The "Ohhhh $HIT Bilge Pump"

[John_Madison CT]

Sometimes you gotta love Ebay. I picked up this Rule 3700 Computerized Bilge pump for $97 shipped to me. That's about 65% off the cheapest price I can find anywhere else.

I plan on mounting this on the shelf in my bilge, which is about 3"-4" above my regular bilge pump. It's there as a "Oh $HIT" pump. Things would have to be pretty bad for it to be needed, but if water gets to this level, I'll be glad I have 3700 gallons per hour of capacity.

It uses a 1.5" hose. I'm now looking for a good deal on smooth bore bilge hose and a nice bulkhead fitting.

I'll add photos as the project progresses.

 

[DaleH]

I'd advise to plumb the outlet thru the other side of the boat, from where your primary/main pump(s) exit ... if you could. Any chance for a manual over-ride to that auto feature?

Nice buy! I used smooth white comm AC reinforced hose on my 2200gph crash pump.

 

[Bryan 2530]

Sweet.

 

[Megabyte]

Nice project. :wink:

 

[John_Madison CT]

Dale: Interesting idea about the other side and yes, this can be manually overridden. I'm going to install a 3 way Rule switch.

 

[TunaJoe]

What is the advantage to a "computerized" bilge pump?

Just curious....

 

[DaleH]

What is the advantage to a "computerized" bilge pump?

Just curious....

No separate float switch to clog or get gummed up with oil or debris.

 

[seabob4]

What is the advantage to a "computerized" bilge pump?

Just curious....

No separate float switch to clog or get gummed up with oil or debris.

However, when the internal float craps out, you gotta buy a whole new pump...

I'll stick with a Rule-a Matic float...

 

[John_Madison CT]

There are definite pro's and cons with these computerized pumps.

I got this one because it was a steal of a price. I would have gone the regular float switch route if I hadn't found this one.

 

[Bryan 2530]

There is no internal float, the pump spins and senses water so it stays on.
If no water it shuts off.

 

[Bryan 2530]

Agreed.

I think Johns intention is to use it as a crash pump only.

 

[John_Madison CT]

Bryan is right. I don't plan on keeping this pump on, even in the Auto mode, while at the dock.

It will only be "ON" if I have a problem at sea. I'm picking up a Rule 3 way switch this week. It has 3 modes: "Auto" (which is the Computerized mode), "ON" (which is manual) and "Off"(which is no power to the pump.

 

[POGE]

Share some ideas from my great piece of mind project. Fun to install something I hope never gets used.

 

[NortonSmitty]

I keep my boat behind the house in a canal. I have the OS pump wired in tandem with a red strobe light on the dash. If it;s running, I know my primary pump died or I've got a major problem. Saved me once from a cracked A/C nose on an old Trojan Flybridge I had.