Bilge Pump Question

OK my 1850 yesterday after bringing boat into landing I could here a pump running in the back of boat, looked and no switches were on as we were just tubing for the day, tried turning switches on and off and had no results I had to disconnect the cable at the battery to get it to quit running, after back at cabin I rehooked up cable and no sounds so i tehn turned on livewell pump and two bilge pumps and teh starboard pump sounded decidedly different then the other two so i think it must have been that one now any ideas what caused it to turn on by itself, any words of wisdom on checking it other than pouring water in there to see if it still works, where to start?
Thanks

Sounds like you have an automatic pump that was stuck open.

Open them up and check for debris.

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Sounds like you have an automatic pump that was stuck open.

Open them up and check for debris.

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Most often it will be a small piece of floatation foam or carpet fuzz holding the float trigger for the pump in the up and “on” position. Easy fix… what I like to do is get in the bottom of the boat with a powerful wet dry vacuum to suck up any pieces of carpet fuzz, floatation foam, leaves… whatever… that might be moving around under the deck near the pumps.

Thaks guys will start with the wet vac and move up to looking in the pump and then try and run it does the different sound of this pump than the other worry anyone it is burnt out or anything or the fact it still runs but sounds differnt mean it jsut has garbage in it maybe?

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it is burnt out or anything or the fact it still runs but sounds differnt mean it jsut has garbage in it maybe?

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Actually what usually happens when debris obstructs a pump is that the impeller comes loose from the shaft more often than the pumps motor itself burns out. So if you’re still hearing the pump “running” the motor is likely still in good shape. And the only way to know if the impeller is still on the shaft is to clear the debris. It will most definitely sound different from the other pumps because the impeller isn’t turning so I don’t think you can use that as a determination of the health of the pump.

Clean it out and run a little water into the hull of the boat with the bilge plug in place. You’ll know quick if the pump is in working order.

Thanks james so far this is the only hiccup in teh new baot other than this it is my first glass ride and I am never going back

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this it is my first glass ride and I am never going back

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Everyone says that once they own a glass boat.

Jerry,

The two bilge pumps in the boat will make a different noise. One will sounds like all the other pumps and one will be different. The one that sounds different should be the auto bilge one. Not sure why that one sounds different but everyone of the auto bilges do.

Like mentioned, it is more than likely a piece of something that got under the float and was holding it up. You should be able to feel under the float and make sure nothing else is stuck in there and then run the vaccum in there to make sure you got most of it, and that should clear up the issue!!!

Thaks for all the help it was as suggested a float stuck open from some flotation pieces, in addition the pumps do still sound different Eric and i think it may be due to size one is 500gph and the louder one is 800gph thansk again everyone

The 800 gph one is your auto bilge and the manual bilge is the 500 gph.

Glad that you got it resolved!!

My 2008 1880 says port and starboard bildge, Is one of them auto, or are both manual. Just wondering because both run when I turn the switch on.