[C320-list] bilge pump issue

[Scott Thompson]

My 1999 boat (hull 653) has the original diaphragm bilge pump under the 
port settee. I've had almost no problems with it over many years until 
recently. Last season I had a few occasions where the bilge pump would 
come on and not shut off unless I killed power to it to reset it. I 
assumed the sensor in the bilge was bad and replaced it over the winter. 
But the problem remains.

When this happened recently I noticed that the pickup hose in the bilge 
was not secured and had moved around. I think this probably happened 
when we were sailing through some fairly big seas and strong winds with 
a lot of heeling and boat motion. My current hypothesis is that the hose 
pickup ended up somewhere between the high and low settings for the 
sensor so that when the pump was triggered by the sensor at the high 
setting it started sucking air before the water level dropped below the 
low setting. This would explain the pump coming on but not shutting off 
even though it was no longer pumping water. Cutting and restoring power 
then shut it off.

All of this made me wonder whether that hose end is supposed to be 
secured somewhere in the bilge, and if so how. I didn't see any place 
where it appeared to have been secured previously. However the problem 
did not occur for many years until recently. Does anyone with a similar 
vintage boat have the hose secured? If so, how? A picture would be 
appreciated.

As for where the water is coming from, I determined I need to repack the 
stuffing box next time we haul out. I'm getting a drip every four 
seconds with the engine off despite having the dripless packing. Must be 
worn out.

Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653 (1999)