Carver 45 COCKPIT MOTOR, Owner'S Manual

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INTERNAL SYSTEMS SECTION 4
Bilge System
Your boat is equipped with three automatic bilge pumps located beneath the
cabin floor. The bilge is the lowest point in the interior of the boat’s hull where
any liquid that finds its way into the hull will accumulate. Each pump can
pump up to 1500 gallons of water per hour. These pumps have been strategically
installed to remove water that accumulates in three bilge areas:
1. The forward bilge starts below the galley and runs under the forward
stateroom to the bow. The forward bilge pump is located beneath a hatch in
the center of the galley floor.
2. The amidships bilge starts at the base of the engine room’s forward bulkhead
and runs to the engine room’s aft bulkhead. The amidships bilge pump is
located in the engine room near the aft bulkhead. If your boat was built for
use in Europe, there is also a hand bilge pump in the amidships bilge.
3. The aft bilge runs beneath the aft stateroom floor. The aft bilge pump is
located beneath the aft hatch in the stateroom floor. Refer to Section 9 -
Interior Hatches for more information on bilge pump access.
Never store anything in the bilges. Storing loose items in the bilges could
damage pumps, pipes or other components that are essential for the
proper operation of our boat.
If you keep your boat in a climate where temperatures can drop below
freezing, make sure that all water within the bilges is drained before you
store the boat for the winter. Water that freezes in the bilge could cause
severe damage to your boat and its components. Refer to Section 8
- Bilges for more information on winterizing the bilges.
Bilge Pump Operation
For safety and convenience, each bilge pump can be operated either
automatically or manually.
The bilge pumps remove almost, but not quite, all of the water that collects
within the bilges. If you want your bilges to be completely dry, use a sponge and
bucket to remove the small amount of water that remains.
NOTE: Before operating your boat’s bilge pumps, wipe up any oil that may have
accumulated in the bilge area. Pumping oil overboard contributes to water pollution
and is in violation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Violators are subject
to a substantial penalty.
A Tip From Carver!
A certain amount of water always collects in your boat’s bilge, especially where the
shaft log is located. The small amount of water that normally accumulates is usually
not enough to activate an automatic float switch.
While underway and on plane, use the helm switches to manually turn the bilge
pumps on and let them run for 30 seconds to a minute.
When your boat is on plane, water in the forward and aft bilges flows to the aft of
these bilge areas, where the bilge pumps are located. The amidships bilge pump is near
the lowest point in the hull when the boat is at rest.