Carver 56 Voyager SE, Owner'S Manual

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I
NTERNAL
S
YSTEMS
S
ECTION
4
5627 12/03
4.4 Bilge System
Your boat contains one bilge and three automatic bilge pumps. The bilge
is the lowest point beneath the cabin sole where any water that finds its
way into the hull will accumulate. Each bilge pump can remove up to
2000 gallons of water per hour.
• The forward bilge pump is located beneath a hatch in the master
stateroom sole. Refer to 9.7.1 Interior Hatches for the exact loca-
tion of the forward bilge pump.
• The amidships bilge pump is located in the forward engine room, just
aft of the generator. Refer to 9.7.4 Engine Room for the exact
location of the amidships bilge pump.
• The aft bilge pump is located in the engineroom at the stern. If your
boat was built for use in Europe, there is also a hand bilge pump
amidships. Refer to 9.7.4 Engine Room for the exact location of the
aft bilge pump.
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 your 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 “8.3.6 Bilge”
for more information on winterizing the bilges.
4.4.1 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 bilge. 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 contrib-
utes to water pollution and is in violation of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act. Violators are subject to a substantial penalty.