Thanks all for your replies--I might need to tighten the packing gland or
replace the packing material.
My fear about leaving the auto bilge pump on is a result of a failed float
switch many moons ago:
I was away from the boat between weekends (at least) and it may have been
several weeks and left both the bilge pump and battery charger on as I always
did.
When I did get back to the boat, the bilge pump switch was on but it was not
running--so I initially thought it probably failed. I try to start the engine
and no joy--the battery was dead.I check the charger, see that the AC power was
on but the power converter breaker on the instrument panel was off. Thus I
start to check out the Xantrex battery charger.
As I open the lazarette to have a look, I get a distinct 'smoky' order. I then
notice that there is soot and a black 'spot' on the charger cover, near one of
the ventilation 'slots' of the charger. Apparently (?) the charger was running
continuously trying to keep the battery charged while something was
continuously discharging it. (Ultimately, I noticed that the float switch was
stuck in the high water position which led to these conclusions.)
With the soot/spot on the cover, things got pretty hot within and near the
charger before the breaker went off. I figure I was pretty close to having a
fire start in the charger and the boat burning to the water line with no one
around.
My thoughts may change but this episode put the fear of fire much higher on my
discomfort zone than a sinking. Further, I don't believe any of the small bilge
pumps that would 'fit' in my shallow bilge could keep up with any leaks of a
serious nature--shaft seal leaks and water down the mast excluded.
Also, if it goes to the bottom I still have a boat, not a boat 'carcass' burned
to the water line!
There are probably better methods of bilge pump/float switch installs that
might prevent a recurrence of the scenario above. Any lister suggestions would
be welcome.
Ultimately the boat WAS protected by the AC circuit breaker in the charger
circuit, but not before something in the charger got hot enough to 'smoke'.
For now, I have almost been 'burned' once and prefer to never get almost
'burned' again!
Charlie Nelson1995 C&C 36 XL/kcbWater Phantom
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