Auto Bilge Pump?

[artvandelay]

I have a 2012 Z3

I see a "switch" on the Tige Tough to manually turn on the bilge pump, but the manual doesn't mention anything about if the boat is equipped with an "Auto Bilge" system that would engage if boat took on water when i wasn't there to monitor

Anyone know?

[Duncan]

I have a 2012 Z3

I see a "switch" on the Tige Tough to manually turn on the bilge pump, but the manual doesn't mention anything about if the boat is equipped with an "Auto Bilge" system that would engage if boat took on water when i wasn't there to monitor

Anyone know?

The stock bilge should be wired for power without key and have an auto-on switch.

Btw, I would swap the tiny capacity bilge pump for a real pump.

[chpthril]

Yes, the bilge is wired to the battery so its automatic.

[artvandelay]

Yes, the bilge is wired to the battery so its automatic.

great, thanks guys

[Nobody]

The stock bilge should be wired for power without key and have an auto-on switch.

Btw, I would swap the tiny capacity bilge pump for a real pump.

This is the best advice evvvaaa.

X2!!!!!

[Duncan]

This is the best advice evvvaaa.

X2!!!!!

In addition to swapping out the stock (300 gph?) bilge pump for a 1200gph, I also added two more 1200gph bilge pumps, one in each corner. I admit that is overkill. Nonetheless, a 300 gph bilge pump is worthless.

We ride around in these relatively un-seaworthy boats with sloped down front bows and routinely cross monster wakes (not to mention facing the surprise storm). I think bilge pump capacity is an often overlooked safety concerns.

[Vicseek]

question, what if the boat is turned off and batt switch turned off? Guess I could put a hose and flood the bilge to check. Nice to know incase she was in an open slip and a little rain hit.

[skippabcool]

If there is juice in the battery and the pump works it will turn on. There is a wire from the battery straight to the pump.

[IDBoating]

If there is juice in the battery and the pump works it will turn on. There is a wire from the battery straight to the pump.

...as long as whomever de-winterized your boat remembered to hook it up. I've read some online posts where "they didn't see that little black wire" or whatever and it didn't get connected.

It pays to be careful!

[Duncan]

...as long as whomever de-winterized your boat remembered to hook it up. I've read some online posts where "they didn't see that little black wire" or whatever and it didn't get connected.

It pays to be careful!

My off season maintenance list always includes an auto bilge pump test -- fill the bilge with a hose and verify the pump kicks on. Good way to flush out junk too.

[IDBoating]

My off season maintenance list always includes an auto bilge pump test -- fill the bilge with a hose and verify the pump kicks on. Good way to flush out junk too.

After you do that, clean the filter on the pump! Some of that "junk" may be stuck on it.

[JreisRZR]

Art, it is automatic but because of te convex hull yoi can accumulate huge amounts of water before turning on so I like to run it every now and then at like 10 mph to drain water from the back of the hull

[IDBoating]

Due to the convex hull, I am strongly considering a second bilge pump - located near the v-drive, which is the low spot in the hull. You're right about the amount of water that can collect there... it's a wide, thin "layer". Most bilge pumps will have a hard time evacuating it. The pump with the lowest level pickup that I've found only goes down to 1/8th inch depth and that leaves PLENTY of water in there. My shop vac can suck several gallons of water when the level is "down" to 1/8th inch in the hull.

[Nobody]

Due to the convex hull, I am strongly considering a second bilge pump - located near the v-drive, which is the low spot in the hull. You're right about the amount of water that can collect there... it's a wide, thin "layer". Most bilge pumps will have a hard time evacuating it. The pump with the lowest level pickup that I've found only goes down to 1/8th inch depth and that leaves PLENTY of water in there. My shop vac can suck several gallons of water when the level is "down" to 1/8th inch in the hull.

The factory should know to put in a hull plug in this location, so one must do it themselves.

[IDBoating]

The factory should know to put in a hull plug in this location, so one must do it themselves.

I'm working on a pump solution for this that doesn't require another hole in the hull.