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HIGH WATER BILGE ALARM

As its name suggest, a high water bilge alarm alerts boaters that bilge water risen to a level that is beyond the capacity of the boat’s pumps and therefore needs immediate attention.  This simple safeguard can save your property and life as little with a small investment of your time and money.  Different manufacturers use different style float switches and displays / buzzers. 

No matter what they consist of:

  1. A float switch (preferably a non-mercury switch)
  2. An inline fuse holder with a 1 amp inline fuse
  3. A light and / or buzzer (the best systems have both)
  4. Properly sized & sheathed tinned copper wire
  5. Some type of label indicating what the buzzing or light means
  6. Various ring terminals for making a quality connection
  7. Wire ties for securing / supporting all wiring

Typical schematics look like this one:
Pre-made kits like this one can be a good place to start if you’re pressed for time to install this important warning system: 

   
 

As of this writing, few production boats are built with this simple safeguard despite the fact that 4 boats sink at the dock for every one at sea.  Soon building standards will change this fact on new boats but not yours unless you’re smart enough to do something about it.