[jclark003]

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.