Are you sure about that Joel, I cannot find anything in my Ultra instructions that mention the Ultra won’t pump oil. It is a simple float, I don’t know how that float would know what was lifting it.
I do know that the electronic bilge switch I had on my 39 (I cannot remember the name, I don’t think it was Water Witch, maybe Rich knows) would absolutely not pump oil. After launching it after 19 months, (all nice and clean smelling) I had put an ineffective washer on the diesel filter, and it leaked a few gallons of diesel into the bilge, which really irritated me, but I was glad it didn’t pump it overboard. Took a lot of cleaning and scrubbing to get that out! Got new Racor 500’s after that rout. Bill Coleman Entrada, Erie, PA From: Joel Aronson via CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2021 11:47 AM To: Stus-List Cc: Joel Aronson Subject: Stus-List Re: Bilge pumps The Ultra switch is designed to not work if covered in oil to prevent oil discharge. If you have a dirty bilge you do need to clean the switch periodically. Joel On Wed, Mar 3, 2021 at 11:43 AM Bill Coleman via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: I do agree the Ultra Safety Switch is a very good switch, and there is also a high water alarm function, but bear in mind they are not maintenance free. After I motored from Annapolis to Erie I discovered the main pump was frozen. (two other fore and aft pumps working, but in sealed compartments, and two others apparently non-existent). I replaced the main pump with a new one and cleaned the switch. It was gummed up with crud, and was effectively non-functional. I think one of the best defenses against this, besides regular cleaning, is to keep fresh oil absorbent pads in your bilge. And also keep the water out. I think I still like the electronic switches a little better. Bill Coleman Entrada, Erie, PA
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