What is this hose and what does it do

[Nelsonsampaio]

Hi need help I noticed my bilge pump always coming on when boat not in use I drained out the hull of water and noticed water coming out of the gray hose when engine is not running and it fills the bilge area again till the pump comes on takes probably half hour or so before bilge kicks me. My boat is a 2000 challenger with the M2 Mercury the hose is the gray one alone the bottom of the haul.

 

[ripcuda]

That grey hose you see... with the screen mesh tip is the bilge siphon hose. Anytime the jetpump is pumping... which is anytime the engine is running... a suction is created on that hose helping to suck out any water in the area where the tip is placed.

Additionally, on this hose... somewhere up high is a plastic connector. On mine, it is on top the exhaust. In this plastic connector is an important tiny hole. This hole breaks the siphon when the engine is shut off. If this hole is clogged... the siphon will backflow and suck water out of the pump into the boat... as you are seeing. With a clear tiny hole in the plastic connector of this siphon hose... all is good and no reverse flow will happen.

Cheers!

 

[ripcuda]

Best pic I can find (not mine)... of the plastic connector where the tiny hole lives.

Look below the red circle and find the dirty grey hose... there is a black connector connecting grey hose on either side. The tiny, needed, hole is in this plastic connector.

 

[Tim75]

Best pic I can find (not mine)... of the plastic connector where the tiny hole lives.

Look below the red circle and find the dirty grey hose... there is a black connector connecting grey hose on either side. The tiny, needed, hole is in this plastic connector.

View attachment 55332

Ripcuda is exactly correct.

This is a somewhat important hose..... since it could sink your boat. I suggest removing the entire hose for cleaning. Detergent, compressed air, or toothpick. Especially the vacuum break hole. A clean screen helps, too. Re-install and place the pickup end as low as possible and the vacuum break as high as possible.

While you are in the bilge, lift out the electric pump and clean it, too.

 

[Nelsonsampaio]

Ripcuda is exactly correct.

This is a somewhat important hose..... since it could sink your boat. I suggest removing the entire hose for cleaning. Detergent, compressed air, or toothpick. Especially the vacuum break hole. A clean screen helps, too. Re-install and place the pickup end as low as possible and the vacuum break as high as possible.

While you are in the bilge, lift out the electric pump and clean it, too.

Will water come into the boat with I take those hose off since the boat is in the water.