[C320-list] Potable Water filter and Bilge Pump

[wdoc1 at aol.com]

Hi Ken-
Just replaced my old/loosely attached/intermittently functioning "Rule" float switch with a Johnson Ultima solid state switch, mounting it to a block of plywood epoxied to the side of the bilge. So far so good and it creates a bit more space between the keel bolts to sponge out any remaining water if needed.
Bill

JOHNSON PUMPS Ultima Switch, Solid-State Level Sensing- $35-45 at Walmart, Defender, West Marine, Amazon






-----Original Message-----
From: Ken McCrimmon <kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 7:20 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Potable Water filter and Bilge Pump

Hi
I figured out the bilge pump issue.  The bilge pump is activated by a float switch in the bilge.  When the water got high enough to activate the float switch, it turns on the pump and the water goes down.  However, the switch arm gets caught on the side of the bilge and wont go down, hence the reason the pump stays on.
I am now looking for a different design for the switch.

Ken
________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Ken McCrimmon <kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>
Sent: June 8, 2021 6:32 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Potable Water filter and Bilge Pump

Thanks for all the helpful information.  I will give the hose filter attachment a try.  I do not have a direct connection from the boat to the water.  I have to fill my tanks manually.

I will check the bilge float for dirt and build up.

Appreciate all of the great suggestions

Ken
________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com>
Sent: June 7, 2021 10:00 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Potable Water filter and Bilge Pump

For the municipal water supply, are you just filling the tanks or does your
boat have a connection for water at the dock.  I ask because if you are
just filling your tanks and want to filter the water from the dock supply
there is a filter you can buy to attach to the hose that does a good job of
filtering potable water that just tastes bad.  It's basically just a
charcoal filter.  Works reasonably well from what I hear.  We don’t need
one so I can’t comment beyond knowing that is what other folks have done
for that issue.  Folks also install under cabinet filters in the galley
which is a bit more involved and probably not necessary unless using the
hose thing isn’t an option for you.  One caveat, we don’t drink for the
tap.  All our water for drinking and cooking comes aboard as provisions.
It sounds like a pain but really isn’t and freezing two or three gallons
helps relieve the load on the fridge at least for the first three or four
days.

As for the bilge pump.  Yep..it makes quite a racket when running dry and
just a tad less noise when it’s actually pumping.  The float switch in the
bilge can get stuck if there is crud and or other boat bits and bobs that
have found their way to the bilge stuck in there.  Reach into the bilge
and flip the float completely open and clean out anything you find there.
Give the bilge a seriously good cleaning and see if that solves the
problem.  If that doesn’t solve the problem then it’s an electrical
problem with the switch that should be easy to troubleshoot.

Troy Dunn
Hull #514