175 Searay Bilge Water in Boat/ Bilge

[E_S_A_D]

So, I have a new to me 175 Searay 1996. It has the dashes on the helm and one is bilge that lights up. This past weekend we were in good chop and winds and took a few waves up and over. Enough to put about an inch in the boat, nothing crazy. Anyhow, I turned on the bilge and nothing ever spit out.

Quick questions- is the bilge auto when it's on? It's lighting up on the helm, so it has power... or is it manual? Turn on and it's supposed to work?

Why wasn't it pumping water?

 

[E_S_A_D]

Also, a stupid question...

I noticed that there is a 4" tube, assume exhaust hose from the blowers, that one just hangs from the blower under the engine cover into the compartment and doesn't appear to connect it's end to anything. Is this normal for the exhaust fumes?

 

[GA_Boater]

Depending on the placement of the pump, it may not be deep in the water, so it is pumping air. Can you see the pump? Can you hear the pump running?

The blower is not there to expel exhaust fumes. The open hose end should be very low in the bilge to eliminate gas fumes, which are heavier than air and settle in the lowest part of the bilge.

 

[Scott Danforth]

yes your dash light should have lit if the switch was in auto and the switch trying to start the bilge pump.

it could be not pumping from any of the following: faulty motor, debris in motor impeller, bad auto switch, hole in hose, hose not connected.

many single blowers have a short section of hose to draw fumes from the bottom of the bilge. my two blower setup has one hose running to the bottom of bilge, the other does not have a hose connected.