bilge malfunction

[ken]

While sailing my catalina 320 this weekend water came up through the floor boards in the cabin. After toggling the bilge on the fuse panel to "on" and manually bailing the water, I averted a crisis. There are "2" bilge swithces on my fuse panel. The 1st is a toggle "on/off"... where the batteries need be "on" (this is the one i engaged.) The other switch says "manual/automatic"- this one i leave on "auto" with the batteries turned off when i leave the boat. The float switch in the bilge, worked with "on/OFF" toggle switched "on"...however did not work with the toggle switch in the "off" position.. are there two separate bilges..?? i dont think there are but..cant figure out how the water got so high unchecked. The "manual/auto bilge" should have kicked in. Any recommendations/advice on this subject? This was the first of such occurrences.

 

[txsailor]

Could the answer be??

Ken, The bilge pump marked Manual/automatic that you leave in auto position will only work with the battery switch left on, unless it is wired around the battery switch, then it should have worked. You need to check and make sure that it does not go through the battery switch. If it does you will need to rewire, or leave the battery switch "on" Don

 

[Tom S]

Ken, First question -- Where is all that water

coming from !?! To have water above the floorboards from anything is a lot of water -- where did it come from?Second -- it sounds like you have the switches right. I think there is only one electric bilge pump in there, but it sounds as if your float switch is not working....its what automatically turns on the bilge pump (when you have switch on "auto") Somtimes they stop working (mine did) and need to be replaced