Bilge Pump ran out battery

Question

I'm keeping my boat on the water this summer I usually keep it in dry storage. It's been sitting for about 2 weeks. When I put jumper cables on the bilge fired up right away and pumped out quite a bit of water. Could the bilge kill a battery in normal use? or do I have a bigger problem with water getting in the boat?

Answer 1

first of all, whats the weather been like? if its rain then thats one solution, you can,t do anything about it.

if your dock is tidal go down at low water and chuck in a few buckets of water and see if you can see any leaks from the hull, you know the pump is working so it will float again!

you can buy anti-drain switches that go in-line between the battery and the bilge pump that stop any battery drain.

alternatively why not fit an automatic float switch to the bilge pump that will empty the bilge at whatever level you want.

its easy to fit (RULE SWITCH, brand name) would do you.

easy to install and coupled with a solar panel for electric supply it really is maintenance free and cuts out a load of worries during bad weather when you can,t get down to check the boat

also if you have a bung plug then check that it is sealing properly

Answer 2

You need to keep a battery charger or solar panel on the boat to charge the battery> Check for leaks after pumped dry> Or is it raining a lot>Have the battery checked>

Answer 3

You didn't say what hull material your boat is made of so the answer will vary.

A wood hull will always have some seapage and a small amount of water will collect in the bilge. A fiberglass or aluminum hull should not have water in the bilge unless they have a leak.

Locate and repair the leak on a fiberglass or aluminum hull and your bilge pump won't have water to deal with, except rain water or deck washings, so it won't come on and use battery power.

Answer 4

"Could the bilge kill a battery in normal use?"

"Normal use" being in a boat that doesn't leak, with a battery in good condition, while the boat is actually in use, the answer is no.  But a boat that leaks, in storage?  Of course it can.

The new-fangled electronic sensor-operated bilge pumps can kill your battery even if the boat doesn't leak.

"do I have a bigger problem with water getting in the boat?"

yes.