Testing the Bilge Pump and Hull Plug leaks

[meegwell]

I am trying to test my bilge pump (determine if I need battery switches on or of for certain) by running hose water at the bottom of the bilge:

1.) how long before water will accumulate enough before the bilge pump runs (if it is setup to run)? Where is the water going?

2.) My hull plug has a slow leak of this water (I guess this answers the "where is it going" question) trickling out. I assume this is an issue I want to address asap? If so, how common are these plugs if I need to replace one today? I have people, plans, etc to put the boat in tomorrow.

Anything else to consider in this area?

 

[meegwell]

I think I got my answer on the leaking plug but would still like to know if there are common places I could walk in and get a new one.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I am trying to test my bilge pump (determine if I need battery switches on or of for certain) by running hose water at the bottom of the bilge:

1.) how long before water will accumulate enough before the bilge pump runs (if it is setup to run)? Where is the water going?

2.) My hull plug has a slow leak of this water (I guess this answers the "where is it going" question) trickling out. I assume this is an issue I want to address asap? If so, how common are these plugs if I need to replace one today? I have people, plans, etc to put the boat in tomorrow.

Anything else to consider in this area?

It takes a bit for enough water to accumulate to trigger the auto function of the bilge pump. The water is filing your bilge if I understand your question correctly. And after the pump shuts off there will still be quite a bit of water in the bilge. I tested mine last year and that is what I remember... will be testing the auto function today or tomorrow.

As far as the drain plugs are concerned, any place other than a Yamaha dealer I don’t know. You might be able to use an old school style of drain plug in a pinch... they look like a stopper with a bayonet that folds over and expands the rubber stopper to hold it in place. Probably pick one of those up at a marine store.

I keep a spare on the boat just in case i damage the O ring. Spray the plug and O ring with silicone spray to keep it working effortlessly.

 

[Julian]

How long you need to run the hose depends on a couple of factors:

1. Angle your boat is at
2. Flow rate of your hose

I just tested this last week and used a level on my swim platform to get the boat forward to backward level. It only took a couple of minutes of a hose in my bilge before I reached enough water for the engine compartment pump to be able to move water. As soon as you see water in the bottom of the engine compartment, there is enough for the pump to move as the pump sits lower (in a hole) in the engine compartment.

 

[rad1026]

My drain plug was leaking last time I pulled the boat from the water also. If it is leaking out it is certainly leaking in, so I have to figure out how to seal that drain plug. I have a kayak and a sailboat that both use O-ring type plugs. I'm going to see if one of those are the same size as the boat. If so you could probably find one of those at REI or Cabelas. Will let you know.

 

[1WetBoat]

My drain plug was leaking last time I pulled the boat from the water also. If it is leaking out it is certainly leaking in, so I have to figure out how to seal that drain plug. I have a kayak and a sailboat that both use O-ring type plugs. I'm going to see if one of those are the same size as the boat. If so you could probably find one of those at REI or Cabelas. Will let you know.

I searched and found the below which they say fits the 24 foot models.

Amazon.com: Yamaha F2D-U2280-10-00 Drain Plug Assembly; F2DU22801000 Made by Yamaha : Automotive

Buy Yamaha F2D-U2280-10-00 Drain Plug Assembly; F2DU22801000 Made by Yamaha: Oil Drain Plugs - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

This is the screw in type instead of the little "finger" type. Havent tried it yet but mean to.

 

[VitaminSea]

Is the leak coming from the plug gasket or from around the Perimeter of the housing?

if it’s from the gasket, have you verified there is no grit in the threads?

If it’s from the perimeter, have you considered backing out the screws applying some 4200 or silicone (I’ll let you settle on the adhesive, depends if you see this being a short vs long term fix) and resetting?

 

[rad1026]

My drain plug was leaking last time I pulled the boat from the water also. If it is leaking out it is certainly leaking in, so I have to figure out how to seal that drain plug. I have a kayak and a sailboat that both use O-ring type plugs. I'm going to see if one of those are the same size as the boat. If so you could probably find one of those at REI or Cabelas. Will let you know.

the typical kayak drain plug I have is slightly smaller diameter then the Yamaha plug and will not work in the boat

 

[drewkaree]

You should have 3 other plugs that fit your transom drain. Look in the ski locker, and your engine compartment. There's one in the ski locker, and 2 in the engine compartment. Use one of those while you're waiting for the replacement. I would use the ski locker plug. This will allow you to get out on the water. They're not something you're likely to walk in off the street and purchase at a store - key word being likely.

Lube your o-ring with something thicker and more substantial right now, since you say yours is leaking, and see if that helps it. Vaseline will work for now, many on the forum use lube for pool gaskets. Spray might be too thin, but if you have it on hand, it's free to try, and if it doesn't work, you can go with a thicker grease-type lube.

 

[Julian]

I searched and found the below which they say fits the 24 foot models.

Amazon.com: Yamaha F2D-U2280-10-00 Drain Plug Assembly; F2DU22801000 Made by Yamaha : Automotive

Buy Yamaha F2D-U2280-10-00 Drain Plug Assembly; F2DU22801000 Made by Yamaha: Oil Drain Plugs - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

This is the screw in type instead of the little "finger" type. Havent tried it yet but mean to.

That looks like the right part from the parts diagram.... Drain Plug Assy F2J-U2280-00-00

 

[ugamarkj]

The bilge pump on my 252SD is not auto bailing. We had a lot of storms last week and I had to manually turn on the pump, which pumped water out for about 10 minutes. Is there a switch on the pump I need to check?

 

[Jorgy11]

The bilge pump on my 252SD is not auto bailing. We had a lot of storms last week and I had to manually turn on the pump, which pumped water out for about 10 minutes. Is there a switch on the pump I need to check?

If it is not auto bailing like it's supposed to check the fuse. As long as there is a battery hooked up that has some juice left it should pump, regardless of the switch configuration. It will pump your battery dead before it quits working.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

The bilge pump on my 252SD is not auto bailing. We had a lot of storms last week and I had to manually turn on the pump, which pumped water out for about 10 minutes. Is there a switch on the pump I need to check?

My boat had a fair amount of production debris in the bilge that took a few rinsing to get out. There may be debris in the pump float, pull the pump out and check it. It is snapped into the strainer which is in turn screwed into the hull. There should be a couple of tabs you press in to release it from the strainer. To replace it just put it back into the strainer and the tabs will snap into the bilge pump.

As @Jorgy11 said the bilge pump should run if a battery is hooked up regardless of bilge pump switch position, or the battery switch positions. The water level in the bilge in my boat has to be about halfway up the bilge pump before it automatically runs.


Is your boat wet slipped ?

 

[ugamarkj]

My boat had a fair amount of production debris in the bilge that took a few rinsing to get out. There may be debris in the pump float, pull the pump out and check it. It is snapped into the strainer which is in turn screwed into the hull. There should be a couple of tabs you press in to release it from the strainer. To replace it just put it back into the strainer and the tabs will snap into the bilge pump.

As @Jorgy11 said the bilge pump should run if a battery is hooked up regardless of bilge pump switch position, or the battery switch positions. The water level in the bilge in my boat has to be about halfway up the bilge pump before it automatically runs.


Is your boat wet slipped ?

Yes, it is wet slipped. The water level was over the top of the pump when I went out to check on it last Saturday after all the rain. I was out there yesterday and no additional water was in the hull (no heavy rain). I'll try to pull the pump out to check it this weekend. Thanks!

 

[Julian]

Yes, it is wet slipped. The water level was over the top of the pump when I went out to check on it last Saturday after all the rain. I was out there yesterday and no additional water was in the hull (no heavy rain). I'll try to pull the pump out to check it this weekend. Thanks!

Did you turn it onto auto in the Connext screen? If so, you should be able to sit with the hatch open and listen for it cycling every 3 minutes. It will be a short buzzing sound for 2 seconds. Unless of course they switched to a float bilge pump, in which case there should be a test button or lever on the pump itself.

 

[ugamarkj]

Did you turn it onto auto in the Connext screen? If so, you should be able to sit with the hatch open and listen for it cycling every 3 minutes. It will be a short buzzing sound for 2 seconds. Unless of course they switched to a float bilge pump, in which case there should be a test button or lever on the pump itself.

Didn't know that was an option. I'll check for that!

 

[ugamarkj]

FYI, there is nothing about bilge pump settings in the manual.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

FYI, there is nothing about bilge pump settings in the manual. View attachment 149684
View attachment 149685

Kinda sounds like there is some sort of debris in the pump then… by disconnecting the wires it will come right out after releasing the pump from the base / strainer mentioned earlier.

Please let us know what you find!

 

[meegwell]

This is from my 242X-e manual. First time I've noticed this warning about the house battery switch.

 

[Jorgy11]

Yes, it is wet slipped. The water level was over the top of the pump when I went out to check on it last Saturday after all the rain. I was out there yesterday and no additional water was in the hull (no heavy rain). I'll try to pull the pump out to check it this weekend. Thanks!

I still suggest you check the fuse first, it takes about 10 seconds. It is one of the corner fuses. Otherwise debris sticking up your float is a great second.