Posted by Rising Tides on 05/25/17 - 1:27 PM
#1
New to the Whaler, just purchased an 2005 outrage Nantucket 190. Boat will live on a slip. It has dual batteries. What is the preferred way of leaving the vessel. Should the Bilge Sump drain be plugged or unplugged and I need to leave the batteries turned on for the bilge to kick on if it rains? Thanks in advance for your help.
Posted by butchdavis on 05/26/17 - 5:33 AM
#2
Drain plug in. To test your bilge pump reach into the bilge and lift the float switch if you can. Do this with the battery switch turned on and turned off.
If your bilge pump float switch is not manually operable use a hose to raise the water level in the bilge until the pump begins to run. Again, do this with the battery switch set to off and to on.
It would probably be a good idea to perform the flooding test regardless as it's useful to know if and how well your bilge pump operates.
If shore power is available at your slip consider installing an automatic battery charger to prevent your bilge becoming flooded if your batteries run out of usable power. Dead batteries are a primary cause of flooded or sunken boats in slips.
Posted by holy_crap on 05/26/17 - 10:02 AM
#3
if on a lift I would just leave the plug out to be safe. If the boat stays in the water, then you need to make sure the plug is in and sealed, I believe the bilge pump is wired directly to the battery, so even with the battery switch in the off position the bilge pump should work, and if you leave the plug out it will drain your battery. The only way to know for sure is to test it as mentioned above.
Edited by holy_crap on 05/26/17 - 10:06 AM
Posted by Rising Tides on 05/26/17 - 4:26 PM
#4
I appreciate both the replies, thanks for the advice.