How to get to bilge pump on C&C Landfall 43

[The Perfessor]

Hi,
My bilge pump on my 1984 C&C Landfall 43 died. I cannot figure out where it is or how to get to it. The only access to the bilge (that I have found) is just under the gangway; it is a 2 foot by 2 foot opening that is very deep. The float switch is located there. I know it is the bilge pump because I can bypass the float switch and I get draw on power, but no pump. Any help would be appreciated. This is my first full/modified keel boat. Thanks!

[Sailmonkey]

Are you sure you’ve got a submersible pump?

Often on boats like that the pump is a diaphragm pump mounted remotely from the bilge

[skipmac]

Unless some LF43 can give you a better idea I would say follow something to the end and you'll find the pump.

The wires from the float switch must go to the pump so follow them.

Or as Sailmonkey said, you might have a remote bilge pump instead of a submersible one sitting in the bilge. Is there a hose going down into the bilge by the float switch, hopefully with some kind of strainer on the end? If so, that will lead to the bilge pump as well.

[The Perfessor]

Thanks for the suggestions (and so fast). I never thought of a remote diaphragm pump as an option. Following the wiring makes a lot of sense, too. Duh. I think I was just so stupefied that my reasoning skills stopped functioning. Case in point; I had to look at the last post to spell "diaphragm" correctly!! I'll let you know what I find.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by The Perfessor

Thanks for the suggestions (and so fast). I never thought of a remote diaphragm pump as an option. Following the wiring makes a lot of sense, too. Duh. I think I was just so stupefied that my reasoning skills stopped functioning. Case in point; I had to look at the last post to spell "diaphragm" correctly!! I'll let you know what I find.

My opinion, it should be spelled "diafram"

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by skipmac

My opinion, it should be spelled "diafram"

But then hooked on phonics would t be a business!

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

But then hooked on phonics would t be a business!

Would also shut down the annual spelling bee.

[Glassdog]

Whether you have a pump deep in the sump or a remote pump there should be a hose coming up from the depths. I have a very deep sump and I use a remote pump attached to a long length of PVC with a section of flexible hose and a screen on the PVC end Down deep in the suMp. To clean, I remove the flexible hose and simply pull the length of PVC up out of the sump To clean the screen. Good luck

[onestepcsy37]

same as you glassdog. except my 'screen filter' is just a foot long length of pvc pipe with a bunch of small holes drilled in it. the downside is your going to have to learn to live with an inch or two of water permanently in the bilge, which is the heiight of my pvc pipe screen when lying in the bilge.

[The Perfessor]

Hello all,
Just a followup. First, thanks for all your help. The bilge pump was sitting down at the bottom of the opening. When pulling it out, the bilge hose disintegrated. That was routed under the engine mount virtually inaccessible. My mechanic re-routed a new hose and put the bilge pump on an aluminum bracket with a long handle so I can easily pull the pump up and out for replacement and/or cleaning. The pump has a built in float which allowed me to pull the old float out so the pump had more room to rest. So far so good, though I had to pull it out, shop vac the bilge, and clean the pump as it tended to start and then not stop. That seemed to have fixed it, though I am not confident until I consistently check it and it is not running when it shouldn't.

Thanks for your help and support. It was really causing me a lot of anxiety!