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Bilge pump running when at slip, worried about it draining battery and why?

Posted: Sat May 09, 2026 1:38 pm
by FoolAndHisMoney
I have a Cobalt CS23 Surf.

It's brand new and I tied it off on my slip Thursday and when I came back Saturday the bilge pump had been running quite a bit.

When I checked the center hull storage where the central ballast tank is at there was a fair amount of water there.

The ballast tanks were emptied when I docked so it wasn't that it was leaking from a full ballast.


It must have been running rather regularly as the whole side of the boat was covered in spray from it bouncing off the dock.


How often should the bilge pump run if a boat is sitting idle in still zero wake water?

I don't understand how was taking on water at all.

Re: Bilge pump running when at slip, worried about it draining battery and why?

Posted: Sun May 10, 2026 4:59 pm
by NautiGirl
I'd be worried too. We have left our boat in the water for weeks at a time and I dont think the bilge ran at all over those 7 days.

I would figure out where it is leaking from...and quickly as your correct the pump will be draining the battery.

Re: Bilge pump running when at slip, worried about it draining battery and why?

Posted: Mon May 11, 2026 8:18 am
by Norris_Boating
That definitely sounds like a big problem.
You said it is brand new? I would have the dealer looking at it today. Run the engine for awhile to recharge the battery, or pull it out of the water if possible.

Re: Bilge pump running when at slip, worried about it draining battery and why?

Posted: Tue May 12, 2026 9:34 am
by AsLan7
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So glad you found us foahm...

Like the others mentioned above, this is abnormal. A thru hull fitting or (more likely) an outdrive seal may be leaking. I would have this checked sooner rather than later. What year is your CS23?

Any pics?

And welcome aboard mate.

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