I’ve watched too many of these videos and this one was hands-down the best. Very straightforward and easy to understand.

Love your videos, your sense of humor, and your ease at self-deprecation. Sail on!

I have been fixing boats for about 100 years and just now and again one's head hurts and you cannot see for the fog of memories!! Just such an occasion yesterday when fixing up a float switch and bilge pump - your video saved my skin. Thanks and love the videos and the no nonsense approach. Cheers Mate.

Hey Stu. I installed my beige pumps x 2 in my boat , I followed your instructions to the letter , and everything works perfectly. Thank you EB .

Another great video mate! Always easy to understand your wiring diagrams, makes it easy for us to get our head around them. The green machine is progressing along quite well!

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks Josh, glad you liked the vid. I'm really happy with the Green Machine now, it's getting so close to going back in the water. I've been missing it!

How convenient, my boat I just bought has that exact same switch! Having problems with the green light, it doesn't illuminate, but the automatic setting does indeed work.

Just referred back to this video as your explanation of required wiring was excellent- thanks again! Iooks like your trip up north is going well!

I have just started on a restoration of 21 ft savage marlin I have found all your videos so very helpful good to see down to earth tutorials

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike, glad the videos have been helping you with your restoration. Good luck with it! :)

i am adding a second bilge pump with a sensor switch and an on/off/auto as you did here. thanks for your great videos. i hope you are having fun with the BRUPEG gang!!

Great video man. I learned a few new tricks. I use the liquid electrical tape also, then heat shrink over it. I always have trouble figuring out those pump switches. Thanks again.

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Richard. You really can't seal boat electrical connections too much, I often do liquid electrical tape and heat shrink together too.

Beyond the "Wiring a Boat Pt1" video, the key thing that helped me that I learned from this video was to prep your wiring harness, connectors, cabling etc before even touching the boat. That way you aren't in a cramped space trying to solder, crimp, strip etc...

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Hey Peter, yeah, the more you can do on the bench the better I reckon.

Excellent vids, thankyou. Clear and clever thinking and some great tips along the way. Gives me more confidence to tackle my own bilge pump wiring.

@DangarMarine

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Peter, glad you liked it.

A trick I use to make a long wire 'short' for neatness is too wrap a section of the wire around a pen/pencil, making a 'coil effect'. This keeps the wire length short but can be pulled straight, if as you said, need to pull it through the dash.

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

I like that trick, I'll keep it in mind. :)

Your videos are the best, period.

Thank you Stu for making these videos. They have helped me a lot.

@DangarMarine

4 жыл бұрын

You're welcome. :)

these videos are brilliant - nothing more to say other than i love the fact always a cold beer to hand

Another excellent video. One thing I've done in the past for folks boats is add a simple push button at the back of the boat by the bilge for those that tend to be a bit more excited about a little bit of water in the and as a test. They'll throw a cup of water at the pump while holding the button down to verify the pump turns on and pumps water with no leaks in the plumbing. Definitely not a necessity however.

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Having a switch at the back does have it's merits though, particularly if it's a tiller steer. ;)

Thanks for the close up of the connections

These videos are so helpful. Thanks for sharing your expertise and advice.

Subscribed and bought a shirt! Figured I owe you that much for the money you’ve saved me! You gave me the confidence to do it myself. Thanks for the awesome and informative videos. Ben from Florida

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ben, glad the videos have been helping you with your boat. :)

Thanx again for an xlnt video. You are a wonderful teacher, cool , down to earth, etc. All the best from Oslo Norway ;-)

My first viewing and so impressed......I’m having a go at this and your vid will be invaluable I’m sure! Many thanks from a pure novice👏

@DangarMarine

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve, good luck with the install! :)

Wow I really love watching you videos you make learning fun and very educational. Thank You!

Love the cowling paint job...And the bilge pump install great job...

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad you like it. :)

Yes it was. I am going to wire my boat soon ,thank you

I am a Charterboat captain/owner. Never cut your wires short because there are other reasons your pump can fail besides pump failure. Low battery, stuck float switch ect. A stuck float switch once the water has been pumped off will air lock and not pump water once it has risen high enough again even with the pump running constantly. Good video...keep up the good work.

Thanks again great job on the green machine

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate, can't wait to get it out on the water now. :)

As a preference, I use a fused permanent live to the sensor/float switch, and an on/off switched live, also fused. This gives the redundancy of there always being a source for the bilge pump, and it being impossible to accidentally leave the boat without a pump available, if the switch is not moved to auto. I also add a buzzer to the negative side, so that it's easy to test. This helps if the pump is below a deck, or further away, and is harder to see. Perhaps not so important on the Green Machine, but certainly a consideration for bigger boats, like the Trawler. All our boats are dual battery, dual engine, and each has multiple bilge pumps, so they're split between both batteries for greater safety. For the boats I maintain (3 46ft Newtons, various other smaller boats), I use the same circuit for every bilge pump. This makes diagnosis easier, and it's easier for our captains to move between boats. Standardisation in this way lightens my workload :) All our boats live on moorings, so being able to be confident to leave them, knowing they have a small chance of losing bilge pumps, is very important here.

Thank you. I hope I can wire my boat on my own. Video definitely helped

@DangarMarine

3 жыл бұрын

You can do it!

love your videos mate, very informative, best ive seen so far, keep up the great work, go the green machine 🤘🤘

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate, another upgrade to the Green Machine coming soon!

Good and well explained video. I'd never seen liquid electrical tape before - I'll have to get some.

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate, yeah, liquid electrical tape is good stuff in the right circumstances.

How about a quick video about the history of the Green Machine ? I bet their are lots of fun memories ? Great bilge pump video by the way !

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Hey Dennis, that's a good idea. Unfortunately I've only owned it a couple of years since a friend gave it to me as an unwanted free boat. I do know the three owners before me though so I should do a bit of research!

Great vid Bro you would make a good teacher. thanks and Jah Bless.

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks make, glad you enjoyed. :)

Thanks, Stu ,very helpful, plus fun to watch

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ron, glad you liked it.

Excellent, yet again. I am worried about you wearing an insulated vest when it's the hottest part of summer (100 degrees here in Texas) you must have the flu. Very satisfied with your videos, I have searched several boat maintenance topics and you keep popping up. Gig 'em Aggies!

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. It's not the flu, it's boating, it's a terrible disease. ;) Enjoy your summer, I can't wait for the heat to come back!

love all your videos best online!

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thank you! :)

Thanks for all the info. Cheers.

sensor switch small electric current can set up electrolysis in ally boats in damp wet areas

Another great video! Thanks for sharing. I was a bit concerned at beginning of video when "New Engine" wasn't scratched out (lol). The Green Machine is looking pretty awesome!

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks Keon. Not much left on the board to cross off now! :)

@keonfrederic1857

8 жыл бұрын

You found the issue with water pump?

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Yes, it just wasn't getting enough water through the muffs. Once I put the leg in a drum of water it pumped quite nicely.

@lefty940

8 жыл бұрын

a mate of mine has the same engine that dont pump out on muffs either fine in a bucket

You really are the best out there

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate!

Love the video! Clear and to the point

@DangarMarine

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks again for a great video. Your a top bloke stu 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Terrence! :)

Great video ! Maybe add a Hour Meter to the Bilge Pump circuit ! Then you will know how long the Pump was running when you were away ! Thank you for the video ! tjl

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

Hey Tim, that's a great idea, I really like that. I'll have to look around and see what is a good source of cheap hour meters. Nice one! :)

Your videos are grate, I learn a lot from them

@DangarMarine

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. :)

you deserve more subs these videos are very informative and great

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate, glad you like the vids. :)

Always fuse hot, never ground. One wire at fuse connected to center switch and then long wire to ground block. Just a personal, i prefer shrink at all terminals (multiple pita i know) for overall safety.

Helpful and interesting bit of how to info.

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate.

@vetterfellow

7 жыл бұрын

Welcome !!!

Why is the fuse on the negative? what if the pump shorts to ground.... fuse won't do anything

@AJ_MD

4 жыл бұрын

Good question. In a ally boat, I thought you never ground to chassis in case of electrolysis? Also, these switches come with fuse wired to negative and a wiring diagram which tells you to wire it this way. I'm interested to know the answer to this one. You could always rewire I suppose.

@aleembruggen

4 жыл бұрын

That was my first thought. Fire hazard.

@AJ_MD

4 жыл бұрын

I decided to rewire my auto bilge switch fuse to posirive despite the instructions just in case.

@OldFloatingSeaman

3 жыл бұрын

A fuse on the positive lead does not protect your equipment from a short circuit on the positive lead. If you short a positive lead to ground you have just taken your piece of equipment out of circuit. A fuse protects a piece of equipment from increased current through the equipment (i.e. a bilge pump that has debris stuck in the impeller). Any increase in current will be felt on the negative side of your equipment first. A fuse on the negative side makes perfect sense but if you are uncomfortable about it fuse the positive side or both. One possible bad situation would exist is your equipment has an increased current draw, your fuse blows but the fuse holder or negative terminal is shorted to ground, in this case you would have an unprotected circuit. No matter how you connect it make sure that you use the correct amperage fuse.

love the video... and the e36 in the backdrop:)

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate!

Excellent as usual my friend.

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks Will! :)

Excellent video! As clear as a bell!

@DangarMarine

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tony. :)

If you need to in large a small hole and can get to both sides like on the transom . I you can clamp a block of wood behind the hole so the polite bit has something to bite into.

Thanks the Vid was a great help.

another great and helpful video

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. :)

Very informative. thanks.

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

You're welcome. :)

Hello, I'm in the process of restoring an old Cutter runabout and your videos are AWESOME! Very helpful. I have one question regarding what gauge wire I should be using in all these applications? Obviously the batter leads are heavier but what about the main lines from battery to the block, block to bus bars and then each individual wire for the accessories? Thanks for the help!

watching this it reminds me I had a near death experiance. I was out in my boat similar to the green machine in a very cold day with sub zero temperatures and my boat seemed to have a bad leak kilometers from the slip way. Only found out about the leak when there was like 200 litres of water in the boat already and my bilge pump was frozen solid due to the cold weather and water was pooring in FAST. Couldn't get my boat up to plane because of the weight of the water in the back of the boat and I could litterally beach my boat minutes before it was about the go down. So always be carefull when boating in freezing temperatures.

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, having a good working bilge pump is great peace of mind. Fortunately it never gets below about 10 deg Celsius here, but cold water can definitely be a big killer.

I think it's better if you put the fuse in positive line

Where can I acquire some of that black board that you mounted your pump equipment on? I live in the States if that helps. Thanks

How dare life get in the way of another excellent video! ;)

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks Matthew! :)

Awesome video! easy explained as always. I'll try it in my boat. Hey.. one thing I'd like to suggest is that probably you could mention or add a link on the parts you're using on the installation on your videos so they're easy to find and buy (and don't mean you do publicity but to help us on how to find them). thanks for all the videos! :)

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Hey mate, glad you enjoyed the video. I really should add a link given I get them all from my own shop! I'm not very good at this promotion stuff... dangarmarine.com.au

@elnegronica

8 жыл бұрын

I meant that you could add in the video's description something like: - Bilge Pump used: dangarmarine.com.au/collections/electrical/products/2000gph-bilge-pump - Automatic Bilge Field Switch: dangarmarine.com.au/collections/electrical/products/automatic-bilge-field-switch - Fuse box: link for the fuse used - some other part used: some other link, etc. Keep the awesome videos, it was just a suggestion. thanks!

Very informative as all your videos are,but how did you secure mounting plate to hull?.

trying to figure out how to change diode on my bilge switch, works but it looks burned up for some reason. ever deal with these?

I have baisicaly the same switch and a new automatic/ manual pump float enclosed.no sensor .how is the best way to wire without a seperate float and no senseor?Thank's for great videos

Any concern putting a molding on those aluminum holes in the dash to prevent cutting the wires off on their sharp edges? Does the bilge pump plate want to bounce around not being fastened down?

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Hey Seth, I should have shown a shot in behind the switch panel once it was mounted, but the wires don't touch the edges at all. The switch and fuse holder protrude in past the dash before the wires start. Because the pump is near the stern it doesn't bounce that much (most of the movement is in the bow), but I would certainly consider Sikaflexing that plate to the bilge. You can always unclip the pump from the base for servicing or replacement.

Great video as always! Will the little green light run down the battery if you leave it in auto mode? I have the same switch and I might not be back to the boat for a month at a time, just wondering about the power draw for the led (I am assuming it is relatively small!)

Thanks, very nice video for my wiring job, PS your work bench is almost as messy as mine.

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

You're welcome. I'll clean it one day!

Informative video Stu...ready for the next storm I am sure now. Good to see the Mad Max outboard cowling tradition continues...will the stern light be cowl-mounted like before ?

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. I really agonised over the stern light. I really do like the cowling mounted system but I ended up going for an all-round white light to make it compliant with the regulations down on the harbour. The exemption for that stern light only applies on our stretch of the river unfortunately.

Hi how are you, just wondering how do you choose the appropriate bilge pump for boat size ? Mine is 19ft. If duel pumps were nessasary do you need duel float switches ?

My understand is that you have a fuse before the pump in order to protect the pump from burning out if it became blocked

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

No, a fuse will protect a circuit from current flowing through any part of the circuit. The risk with having it latter in the system is if a wire chafs before the fuse and forms a short circuit against the hull of the boat.

Super useful thanks. I just replaced my old pump and float with an integrated ‘smart’ whale supersub pump that I wired into the old switch panel that was actually designed for separate float switches (mine is integrated in the pump) so I’ve left the panel’s designated float switch wires unattached on the panel. I’m doubting what I’ve done so wondering if the better idea is to go direct to a switch like you have.. any thoughts?

More star work 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate!

Good info, going to put new one in mine, im also going to do away with live well for storage, do they make caps for the plastic holes? think they call them skin settings.

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Hi Ronald. You can buy plugs like that, they are called skin fittings.

Why not eliminate some of the wiring by putting the fuse inline with the power to the switch?

Wont the green led on the auto mode draw down a battery?

Really enjoy your presentations! Question: the panel comes with a 10 amp fuse and my pump only specifies a 3amp. Can I just replace the 10amp with the 3 amp and good to go? Also, your diagram has the fuse connecting to the negative side of the battery and pump. I thought the fuse was supposed to be on the positive side. Does it matter??

@timwilson6884

2 жыл бұрын

You can just replace the 10A fuse with a 3A if they're the same format, and that would be the correct thing to do. It's best practice to put the fuse as close to the battery positive as possible as that gives greatest protection against a dead short somewhere along the wiring. Fusing the negative like Stu shows provides you with good protection against shorting of the pump internally (as all current will still have to flow along the wiring) but wouldn't protect much of the wiring itself from being shorted out, say by a dodgy joint that comes into contact with an earthed bracket. Probably less important for a GRP hull where the hull isn't conductive, but pretty important (IMO) for an aluminium hull where it's earthed via the outboard. In that situation any insulation damage to a live wire can easily cause a short.

wondering if he glues the poly board to the bottom of the bilge?

Having watched a little bit more, I'd like to suggest something that might be better for your uses than liquid electrical tape - - try self-amalgamating tape. It wraps around just like conventional adhesive insulation tape, but there is no adhesive to turn nasty, and as its name suggests it amalgamates into one rubber piece. When I was in the electronics trade, we used tons of the stuff when installing aerials or satellite dishes, and it stands up really well to water, UV etc.

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I have used self amalgamating tape a fair bit, but unfortunately it is quite expensive (around $20 for a small roll) I do like it though so I'll need to see if I can find a good cheap source of it.

My brand new whale feild sensor switch just activate as soon as I hook it up to the battery. Did I wired it wrong?

*he is such a good teacher awesome keep it up

Do you always put the fuse on the negative end of circuit? This could drain your battery if there is a ground. Example is current leak under water in bilge go's to ground. You still have current flow

i bouth the 2004 honda marine 150 hp no hour meter i wonder how to put one in

So I know this doesn't pertain to this video but is it possible to remove a livewell out of a stratos bass boat and upgrade to a bigger one

You should heat shrink those spade connectors and crimps just to make sure that the don't come apart. You can always cut the heat shrink off if worst comes to worst

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

Hi Dan. I like the idea of using heat shrink to hold push together fittings together. Nice idea!

I am new to boating but I know electronics. Is there a reason you did not put the fuse on the + side of the circuit, That would seem safer, for the senors and the circuit.

Great video, but ensure the fuse is on the POS+ leg. You want that fuse to trip if the line shorts out; otherwise, you'll have a boat fire.

I don't understand why you fused the "ground" side of the pump rather than the positive side. Is the boat wired as a positive ground?

I don't like the fuse in the negative side, Steve in Thailand.

What kind of float sensor did you use,could you give me a link or put number

I am first time hearing that you need to install fuse on negative site

Great videos, thanks. Is there one showing wiring solar panels?

@DangarMarine

4 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/Y6ycm85vesy2csY.html

an old garden hose makes a great wire conduit , flexible, water tight, and cheap.....

@DangarMarine

4 жыл бұрын

It does!

Is there any way to wire the pump through a fuse block directly to power to be auto while also having a manual switch in addition? Instead of having a switch that does both.

@DangarMarine

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, you can just have the auto wire going to fused power and then the the manual wire going to a switch. The advantage there is that you can't accidentally set the switch to "off"

What is the best size wire to run to the bilge? I saw somewhere that 10 AWG is recommended but is it really necessary?

@DangarMarine

8 жыл бұрын

I generally go by the wires that come from the pump itself to be honest. As long as you don't extend them with thinner wire you should be fine. Length is an important factor too though, here is a good summary: www.rpc.com.au/pdf/Wire_Chart.pdf

Hi... I live in Sydney and enjoy your vids..... As backing boards if I don't use plywood I cut up those poly kitchen cutting boards I buy from the Reject Shop. Where do you source the poly board that you mounted the bilge pump onto ?? It looks more appropriate than chopping boards.

@DangarMarine

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. I was trying to think then where we got it from, as we bought a 2.4 x 1.2m sheet and it is almost gone now so I'll have to order another one. Originally I just did a Google search for polyboard but I can't find the same site now. It was a local Sydney company that made it.

Great vid mate, Just subscribed! One question. Why not mount pump and sensor on opposite sides of centreline? Equidistantly of course.

@DangarMarine

5 жыл бұрын

Hey William, you definitely could. I usually try to mount everyone onto a single board so I can remove the whole assembly but provided water can flow freely between the two sides of the boat your suggestion would work well too.

@williamraftery9734

5 жыл бұрын

Dangar Marine thanks for the quick reply. I've a manual pump in my fuel tank space at rear of my glass boat and am thinking about putting one under the floor which would mean cutting a hole in the floor to fit it. Not too keen on that idea 😡

Hi stu i have 4.6m fiberglass boat with a sealed floor no access to underfloor anywhere and no bilge pump im thinking of cutting access port and installing bilge ,it's an older boat late 80s, any tips for that kind of install

@DangarMarine

4 жыл бұрын

It is a common thing to do with sealed bilges on boats that live in the water and can't have the bungs removed. Just do a small pilot hole first to make sure you aren't going to hit a rib or anything with the hole saw.

Your videos are simply great! Do have a question as you show the Rule 41 3Way switch with the fuse lead going to the negative on bus/fuse box. The old boat I just purchased, has the same switch and fuse connector going to the positive on the fuse box.....What am I missing here?

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

This particularly switch panel is setup to be fused on the negative side, but if I was making a switch from scratch I would fuse the positive side. I'm not sure why the designers of this switch did it this way.

When talking about the spade connectors at around 12:30, why bother putting spades on the short wire, when you could just pull wires through the dash and connect straight to the back of the switch with a spade?

I like these videos and I don't have a boat

@DangarMarine

7 жыл бұрын

Hey Patrick, glad you like the videos. It's better to have a mate with a boat than own one. ;)