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In 2003, after 13 years of launching Cruis'n Rulz! without major incident, I left the drain plug out when launching. While my girlfriend blabbed obliviously on the dock with nearby boaters, I drove the truck to the lot, parked, and walked back to the ramp. Cruis'n Rulz! was down at the stern and settling fast with over a foot of water in the bilge. The swimstep was awash. The 2 wimpy 500 GPH pumps could not begin to keep up with even this 3/4" hole 12" below the waterline. With spare drain plug and wrench in hand (I always have one on board), I dove off the swimstep into the 45° water and replaced it. While waiting for the pumps to clear 200+ gallons of salt water, I resolved to seriously upgrade the bilge pump system in Cruis'n Rulz!. Although I have come to appreciate MaXum quality many times in my boat, this was one time I didn't. The factory bilge pump hoses were installed with mounting clamps every 6". This, the location of the forward thrugh-hull, and the under-engine location of the aft pump made removing the old system a major PIA. The upgrade consists of 2, 2000 GPH Rule pumps, 2 new float switches, 1-1/8" vinyl hoses and through-hulls, and a new Bilge Pump Operating System |
| BILGE PUMP OPERATING SYSTEM |