Stern bilge pump blowing circuit breaker on 2014 31 Signature

C

CPG

New member
Hello to my Chaparral friends. After a great vacation week of boating on the south shore of Long Island, I noticed more water than usual in the bilge while I was checking the oil in the motors. I tried to activate the bilge pump using the dashboard switch, which didn’t work. I used my boat hook to lift the float switch, and still nothing. I checked the breaker located in the circuit breaker panel in the cockpit, it was in the off position. I reset it and lifted the float switch, the breaker popped. I am hoping the rule 1100 GPH pump is bad, the boat is a 2014.
Any thoughts?
Thank you Cliff.
 
I have a 2007 Sunesta 254. My helm switch worked but float switch did not. The problem ended up being the connector to the float switch was corroded. I replaced the connector and now it all works as advertised. Just something to check if you have not.
 
My guess would be a short circuit in the pump. If it were mine I would replace it.
 
I would first clean the pump. Something may be causing the impeller not to spin. I suggest to always carry a spare pump.

South shore of L.I. I went to Sag and 3 Mile Harbor by boat 2 weeks ago.
 
Iggy said:
I would first clean the pump. Something may be causing the impeller not to spin. I suggest to always carry a spare pump.

South shore of L.I. I went to Sag and 3 Mile Harbor by boat 2 weeks ago.
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Not familiar with that. Is there a way of showing us what that entails? It sounds like it is an interesting voyage. What waters were you on?
 
North is up in the Pic. The blue line is my route. Block Island is to the N.E.

My route stops at Sag Harbor, the triangles are the boats with AIS with is clouding the chart up. 3 Mile Harbor is to the right of Sag Harbor.

It was about a 150 mile run from Boston. We did stop at Cuttyhunk for 2 days.
 

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Wow! that is quite an adventure, how were the seas? How much open water did you have?
Your world is so different from mine, yes we have bad weather and rough seas, but I can always see land.
No matter which direction I go, I will hit land sooner or later, unless I go over the falls.:(
By the looks of the charts you really need to know what you are doing and what to look for.
And to take into account the time of day and the tides.Thanks for sharing.
 
Its all on the weather. It can be like glass, but normally we are traveling in in 1 ft or less seas. But it happens, we can hit 2 to 3 foot waves. Buzzards Bay coming out of the Cape Cod Canal gets a little crazy due the tides moving back and forth. Its not uncommon to stay put for a day or two for better weather. Or leave early, if bad weather is coming.

Yes, very different. The big thing for us, is the yacht clubs and being in a slip. Being around friends and making new ones. My boat is in the water all summer and at times we just go down and have a drink, dinner on board and with friends. Yesterday we went across Boston Harbor to another club for brunch. A 8 mile run that took an hour. Just an FYI for others. clubs a member owned where marinas are for profit. So the cost is less with more benefits.

I had 19, 21, 25 and a 29 foot boat before buying my 40 footer. We kept saying, if we had a bigger boat could go here and stay longer. Having a fully enclosed helm was something we wanted too. So many times waves would hit the side of the boat and we would get soaked.
 
So many times waves would hit the side of the boat and we would get soaked.

Lol, yes but that is part of small boat, boating. I too have wished for more free board at times.
You have the best of both worlds, a boat and a portable floating cottage.
Life is good, may you always have good water and safe travels.
 
Denny said:
So many times waves would hit the side of the boat and we would get soaked.

Lol, yes but that is part of small boat, boating. I too have wished for more free board at times.
You have the best of both worlds, a boat and a portable floating cottage.
Life is good, may you always have good water and safe travels.
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Thank you!
 
CPG said:
Hello to my Chaparral friends. After a great vacation week of boating on the south shore of Long Island, I noticed more water than usual in the bilge while I was checking the oil in the motors. I tried to activate the bilge pump using the dashboard switch, which didn’t work. I used my boat hook to lift the float switch, and still nothing. I checked the breaker located in the circuit breaker panel in the cockpit, it was in the off position. I reset it and lifted the float switch, the breaker popped. I am hoping the rule 1100 GPH pump is bad, the boat is a 2014.
Any thoughts?
Thank you Cliff.
Click to expand...
 
I removed the factory installed Rule 1100 GPH pump, it had a direct short. I ordered a replacement from CECIL Marine which came with the factory connector. We had to disconnect the factory lifting ram (engine room hatch), changed the pump, and reset both breakers, and life is good again. At the time of this writing (Aug 20, 9 PM), the water is over my dock due to the hurricane down south.
 
Happy to hear your pump issue is no longer, sorry to hear that the water is over your dock.:(
That is one of the reasons that I have always trailered, one less thing to worry about.
 
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