I just bought a 1996 17 ft Champion. This is my first boat and I have been super excited about fixing it up. Last thing it needs is an overhaul of the bilge equipment to get everything running as it should. Forgive me if I am wrong about a few things. I have done a fair amount of research but it is still my first boat.
Upon removing the fuel tank, I have what looks to be a broken bilge pump (replacing with one i already bought), and a broken livewell pump. I plan on using the hots and nuetrals that are already running to these pumps to wire in the new ones. However, I have a few questions. I want to wire these to my own switch panel which I plan on doing by taking the brown wires at the console out of the stock switch panel and placing them on my new panel.
1) Does this model have a float switch for the bilge pump? (this is the single console with divided live wells in the back) How does it wire into the bilge and how can I make sure its connected/working? It looks like a past owner has messed with wiring in the past. Worst case, can I just use the brown wire I have at the dash and wire it into a rocker switch on my panel and have it just function manually?
2) Behind the fuel tank and hatch, there is a wire group labeled "hydra air" that is just sitting there. Is equipment missing here? I dont see a way for a bubbler to connect to the back of the wells even if I bought one. It has a brown/White wire but i dont see this wire at the dash. Not sure where it runs to. Worst case, I plan on just buying a battery bubbler to use when I am on the trailer/going to weigh in (bad idea?) It looks like maybe the boat came equipped for the addition of the hydra air and just didnt come with one.
3) The livewell pump was initially on a three way switch with "Auto" and "manual"-- neither of which were working. How does the auto work? Is there a timer somewhere? If so, would anyone know how it wires in/where I can find it? Would I just be able to connect my new livewell pump to the brown hot wire in the bilge and connect it to my new switch panel at the dash and have it work manually? That way I can just manually refresh water every so often by turning on the fill and having the overflow leave through the livewell overflow? Or, since its only an on/off switch will it automatically turn on to either manual or auto. I am fine with it working manually I just dont know if there is a timer somewhere along the way that it connects to.
4) Also, where do all of these nuetrals ground to? Somewhere on the engine? At the dash?
I basically just want to clean this whole situation up down here and wanted some insight on the best way to do it. This boat is old and wasnt the most taken care of. I just want all my accessories working and on a switch panel that i can assure is working. Please forgive how dirty the bilge area is in the photos. I plan on giving it a good wash this week.
Any help is very much appreciated. This boat has already seen a huge transformation and its been very exciting. Been wanting my first boat since highschool and finally got it done a year out of college, even though it needs some work. Fixing this thing up has been a blast so far.