Seacraft sinks off Martha's Vineyard

[2182]

after reading this post last night i had to go out and remedy my single bilge situation. i now have a giant hand pump (24" w/ a 72" 1.5" line) and a secondary bilge that i will wire in next week.

[CaptMick]

From a fellow Seacraft owner located on the Vineyard, so happy you guys made it. Ever since I read the story, I've been bringing my handheld VHF with me. I was out there that day (my birthday) bonito fishing at the hooter. I have a dual bilge pump set-up with them pumping out opposite sides of the hull. I work maintaining a large fleet of boats, and I have seen more brand new RULE pumps fail this year than ever before. Check your pumps people! Glad you guys remained calm and survived!

I am in the same business. The Rule pumps this year are horrible. I have about 10 or so that I will be sending in with nicely worded letter. I have moved a few of my boats to the johnson pumps. They seem to be doing better.

[pelican]

I am in the same business. The Rule pumps this year are horrible. I have about 10 or so that I will be sending in with nicely worded letter. I have moved a few of my boats to the johnson pumps. They seem to be doing better.

i have repair shop - i've stopped using rules pumps and switches a while ago - due to problems.the cartridge style pumps are much better,last much longer.

a second pump:
it needs to be wired to a seperate power source than the other - this assures at least one "hot" pump at all times - do not connect the lead for the auto switch directly to the battery - connect it to the battery switch - at the battery terminal.do the same with the lead for the high bilge water alarm
trust me guys,this will avoid big problems down the road...

[Fr. Frank]

a second pump:
it needs to be wired to a seperate power source than the other - this assures at least one "hot" pump at all times - do not connect the lead for the auto switch directly to the battery - connect it to the battery switch - at the battery terminal.do the same with the lead for the high bilge water alarm
trust me guys,this will avoid big problems down the road...

Yup. That's how I do it for my two aft pumps.

[mitchman]

I am in the same business. The Rule pumps this year are horrible. I have about 10 or so that I will be sending in with nicely worded letter. I have moved a few of my boats to the johnson pumps. They seem to be doing better.

I hadn't had any luck with bilge pumps this season as I was on my 3rd pump of the season. I found my pump from last year dead this spring. I installed a RULE pump with a electronic float switch (larger capacity too), and it killed both of my batteries in about 2-3 weeks. It turn on randomly even when there was no water and just run for a few minutes before shutting off. I replaced the RULE with another brand with a mechanical float switch and it worked great. Until that one mysteriously died 3 weeks later the day I sank. Prior to sinking we had pulled the pump to troubleshoot it and took it apart....there was no debris or damage(looked brand new). I had two other buddies with RULE electronic switch pumps that also killed their batteries or failed this year. Its amazing to me that these companies can get away with putting such crap out.

[Tashmoo2]

Rule Automatic bilge Pumps

Very interesting read. I thought I was the only person having problems with Rule.

I have had nothing but problems with Rule automatic pumps with built in float switch. Pumps start but sometimes do not shut off.

They are made in China now which might explain a lot.

[Bigshrimpin]

Make sure you have a fuse or breaker on the rule pumps. . . my auto rule 1100 ate some bilge grass and melted as described above . . . I'm assuming that if I had a small fuse/breaker in place it would have saved the pump. The pump is a PIA to get to on an 18.

[eggsuckindog]

A goofy idea I had was to put a pyhi in the deck in front of the console and maybe shoot some type of expanding foam in there

make any sense ????

[CaptMick]

Rule pumps with the internal float switch are the worst. Also Rule #41 switch the most cost effective they offer is the worst. Absolute trash. If you by one of either by 20 of them. You will go through them in a year.

The last Rule 750 GPH on my shelf says made in Mexico.

TO Bigshrimpin- Fuse don't matter. I have seen may that run and run and run under the conditions you describe (woman's hair in there) and won't shut off. Even with the Manufacturer suggested fuse (15amp?) and melt them or burn them up so they don't work.

Sorry these now suck. Sorry you lost your boat. Glad you and your crew are safe.

[eggsuckindog]

I had a digital switch that wouldn't shut off, must have moved it 5 times higher and lower - it burn't a couple up. I went back to old flipper and its fine - my 1100 bait pump must be 5 yrs old and run overnight quite a bite. Knock on wood