Long Beach Marine Electric connects Long Beach boat owners with marine electricians, and the season’s risk is predictable: a dry summer, then the first real storm hits a bilge pump nobody has tested in months. Long Beach’s rainy season runs from about late October to late April, according to WeatherSpark’s climate data. February is the wettest month, averaging about 3.2 inches. Most of that rain arrives in a handful of storms, which is exactly when an untested electrical system gets its first real test.
Why rain sinks boats at the dock
BoatUS’s Seaworthy research found boats sink at the dock about four times as often as underway, and nearly half of those dock sinkings followed heavy rain. Cockpits fill faster than scuppers drain, water finds its way below, and the boat relies on its automatic bilge pump, its float switch and its batteries to keep up. Any one of those failing quietly over the summer is enough.
Five checks before the first storm
1. Water-test the automatic bilge pump. Don’t just flip the switch. Pour water into the bilge, or lift the float, with the battery switch where you leave it when you go home. The pump should start, move water out of the through-hull and stop on its own. If it only works on manual, see bilge pump works on manual but not automatic.
2. Make sure the automatic circuit bypasses the battery switch. It should stay powered with the main switch off, with its own fuse close to the battery.
3. Check the batteries and charger. A flat bank means a dead pump. Confirm the charger is on and charging, and load-test old batteries before the season. See why a boat battery keeps dying.
4. Inspect the shore-power cord and inlet. Rain and spray get into connectors. Look for discoloration or corrosion, make sure weather boots are in place, and replace anything brown or melted. See burnt shore power plug.
5. Add or test a high-water alarm. An alarm a neighbor or dockmaster can hear is the last line of defense. ABYC calls for one on boats with enclosed accommodations.
Also worth doing
- Clear cockpit scuppers and check deck drains, so less water reaches the bilge.
- Check the discharge hose and check valve. Practical Sailor notes a single 90-degree bend in a 1-inch hose acts like 3 extra feet of hose, enough to cut a 3,000 GPH pump to about 2,000 GPH.
- Give the marina your phone number and confirm someone can reach you during a storm.
Need it checked?
A pre-season electrical check of the bilge, batteries, charger and shore power takes an hour or two at the slip. See bilge pump repair or call (562) 374-7233 for a same-day callback.