Robert wrote:
Sure. I've considered one of those too. The smaller pump that I'm looking
into is something that I'd like to be automatic as well. A float switch
would work, but I wish that I could find something that was better.


There are some alternatives. One of them is a switch built by Water
Witch (tm) that is basically just two exposed contacts on a vertical
mount. When liquid rises to a point where the upper contact is covered,
the circuit is completed and the pump activates.
Or so says the manufacturer.........

The problem, I have heard, with the exposed contact switch is that if
there is ever any oil or other dirt in the bilge....(what!? on *my*
boat??).....the contact might become dirty and the dirt will act as an
insulator to prevent the circuit from closing. A float switch will
float on anything, even oil. I try to keep a clean bilge, and always
have an oil absorbing "sock" floating down there just in case. No
matter what, you don't want to pump oil into the water, it$ a $uper
expen$ive fine and not nice to the planet.

When you shop for a float switch, and assuming you are going to use one
of the horizontal "level" models, you can choose between the old
mercury filled switches or
some where the circuit is closed by a metal ball that rolls into place
as the float lever becomes elevated. The metal ball units are more
environmentally benign.