How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

[mikegdodge]

Hey guys..I am certainly a newbie to the boating community as I have never owned a boat before and just picked up an 18' Crownline Br with the 4.3l Mercruiser...When I went to get the boat, the previous owner informed me that he noticed that the Bilge pump was not working..I thought to myself "no big deal" ...Well I very quickly learned the importance of a bilge pump after leaving my boat in the water for 2 days..on the second day I noticed I was having a very hard time getting out of the whole...thought I had an engine problem...well that was not the case..I had LOTS of water in the Bilge...water was not coming from the engine anywhere from what I could see..but long story short, I want to replace my bilge pump, and the sucker is located directly under the engine in a spot I cannot reach..Any advise on the easiest way to get to the Bilge pump? Also Where might all the water be coming from...I checked the drain plug, and recently pulled it apart cleaned it out and re-adhered it..not sure where else to check...no obvious "cracks" or "leaks" in the body of the boat...thanks for your help guys!!

 

[wgl333]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Your first issue is to find the leak. Do you have any thru hull fittings. Cracks in/around rub rail? How bout the bellows....are they cracked or brittle. The bilge pump replacement is important, but, if you have that much water....your boat ain't leaking...it's sinking.

 

[oaksld]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Check obvious things like the fuse first.. you never know.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

As stated above, check all through-hull fittings to see if there are leaks. That would be the first place. Did it rain overnight while you had the boat in the lake? That can fill it up with water fast. If none of those are the case, try putting it on your trailer with water in it. If you've got a crack or leak in the hull somewhere, you'll see the water coming out where it's not supposed to do so.

Use whatever you can to reach the bilge pump. If anything, contact a Crownline dealer or ask a specific question in the Crownline forum here. Try searching for Crownline and bilge pump on the internet to see if you find anything. I'm sure that you aren't the first to replace one.

Both of these are important issues to resolve before heading back onto the water, or else you might find your boat submerged!

 

[45Auto]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

You can reach your bilge pump from the side of the engine. You may have to remove some interior panels or the little "divider" panels in the engine compartment to be able to get to it.

As others have said, you need to address the leak quickly before you lose the boat. If the bellows haven't been changed in the last few years, it could be easily be leaking through the shift capable bellows or u-joint bellows. Hopefully it's that easy, something like a leak around the outdrive assembly through a soft transom is a much more involved repair. It could also be something like a corroded y-pipe leaking on the bottom where you can't see it.

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Thank you all for the advice...I have checked the fuse for the bilge pump...the bilge fuse is fine..I have only had the boat for about 2 weekends now, and both times that I have pulled it out, I have immediately pulled the drain plug..I think next time when I take it out of the water, I will pull it out on level surface before draining to try and spot the leak..that seems like a good idea.. If I had to guess, I would say after letting it sit for 2 days, it has taken on about 30 to 40 gallons although I have not actually measured...through hull fittings such as?? They only thing I can think of are the 2 holes where the bilge pump sends the water out.. The rub Rail? is the the rubber guard that goes all the way around the boat..where the top half and lower half join??? If so..that seems to be in good condition...I am unfamilliar with what the bellows are...please advise..

As for checking with the local crownline dealer...I would prefer not to pay their $85/hr rates and have them take 6hours to replace the bilge pump..the only way that I can see getting to it is by dissassembling the engine compartment behind the rear bench seat..I think I will have to do that instead...I thought about putting in a different pump in a different location..but I am guessing that crownline put that pump in that location for a reason...

 

[ryanr623]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Bellows check:

When out of the water, tilt the drive all the way up. Turn the wheel all the way to one side, and check the under side of the drive for black boots. Once you locate the boots check for holes/cracks. Do it again with the wheel turned all the way the other direction. Would be willing to bet you're in store for a bellows job.

Also, if you cant get to the bilge pump, you can cut the hose/wiring to it and install it that way. Just put it in the deepest part of the bilge you can. Im familiar with this problem, the 4.3 takes up a lot of space and was impossible to get around.

 

[45Auto]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

If we knew your location, it's possible that there might be someone knowledgeable close enough to help you by taking a look at it and pointing things out to you.

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Regarding the Bellow check: Should I be running the engine during this check? And I am assuming that I should not drain the boat before doing the check...I have seen the "boot" that I think you are talking about..it is somewhat "accordian" style..I have looked it over pretty good (without water in the boat) and it seems to be in good condition..

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

I am in Battle Creek, Michigan.

 

[ryanr623]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Regarding the Bellow check: Should I be running the engine during this check? And I am assuming that I should not drain the boat before doing the check...I have seen the "boot" that I think you are talking about..it is somewhat "accordian" style..I have looked it over pretty good (without water in the boat) and it seems to be in good condition..

No the engine should not be running. Check them over good, especially the biggest one, and the smallest one (3 total). If it was just sitting there in the water and hadnt been used, it has to be a bellows or through hull fitting.

If you ran it during those two days, put it back in the water, start her up and look for water leaking out of the engine. Also look at the transom to see if you can see water coming in anywhere.

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

No the engine should not be running. Check them over good, especially the biggest one, and the smallest one (3 total). If it was just sitting there in the water and hadnt been used, it has to be a bellows or through hull fitting.

If you ran it during those two days, put it back in the water, start her up and look for water leaking out of the engine. Also look at the transom to see if you can see water coming in anywhere.

Will do...I will try that and see if I can find the leak...Thank you!

 

[nlain]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

I recently had to change my bildge pump in my 19 foot Sea Ray, It has a bench seat across in front of the engine and a hinged sunpad over the engine, I had to remove two of the three sections of the wall across the boat and the side piece on the right side of the engine for access to the pump and wires. Was not the easiest job I have ever done, won't be as bad next time as I now know what has to be done. Check switches, fuses, wires and float switch, make sure power is making the full circuit. I had power and float switch was working, pump was squealing.

As to the water in boat, I would check the bellows, as stated you have three, shift cable, exhaust, driveshaft, the big one is the driveshaft bellows, medium size is the exhaust, small is the shift cable bellows. That is the most common place for water on a boat that size.

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

I recently had to change my bildge pump in my 19 foot Sea Ray, It has a bench seat across in front of the engine and a hinged sunpad over the engine, I had to remove two of the three sections of the wall across the boat and the side piece on the right side of the engine for access to the pump and wires. Was not the easiest job I have ever done, won't be as bad next time as I now know what has to be done. Check switches, fuses, wires and float switch, make sure power is making the full circuit. I had power and float switch was working, pump was squealing.

As to the water in boat, I would check the bellows, as stated you have three, shift cable, exhaust, driveshaft, the big one is the driveshaft bellows, medium size is the exhaust, small is the shift cable bellows. That is the most common place for water on a boat that size.

I was thinking that would be what I would have to do to get to the pump..Thanks for the input...which side did you disassemble? I am wondering which side to disassemble that would give me the easiest access.. Also..I have my boat parked out back...I just went to look at the 3 bellows that you described..they seem to be in great condition although I could not see every inch of each one..heck, they almost look as if they are new... perhaps it would be easier to determine if they are leaking when I pull the boat out of the water... You know...I noticed just now that there is a broken hose clamp of some sort laying in the small ammount of water in the bildge..I am guessing I might have just found the culpret..now If only I can find the hose that it beloned to...

 

[gstrom11]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Snap some pics, they help a lot.

 

[JimKW]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

I also have a Crownline 180 BR and I changed my bilge pump last year. I have the bench seat with a storage area under the seat and a wall in the back in front of the motor. What I found was when I emptied out the storage under the seat, the whole thing was hinged and I could move the entire seat and wall towards the front of the boat. Then it was kind of hard to get behind that to get into the engine compartment. Then once I got in there and replaced the pump getting out was a real chore. But I'm 62 years old and have trouble just getting up off the ground when I've been down for a while.

One question: Does you bilge pump work when you turn the switch on the dash on? Mind did, but i decided to replace it anyway since it didn't sound too good. The way the float works is not the best setup in the world.

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

So...Something new I just found...this is how much a newbie I am...I was so excited checking out the boat...that I totally missed this big section on the bottom of the bow that is scuffed up bad...could this be the reason for the leak???

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

 

[mikegdodge]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

I also have a Crownline 180 BR and I changed my bilge pump last year. I have the bench seat with a storage area under the seat and a wall in the back in front of the motor. What I found was when I emptied out the storage under the seat, the whole thing was hinged and I could move the entire seat and wall towards the front of the boat. Then it was kind of hard to get behind that to get into the engine compartment. Then once I got in there and replaced the pump getting out was a real chore. But I'm 62 years old and have trouble just getting up off the ground when I've been down for a while.

One question: Does you bilge pump work when you turn the switch on the dash on? Mind did, but i decided to replace it anyway since it didn't sound too good. The way the float works is not the best setup in the world.

Well, I am only 26..and what I would consider smaller yet fit stature...I applaud you sir for getting into that area!!!

No...The bilge pump does not turn on...no noise...the light on the stock switch does come on..the fuse is good..but nothing happens...

 

[ckwizard]

Re: How do I get to my bilge pump??? (Newbie)

Lookin at your pics I notice you do not have a screw in transom plug, Are you using on of thos expandable rubber plugs?
If so that may be your leak because it looks like you did have a screw in plug at one time and has since been removed.