First there was the recalcitrant Toilet that was on a go slow protest, complaining about its diet (who wouldn't?).
Second the hull deck weather seal that wasn't.
Third three bilge pumps that didn't.
Yesterday, we decided to mop out bilge still had a litre of water in it after deck leak fixed and also test automatic bilge pump. So we added another litre to trigger the electronic sensor, this set off the bilge alarm and siren and started the pump running. I say pump in the loosest use of the term, because this $225 device has never turned in anger, the only work it has ever done was pump out 2 litres of fresh water whenever I remember to give it a test. So the running non-pump is working more along the lines of a blender just stirring up the water in the bilge, but not actually pumping any thing anywhere, all the time the siren is going.
Aha, I got this covered, turn on the manual electric bilge pump, empty the water and shut the siren up. Nope. The Whale Gulper pump was a gulping, but nothing was going anywhere anytime soon and the siren kept on blaring.
Not to be deterred at this point (but getting very close), I've still got this covered, I put emergency handle in Whale hand pump and start hand pumping with the expectation that, you guessed it, the bilge would be emptied, the siren would stop and I could then contemplate the issues.
So I am pumping away with the siren a blaring, three different pumps running, with absolutely no water going anywhere except around in circles in the bilge.
"Kathy get my wire cutters"
SNIP that's the end of the siren and the automatic pump, turn off the manual electric pump and stop pumping the manual pump, time for lunch.
So, in the cold light of the after lunch period, I ascertain that the rule pump, although running, is only turning at about half speed. So grab the spare pump and install, twist the cut sensor wire back together and off goes that infernal siren again with the pump also running, but this time the water is disappearing out of the bilge as it is meant to do. All the water gone, siren and pump still running so I wait another minute then untwist the sensor wires all stops.
I reconnect the wire still peace and quiet. Fill again with 2lt of water, off goes that infernal siren again with the pump also running, and the water disappearing but it will not switch off. Repeat 2 more times because I am hoping against hope, it will some how fix it self. You guessed it, does not.
So we had a slow running Rule bilge pump (I believe it had gone out in sympathy with the afore mentioned recalcitrant toilet), an electronic sensor that will switch on any time you want but not turn off until it is de-powered.
Both the manual electric and the hand operated pump proved to have the same issues, a non return valve installed on the inlet of each pump to prevent water running back when switched off, was doing the total opposite and preventing water from entering the pump in the first place to allow it be pumped.
So today I only need to source 1 x Pump to replace my used spare, 2 x electronic level switches to replace faulty one and have a spare and 4 x valves of the non-corroding type to replace both the Port and Starboard valves. The starboard side is all working at present but I am positive that once it learns the Port bilge Pumps went on strike it will soon follow suit if I do nothing.
There is nothing like having redundancy in systems, if one fails you have a back up to take over, well thats the theory to it all.
I need someone to back me up, I am starting to feel redundant.