Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > General Interest

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 148.170.241.1
Old 10-18-2011, 05:04 PM
ILikeRust's Avatar
ILikeRust ILikeRust is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Henrico, VA
Posts: 2,202
Thanks: 2
Thanked 23 Times in 21 Posts
Bilge alarms

So I'm browsing the USCG requirements and come across this one:

Quote:
§ 182.530 Bilge high level alarms.

(a) On a vessel of at least 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length, a visual and audible alarm must be provided at the operating station to indicate a high water level in each of the following normally unmanned spaces:

(1) A space with a through-hull fitting below the deepest load waterline, such as a lazarette;
(2) A machinery space bilge, bilge well, shaft alley bilge, or other spaces subject to flooding from sea water piping within the space; and
(3) A space with a non-watertight closure, such as a space with a non-watertight hatch on the main deck.

(b) Vessels constructed of wood must, in addition to paragraph (a), provide
bilge level alarms in all watertight compartments except small buoyancy
chambers.

(c) A visual indicator must be provided at the operating station to indicate
when any automatic bilge pump is operating.
Guess I should add a bilge alarm...
__________________
- Bill T.
- Richmond, VA

Relentless pursuer of lost causes
Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 24.152.131.155
Old 10-18-2011, 06:18 PM
ndutton's Avatar
ndutton ndutton is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,619
Thanks: 198
Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,425 Posts
Here's the one I have. Mine did not come with the sensor so I wired it into my existing float switch. If my bilge water is high enough to activate the float switch, it's high enough to alert me. No need for a second sensor in my mind.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...arge/17416.jpg
__________________
Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
Reply With Quote
  #3   IP: 108.70.146.51
Old 10-18-2011, 10:56 PM
jwmiser85 jwmiser85 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Pacific Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm pretty sure it is only required if you are running your bilge pump in auto. I just shut mine off all the time and just check periodically.
Reply With Quote
  #4   IP: 24.152.131.155
Old 10-18-2011, 11:10 PM
ndutton's Avatar
ndutton ndutton is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,619
Thanks: 198
Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,425 Posts
I think the intent of a high water alarm is to alert when shipping water aboard and the bilge pump is either not working or overwhelmed.

Reading what I just typed makes me think my strategy of connecting it to the existing bilge pump float switch needs to be re-evaluated. A failure of either the switch or the circuit would not trigger the alarm. For the system to be effective I believe it should be independent.

Add another project to the list.
__________________
Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others

Last edited by ndutton; 10-18-2011 at 11:28 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5   IP: 173.66.243.217
Old 10-19-2011, 07:36 AM
keelcooler keelcooler is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: McLean Va
Posts: 282
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Bill, You've stumbled into the regs for sub chapter T boats.
Reply With Quote
  #6   IP: 24.152.131.155
Old 10-19-2011, 09:47 AM
ndutton's Avatar
ndutton ndutton is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,619
Thanks: 198
Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,425 Posts
My alarm installation had little to do with a USCG requirement which I'm not sure even applies to pleasure craft. True, I learned of it as a result of a USCG publication but it made sense to me. If the water is rising I want to know about it as soon as possible short of sleeping with my bare feet in the bilge. Engine alarms serve a similar purpose and many of us have those regardless of any imposed requirement.
__________________
Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others

Last edited by ndutton; 10-19-2011 at 09:55 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #7   IP: 108.70.146.51
Old 10-19-2011, 06:41 PM
jwmiser85 jwmiser85 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Pacific Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Agreed Neil
Reply With Quote
  #8   IP: 174.94.27.242
Old 10-20-2011, 04:35 PM
67c&ccorv's Avatar
67c&ccorv 67c&ccorv is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London, ON
Posts: 1,559
Thanks: 4
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
I like the "Water Witch" lineup of bilge alarms and controls - I have one of their automatic bilge and blower controls hooked up on my vessel.

Any number of sensors (gas - propane - CO2) can be hooked up to it and when triggered the blower will come on for the prescribed amount of time programmed by the owner.

The bilge pump control is totally automatic.

Reply With Quote
  #9   IP: 98.101.207.195
Old 10-21-2011, 06:29 AM
jhwelch's Avatar
jhwelch jhwelch is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 477
Thanks: 0
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts
I also have a non-mechanical bilge pump switch. I've seen too many mechanical ones stick, usually in the on position, running the battery flat.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cleaning Oil from Bilge rheaton General Maintenance 4 01-14-2010 06:09 AM
Bilge Blower Placement swokrams General Interest 13 06-17-2008 11:27 AM
Motor quit firing & oil and water in bilge Traverse Foster Introductions 2 07-24-2007 08:08 PM
Bilge water 78ranger Ranger 2 05-08-2007 09:16 PM
Emergency Bilge Pump (T in water intake) sailorken General Interest 0 11-05-2005 08:40 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved