Bilge pump question 14' Lowe

[sierra 18]

Hi all, this may be a silly question to the veteran boaters here, but I'm new to this sport.

I recently bought a 14' Lowe Sea Nymph. Its in very good condition, but the bilge pump needed replacing. The boat has a floor, casting deack and console. The console has three separate switches, one for the bilge, livewell and nav lights.

I bought a new bilge pump cartridge/housing, and replaced the old housing and cartridge which is located near the battery, livewell pump and gas tank at the stern. There are only the two wires for the bilge pump, black and brown, and I spliced the new wires to the existing wires with butt connectors and heat-shrinked them. I put a bucket of water into the area of the stern--which promptly disappeared under the floor--and flicked the bilge switch. No water came out, although the motor ran and sounded fine, no sound of it being under load or stress. I checked the bilge outlet on the transom, and could not feel exhaust (or vacuum in the event I wired it wrong). Should the pump be shooting water out even if its only a small bucket-full that goes in, or will it only begin to remove water when the level is at or above the pump? I can see no connection between the bilge pump and beneath the floor, so I would assume that the water level would have to be at or over the pump for it to work.

Many thanks for your advice,

Chris

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bilge pump question 14' Lowe

you need enough water to cover the base of the pump, and it doesn't get it all out. Unless your hose has a closg in it, which is likely, you need more water. try running the garden hose though the bilge hose to clear it. You won't feel air moving from these pumps.

 

[sierra 18]

Re: Bilge pump question 14' Lowe

Thanks for the quick reply. I will try the garden hose this morning and let you know if a clump of wet leaves pops out the back.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bilge pump question 14' Lowe

If the water you poured in disappeared under the deck you have the bow of the boat lower than the stern. Water runs downhill! The pump can't pump it unless the water is above the inlet to the pump. Raise the bow of the boat so it is higher than the stern. The water will then run to the back where the pump can get at it.

 

[sierra 18]

Re: Bilge pump question 14' Lowe

Great folks on this site! Thanks for the quick and informative replies gents.

**Edit** I hooked up the garden hose to the bilge hose, and the water flowed out of the bilge port with no obstructions. That said, with the bilge motor running, I could not feel any air flow whatsoever from the bilge port. Home Cookin' said that with a motor this small, you would not feel exhaust or vacuum at the bilge port. So, all in order then.

Best,

Chris