[C320-list] bilge pump issue

[mike at softscrap.com]

   Mine is 621.  The hose is basically loose, only plastic ties around the
   wires that pass through the bilge.  Don’t know if this is correct, it’s
   how the boat came.  99% of the water in the bilge comes from the AC.  I
   just replaced the float switch with a solid state unit … no moving
   parts, so far I like it much better.
   Mike Shetter
   PLYMOUTH. 621
   Get [1]Outlook for iOS
     __________________________________________________________________

   From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
   Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>
   Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 9:17 PM
   To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
   Subject: [C320-list] bilge pump issue

   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)
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References

   1. https://aka.ms/o0ukef