Roger Long wrote:
Those of you who read my report on my grandiose bilge system know that
I ignored the advice of the capacitance switch builder who said they
couldn't cost less than a grand and work. Well, he was right. This is
a great idea but it's not ready for prime time on most boats.

snip

Well at least you have sense enough to recognize that if feels sooo good
when you stop hitting yourself in the head with a hammerg.

BTW, you'll never make capacitance work in that application.

I'm not going to tell you what will work since some schlock will try to
then build some cheapo version and sell it to an unsuspecting public.

Two choices, both will work.

1) Install a Whale manual pump with 1-1/2" hose. Every day, stroke that
puppy a few times.

Several benefits including exercise and it allows you to monitor the
condition of the bilge on a daily basis.

2) Install an electric pump with discharge where you can observe it.
Wire in a Son-A-Lert in parallel with the pump motor.

The more obnoxious the sound generated by the Son-A-Lert, the better.

BTW, a Son-A-Lert is just a 12 VDC, panel mounted alarm about 1-1/2" in
dia and relatively low cost available at any decent electronics outlet.

You turn the pump on, bilge water gets pumped out and you have to listen
to this awful noise.

Trust me, you will learn to watch that discharge like a hawk so you can
shut the damn pump off.

Do it every day and it will also monitor the condition of the bilge, if
you can stand the noise.

Worked for me for over 10 years before selling boat.

YMMV.

Lew