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+--- Thread: 43 open keel bilge vs mid bilge (/showthread.php?tid=9034)
43 open keel bilge vs mid bilge - bnr@dur-a-flex.com - 12-07-2024
I have two bilge pumps in the engine room and was wondering if someone could confirm my theory. One of them looks like a regular bilge pump, sits under the batteries and has a float switch, named mid bilge. The other one is called the keel bilge and is a pump sitting on the port side of the port engine. The breaker for this pump is normally in the off position and anytime I turn it on, the pump turns on. My assumption is that the keel bilge is a larger pump designed as an emergency back up. This would make sense because the design of the batteries being so close to the bottom of the bilge has always concerned me.
Can anyone confirm this for me?
Thanks!!!!
RE: 43 open keel bilge vs mid bilge - jclark003 - 12-07-2024
You have it sort of backwards. The keel bilge pump operates as a sump with the pickup under the mid bilge pump in the engine room. The pump itself is a self priming type mounted outboard the port engine. It scavenges water from the lowest spot in the hull, usually coming from AC drains, leaking shaft/rudder post seals, rain water, etc. if water gets high enough the aft and or mid (higher capacity) pumps will kick in. Unless the keel bilge isn’t working the aft, mid and forward pumps should never come on.
If it remains on with the breaker closed then most likely the float switch is stuck or defective, not an unusual situation. The switch is mounted directly below the mid pump float switch. It’s a tight fit down there and if the wires aren’t positioned correctly the switch can easily get stuck either closed or open. To replace you remove the two large screws holding the mid pump bracket in place and the whole assembly lifts out.
RE: 43 open keel bilge vs mid bilge - bnr@dur-a-flex.com - 12-08-2024
Appreciate the feedback. This makes a lot of sense, the keel bilge has never functioned right since I have owned the boat. I will add this to the never ending list of items to do.