Bilge Pump worries

[malarson]

We had a cold snap last week here in Lewiston. I had drained the block & manifolds and blew out the shower. Then I took one of the hoses off the heater core and about 1 cup of water came out. I thought that would cover me temporarily.
It warmed up enough yesterday that I wanted just one more run before the winter. We loaded the boat and motored about half a mile until the window started fogging up from the heater vents.
I lifted the bow cushion to find water flowing out of the heater core like a faucet and the bilge filling fast. We stopped the boat, lifted the engine cover and found about 6" of water in the bilge and the bilge pump not pumping. I could hear the bilge motor running but only a trickle of water coming out. We got back to the dock with the bilge water level just above the bottom of the oil pan.
I pulled the heater core today and of course there was a 1" split in the copper tubing. Then I pulled the bilge pump. There was a lot of carpet fuzz in the mesh filter. Then I filled the bilge with water and it pumped water just fine but I'm just not trusting it.
Is it possible for a bilge pump to work intermittently? Is it a signal that it's going to die soon? Thanks in advance for any insight.
Mike

[talltigeguy]

My MC has 2 bilge pumps and both failed at the same time as I forgot the plug. Another subject there. So I replaced them both.

It seems that in the manufacturing process, the builders drop as much fuzz, loose bolts, screws and baby vomit as possible into the bilge. These things plug up the screen and cause the pump to not work. I would be confident in the pump if you cleaned the pump out and it works great now. For insurance, I would fill the boat with the garden hose on the trailer with the plug in, and see if it comes on and pumps water adequately. (Then go to a steep hill to get the water to go out the back. )

The other thing to check is the hose, it could have gotten kinked or compressed. MC made my hose out of this crappy stuff that looks like the plastic around the boat wires, and it could be easily compressed. Tige would never do that...but hoses do get kinked from time to time.

[shake-n-bake]

My MC has 2 bilge pumps and both failed at the same time as I forgot the plug. Another subject there. So I replaced them both.

Was that yesterday?

[talltigeguy]

Was that yesterday?

No. I met Bad05 at the ramp as I was getting ready to launch the boat. We chatted and I was excited to see him and Dingleberry too. I knew the water was butter and Bad offered to drive the tow vehicle for the launch and I said sure. I got out of my rhythm and completely forgot the center plug. Then I left my boat tied to the dock, talked some more, and helped the others get launched. Bad commented on how excited I must be because my ballast was full already...the swimstep was 4 inches under water. I immediately knew what had happened and put the plug in and then asked WTH happened to my bilge pumps? The fuses were blown on both of them when I got to troubleshooting. SO we put the boat on the trailer and let it drain...for a really long time.

When I got home, I found that the front bilge pump had seized up, and the rear had a lot of debris in it. The rear then worked later during the reunion...so I don't really know why the breaker popped exactly when the thing was needed the absolute most, so I replaced it for good measure. Now I have a spare that seems to work fine. I would have noticed the problem if I had just had the pump come on enough to send water over the edge.

[TeamAllen]

WOW! Tall that could have been really bad, as you know. I'm glad you got it handled.

[shake-n-bake]

Wow! that makes me nervous cause I need to replace mine, it will never automatically turn on.

[maswind]

A new bilge pump is probably cheap insurance.......