When the Bilge Pump Won’t Quit
Bilge pumps don’t run all day for no reason. When the pump keeps cycling, something’s off. Most yacht owners in Miami notice the sound first—steady, mechanical, and impossible to ignore. Ignore it, and you risk more than just a drained battery. You risk water building up where it shouldn’t, and that’s never a small problem on a yacht.
Spotting the Difference Between Normal and Trouble
Every yacht takes on a little water. Rain, spray, condensation—these add up. A healthy bilge pump kicks on, clears the water, and shuts off. That’s normal. But when the pump runs every few minutes or never stops, it’s a warning. Water is coming in faster than it should, or the system is stuck in a loop. Either way, you need to act.
- Short, infrequent pump cycles: normal
- Long, repeated cycles: warning
- Pump never shuts off: urgent
Letting the pump run unchecked wears it out fast. The motor heats up. The wiring gets stressed. The battery drains. Ignore it, and you’ll be left with a dead pump and a wet bilge—sometimes both at once.
Where Water Gets In
Water doesn’t sneak aboard by accident. It finds the weak spots. Hull cracks, loose fittings, and tired seals all let water in. Miami’s sun and salt punish every gasket and joint. Here’s where to look first:
- Stuffing box and shaft seal—old packing leaks, and water drips in with every turn of the prop
- Through-hull fittings—plastic or metal, they all fail eventually
- Hull-to-deck joint—flexing and age open up gaps
- Deck hardware—cleats, rails, and stanchions pull loose, letting water track below
- Windows and portlights—gaskets shrink, frames corrode, and water finds its way inside
Each spot needs a close look. Run your hand along the seams. Check for dampness, salt stains, or streaks. Even a slow drip adds up over time. For hull issues, see this breakdown of hull cracks and soft spots. Don’t trust a quick glance—water always finds the path of least resistance.
Routine checks matter. Make them part of your yearly maintenance routine. Miss a season, and you’ll pay for it later.
When the Problem Isn’t Water
Sometimes the bilge is dry, but the pump keeps running. That’s not a leak—it’s an electrical problem. Float switches stick. Wires corrode. Connections fail. Miami’s salt air attacks every exposed wire and terminal. Insulation cracks. Contacts turn green and brittle. The float switch jams in the “on” position, and the pump never gets the signal to stop.
Wiring issues show up as:
- Pump runs with no water in the bilge
- Pump cycles on and off at random
- Other electrical gear acts up—lights flicker, fuses blow
Don’t guess. Get a real inspection. See this electrical troubleshooting resource for what to check. Salt eats wires. Corrosion kills connections. A stuck float switch or bad wiring can leave you with a dead pump when you need it most.
What Happens When You Ignore It
Letting a bilge pump run non-stop is asking for trouble. The pump motor burns out. The battery drains. You lose the one system standing between you and a flooded bilge. Water builds up, soaking insulation, flooring, and wiring. Mold takes hold. Metal rusts. The smell lingers long after the water is gone.
Here’s what gets damaged:
- Batteries—deep cycles kill them fast
- Pump motors—overheating shortens their life
- Wiring—constant current heats and weakens insulation
- Bilge spaces—standing water rots wood and corrodes metal
Don’t wait for a full failure. A constantly running pump is a red flag. It’s either fighting a leak or stuck in a bad loop. Either way, you’re burning through equipment and risking bigger repairs down the line.
What to Check First
Start with your senses. Listen for the pump. Smell for dampness or mildew. Feel for heat on the pump housing or battery cables. Then get hands-on:
- Check the bilge for water—clear, oily, or dirty
- Test the float switch—lift it by hand and see if the pump stops
- Inspect wiring—look for green corrosion, loose terminals, or cracked insulation
- Trace water trails—follow any dampness to its source
Don’t just reset breakers or flip switches. Find the real problem. Quick fixes only hide the issue for a while.
When to Call in the Pros
Some problems need more than a quick look. Hull leaks, failed through-hulls, and electrical faults can get out of hand fast. Mobile marine mechanics handle these issues at your dock. They bring the right tools, test equipment, and experience to spot what you might miss. See our mobile marine mechanics for help that comes to you. Don’t wait for a bigger mess—get it checked before you lose a weekend or worse.
Get Professional Help Now
Call Boat Repair Miami FL at 305-290-2709 or schedule an inspection online to stop that constant pumping and protect your investment.
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