch. This is why I believe an AUTOMATIC bilge pump is a critical piece of equipment to safeguard your investment. I think it is foolish to not have one unless you are constantly on your boat.