Stopped skipping the bilge pump test and it saved a client's boat!

I used to assume bilge pumps were working if they looked okay. Last season, I made it a habit to test every single one. Sure enough, I found three that were dead and fixed them before any damage happened. Do you guys always test pumps as part of your routine? I'm curious how you handle it.

3 comments

3 Comments

caseyr781mo ago

Heard a boater say pumps only fail when you need them, right?

mia6881mo ago

My uncle's fishing boat had a bilge pump quit last year during a calm day. @caseyr78, that saying is catchy, but I'm not sure it's always true. Pumps can fail anytime if they aren't looked after, lol. It's more about poor upkeep than bad luck. I've seen pumps work fine when needed if they're checked before trips. So maybe it's just a handy excuse for not doing maintenance.

martinez.miles1mo ago

Actually, I've had pumps die right when things got rough despite checks.