Should i add a second bilge pump to my 24-foot center console?

[Evelyn.M]

I’m trying to decide if it’s worth adding a second bilge pump to my 24-foot center console. The factory one handled last season’s rain just fine, but after taking on a bit more spray than expected in a choppy inlet this spring, I’m wondering if that backup capacity is something I should install now.

[Lily73]

I added a second bilge pump last fall after a rainstorm scare. The factory unit kept up during normal rain, but when we took on spray in a choppy inlet it was getting close. I ran a quick test after the season and with both pumps running the bilge dropped to a safe level in about five minutes. It’s a pain to wire, but peace of mind matters on weekend trips.

[ZacharyH]

If the first one kept up reliably, a second might be overkill. It costs money, adds another thing that can fail, and it will draw more battery when you’re running on the hook. I left the spare in the box last season, then weighed it again when spray in chop was back on the radar. In the end I decided to save the money for now and fix any real drainage gaps instead.

[Olivia.B]

I tried to retrofit a second unit once, wiring got messy and I bailed before finishing. I did look at a quick field test and found the stock one emptied a shallow bilge fast enough on calm days, but in a rough inlet you could feel it struggle. I never did the full install, not confident about the power draw and switches. part of me suspects I’m worrying about the wrong thing.

[BrandonPS]

Do you actually get water in the box or is it mostly spray hitting the water line? Maybe there’s a hatch or scupper issue, not a pump problem. One question I’d want answered before throwing money at it.