Bilge Help

[Newbie2009]

Hello....This is my first post on this site. I just purchased a 1993 Nitro 180TF with a 115 hp Johnson motor. I paid $4,500...I hope I wasn't taken too bad............

Well it's my first boat, which means lots of questions...lol. Unfortunately growing up I was never around boats much so I'm very green. I was checking out the bilge and livewell area when I brought the boat home and couldn't get either to work....yeah...I know, I shoulda had the previous owner verify that it all worked....I'm green, and I was like a kid in a candy store.
Anyway I turned the key on and made sure the master power switch was on and then turned on the bildge switch. I thought I would at least hear something running but didn't. From the pic below is there some other switch that needs toggled?

Can you please let me know from this pic below what each item labled "A", "B", "C" are called and what function they have?

Also what pumps water to the live well, is there a pump in the bilge area for that?

The next pic is of the livewell and I have items listed "1", "2", and "3", and was wondering what their function is and how do I operate it:

If I end up having to replace the pumps in the bildge area, what kinda price are we talking and how big of a job is it?
I know these are a lot of questions and I really appreciate any feedback any of you fellas might be able to give. I've got a little girl who is counting on ol' dad to get this thing going so we can all go fishin. Thanks again.

 

[sportsmanphil]

Re: Bilge Help

Let me try to help you out some here.

First off you need to go buy a decent 12v test light or a multimeter.

Lets start with the switches. You have two sets of switches for the aerator.

Switch #1 Man/fresh/auto. This switch will fill the live well with fresh water. It pulls the water from a hole in the transom. Auto will cycle new water on a timer. This timer is either preset or there is a dial somewhere near the switch that will let you adjust the timing. Manual will fill with water and run non stop.

Switch #2 Man/recir/auto will pump air into the tank by recirculating the water already in the livewell. Again either all the time (manual) or on a timer (recirc)

Now to the livewell pic.

#1 floods the tank with water when the pump is on.

#2 is attached to a pump that is used to recirculate the water to intoduce air in the livewell, keeping fish alive.

#3 more than likely goes to the second aerator pump for the recirculate.


Now to the pic of the pumps.

A is the bilge, to pump water in the hull out of the boat.

B & C are aerator pumps. One is for pumping water into the tank and the other is plumbed to recirculate water in the tank back into the tank to add air. You will have to follow the pipes to figure that out.

 

[BLDFW]

Re: Bilge Help

Now to the pic of the pumps.

A is the bilge, to pump water in the hull out of the boat.

B & C are aerator pumps. One is for pumping water into the tank and the other is plumbed to recirculate water in the tank back into the tank to add air. You will have to follow the pipes to figure that out.

You sure about that? B & C both look like bilge pumps. Certainly "B" is based upon it's coloring. "C" appears to be an older bilge. In any case, both have only one hose attached suggesting it's to evacuate water from the bilge area. "A" looks like a valve to permit the flow of water either into or out of the tank via a port under the boat (can't see the hose port that well).

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Bilge Help

That bilge pump looks like a Rule Automatic that, when powered, cycles at regular intervals to sense if there is water pressure against the pump blades. Only if pressure is sensed does it continue to run to pump water out. I can't recall the interval, but think it might be 30 - 45 seconds. Hope that helps.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bilge Help

Item "C" is the livewell "fill pump". It's intake is mounted through the transom below the water line and its purpose is to fill the live well. Item "B" is a standard bilge pump that operates only when the switch on the console is turned on. If it was an automatic pump it would have three wires. Item "A" is not the bilge or an aeration pump. It is a manually operated valve (recirculate/drain) that is operated by the black knob to the right of the switches you marked on the console. The tip off to that valve is the control cable attached to the lever on top of the valve.

The "Manual/Fresh/Auto" switch is the control for the aerator for the live well. The AUTO mode is timed such that the aerator runs intermittently rather than continuously.

The Master switch is the master power control for the boat. Nothing will work unless this switch is on.
Overall, appears to be a nice boat, but my concern with this rig is that the engine appears to be a 40 or 50 HP Johnson rebadged for Tracker Marine. It may not be enough power for that boat. Check the plate inside the boat for the maximum HP rating. If this engine is less than 75% of that rating it will not be a very good performer, especially if you get the family on board.

 

[Newbie2009]

Re: Bilge Help

Here are a couple more pics...maybe these will help? If you look it appears item "A" has some kinda on/off valve on top?

Thanks guys.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Bilge Help

I was convinced my bulge did not work until one day i launched and had a little water in the bilge, and it just started pumping. I think there had to be water for the pump to do anything. Like an earlier poster said.

Try getting a good 3 inches of water in the bilge, and seeing if it kicks on. Mine had a float to turn the pump on and off. the float would kick it off when the water was no longer floating the lever.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Bilge Help

N-2009, Congratulations on your new rig. (And welcome to iboats.) You'll get all of this pump business sorted out soon enough. When you do, be sure to look around the various forum topics for the "sticky" notes at the top. (Especially the one at the top of this one named "A guide for beginners just starting out boating.".)

And be sure to put safety and maintenance above all else. Find a comfortable life vest for each person in your family that they will wear and keep them on 100% of the time that your're in your boat. (There are lots of opinions on this subject - now you know mine.) And when the boat is back at the house, make sure it is stowed in a position where the bilges will drain out. Water sitting in the bilges of a boat for an extended period of time can really cause some trouble. Have fun, enjoy your new rig (and your family) and be careful.

 

[Newbie2009]

Re: Bilge Help

Overall, appears to be a nice boat, but my concern with this rig is that the engine appears to be a 40 or 50 HP Johnson rebadged for Tracker Marine. It may not be enough power for that boat. Check the plate inside the boat for the maximum HP rating. If this engine is less than 75% of that rating it will not be a very good performer, especially if you get the family on board.

Here's a little better pic of the motor, not sure if you can tell by looking what size....

I'll make sure to check...according to the owner and the paper work that came with the boat it's supposed to be 115 hp. Is there a tag on the motor somewhere for I.D.?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bilge Help

You do have enough power. That is a V4 engine so at least a 90 but very likely the 115 you mentioned. From the side it looked like a 40/50 HP.