Pearson 36 Bilge

[Richard]

Thanks, Dale.  I looked a bit more for the Robertshaw switch, but did not find it yet.  I did, however, find a similar switch made by Jabsco.  It is called the Hydro Air Switch, model number 59400-0012.  

The great thing about this type of switch, for the very deep bilge in the cutter model, is that you can put the bilge pump and switch up out of the bilge.  The switch has a plastic tube that extends down into the bilge and the rising water triggers the switch via air pressure.

The Jabsco switch has a small bell-shaped fitting that is supposed to be at the lower end of the plastic air line.  It appears they intend that this fitting be screwed down.  In the cutter bilge, there is no way to reach down that far, and also nothing you would want to put screws into.

When I installed my (similar) switch, I got one or two lead fishing weights.  Using a propane torch, I melted the lead into the bottom of a tin soup can or similar.  Then I cut away the can and had a circular lead weight about 1/2 inch thick.  I used sheet metal screws to fasten the bell-shaped fitting to the lead "base."  I attached the plastic pipe to the fitting and lowered it into the bottom of the bilge.  This has worked well for eight years or so.

I can't get the bilge water down to zero, but I think it is OK to have an inch or so down there all the time.

I also have a much larger pump and float switch in the "higher" bilge, just forward of the v-drive, and under the floorboards.