396 Foward Bildge pump Location

[paulr]

Unbelievable stupidity.
I have searched around my 2001 396 Carver several times try to find the forward bildge pump. With the the help of a friend who owns a 2004 396 I have finally found it. The trouble was the previous owner had a new hardwood floor installed over the galley floor which totally hid the the access hole to the pump. I removed the floor and tested the pump on manual and it worked fine but the float switch needed to be replaced.
Now I will replace the floor and cut in a new access plate.
Can any tell me where I may be able to buy a similar access plate frame to install in the floor so I may have easy way to maintain this pump?
Thank you for any help

[tgebler]

I have a 2000 396 and am curious how you removed or plan to remove the float switch? It is a long way down with a very small access. Unfortunately, I can not offer any suggestions about a replacement for the access plate.

[bud37]

Yup sounds about right, that is why we always recommend searching a new boat high and low with a really bright light and mirrors to check for bilge access and mechanicals. Good you found it, those bilge pumps can help to keep a boat afloat for a short while to allow other measures. Same thing on a boat we had years back.

As for the trim bits, just google marine flooring hatch trim and there are just many profiles to choose from and some guides as to how and maybe no trim just a smooth edge with a hatch grab.

[paulr]

Look at your float switch very carefully and see if its the type where the flipper can be unsnapped just as the ones that are used in the shower sumps. To view it take a picture with a selfie stick.

[km1125]

QR_BBPOST I have a 2000 396 and am curious how you removed or plan to remove the float switch? It is a long way down with a very small access. Unfortunately, I can not offer any suggestions about a replacement for the access plate.

Not sure about the exact configuration here, but in difficult-to-access places you might consider mounting the float switch and even the pump to a board that's tall enough to be easily reached though the hatch and fasten it closer to the top to the boat somehow. That doesn't solve getting in there initially to get at the pump and/or switch though, only to make future maintenance easier.

[KyleR]

Can any tell me where I may be able to buy a similar access plate frame to install in the floor so I may have easy way to maintain this pump?

Can you post a pic of what you have now? I'm not sure what you mean by "access plate frame". On my 396 the original flooring just had a hatch cut out of the floor that covers the hole and overlaps the edge of the fiberglass under the flooring, so there's no real "frame" to speak of.

On a side note, while my galley hatch was visible/accessible, I found THREE hatches in the V-berth that a previous owner had carpeted over! One gave us a ton of storage space and another provided additional access to the forward bilge pump and forward sump! The third was small and wasn't very useful for anything so I floored over it, but didn't glue the floor down, just in case.