Bait tank pump constantly vapor locking when coming off of a plane if traveling over 25 knots. I have a 33 Express.

Different boat and no problems with air locking the pump.

What kind of pump and do you have a clamshell water pickup?

I'm using the Rule DR47 1100 GPH pump. I have had pumps damaged by the water pressure from the clamshell pickup. Alter a lengthy process and discussions with Rule the engineers told me to drill 3 x 3/8" holes in the back of the clamshell.


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Some boats specify that you should not run the pump when at speed. The water pressure from the scoop is more than enough to fill (and possible overflow) the bait tank
 
2007 330 don’t have that problem. Might want to check and see how the scoop looks on the bottom. I seem to remember mine has a slots facing forward and is closed on the aft end.
 
Hookup1 said:
Different boat and no problems with air locking the pump.

What kind of pump and do you have a clamshell water pickup?

I'm using the Rule DR47 1100 GPH pump. I have had pumps damaged by the water pressure from the clamshell pickup. Alter a lengthy process and discussions with Rule the engineers told me to drill 3 x 3/8" holes in the back of the clamshell.


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its a Shurflow
 
wspitler said:
2007 330 don’t have that problem. Might want to check and see how the scoop looks on the bottom. I seem to remember mine has a slots facing forward and is closed on the aft end.
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Thank you Bill. Mine has the same. I really need to find out what is causing this. Its very frustrating.
 
Have you checked the hose from the pump to the tank inlet to make sure you have a constant up-grade with no sags to hold a "water-plug" when the pump gets a little gulp of air.
 
seasick said:
Some boats specify that you should not run the pump when at speed. The water pressure from the scoop is more than enough to fill (and possible overflow) the bait tank
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That's an engineers answer not a practical one. Problem is the high pressure on the clamshell will push water into the pump past the cheap seal. After that the pump is toast. I have also has boat sitting on the bottom at night in the slip sucking sand up damaging the seal and even eroding the shaft (they snap the impeller off). This is specific to the Rule bait well pump which I have.

Apparently GW switched to Shurflo bait well pumps which I have no experience with.

Is this Shurflo pump a diagram or centrifugal pump? Model number would be helpful.
 
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2003 Express 330 - I have the factory bait tank and an additional tank on the rear deck. I run Rule 1100's and have had zero problems with vapor lock.
 
As Hookup1 already wrote:
The simplest way to maybe solve the air lock problem is to drill hole/son the transom end of the clam shell, or install a pickup what is open on the rear.
This allows excess pressure to escape and limit bubbely air pushed in the hose going to the live well pump.
Many did that and it solved the problem and it will not limit the work of the live well pump.
Chris
 
I have no issues with airlock on my 270. runs fine. rule 1100gph pump. also has forward clamshell .
 
Hookup1 said:
That's an engineers answer not a practical one.
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:p Can't help it. I am an electrical engineer!
Regardless, my previous Mako stated in the user manual that if you left the livewell fill valve open, under speed the tank can overflow

All that aside, I don't see how there would be an air lock unless the pump was pulling air. Either a leak in the scoop to pump plumbing or air under the scoop, maybe due to turbulence.
 
seasick said:
Regardless, my previous Mako stated in the user manual that if you left the livewell fill valve open, under speed the tank can overflow
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Many boats do that, the to bow open clamshell pushes the water in the system, my BW 23 Outrage did that and my Venture 34 also, but as far i remeber it was not stated in the user manual, but soaked stuff teached me that i rather move the valve to the washdown position.
I never us the live well on my Canyon and so the seacock is closed, but i would guess it would do the same too.
Chris
 
I'm not convinced that he has a ShurFlo bait well pump. Maybe a ShurFlo wash down. I have never talked to anyone that didn't have a factory Rule centrifugal bait well pump. And I have never heard of a centrifugal pump that airlocked - diaphragm pumps yes but centrifugal no. It's possible GW switched to different pumps in later model years.

The bigger GW's have a centrifugal bait well pump and a diaphragm wash down pump. No y-valve. I think the original post owner needs to take a closer look at his boat. Maybe even at the switch panel.
 
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Hookup1 said:
I'm not convinced that he has a ShurFlo bait well pump. Maybe a ShurFlo wash down. I have never talked to anyone that didn't have a factory Rule centrifugal bait well pump. And I have never heard of a centrifugal pump that airlocked - diaphragm pumps yes but centrifugal no. It's possible GW switched to different pumps in later model years.

The bigger GW's have a centrifugal bait well pump and a diaphragm wash down pump. No y-valve. I think the original post owner needs to take a closer look at his boat. Maybe even at the switch panel.
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Heres what I have. The pickup is mid ship and I believe whats happening is when im coming of a plane the pump is sucking up air bubble from the wash. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.
 

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Hookup1 said:
I'm not convinced that he has a ShurFlo bait well pump. Maybe a ShurFlo wash down. I have never talked to anyone that didn't have a factory Rule centrifugal bait well pump. And I have never heard of a centrifugal pump that airlocked - diaphragm pumps yes but centrifugal no. It's possible GW switched to different pumps in later model years.

The bigger GW's have a centrifugal bait well pump and a diaphragm wash down pump. No y-valve. I think the original post owner needs to take a closer look at his boat. Maybe even at the switch panel.
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Hookup1 said:
I'm not convinced that he has a ShurFlo bait well pump. Maybe a ShurFlo wash down. I have never talked to anyone that didn't have a factory Rule centrifugal bait well pump. And I have never heard of a centrifugal pump that airlocked - diaphragm pumps yes but centrifugal no. It's possible GW switched to different pumps in later model years.

The bigger GW's have a centrifugal bait well pump and a diaphragm wash down pump. No y-valve. I think the original post owner needs to take a closer look at his boat. Maybe even at the switch panel.
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Please see pic of bait pump. If there is another type out there please let me know. Someone mentioned a Jabsco but said they are noisy and draw more amps.
 

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How many clamshell pickups do you have under the boat. Most have two. This Pentair is a bait well pump (centrifugal). You probably have a ShurFlo for your wash down.

I don't have any experience with the Pentair Bait Sentry pump. Airlock problem may be unique to this pump.
 
Based on the last description of the plumbing and the suggestion that the problem may be due to 'wash', i think the problem is not an air lock exactly but rather a sucking air problem due to the more forward placement of the water pickup. I wouldn't be surprise if when at speed that area is out of the water. The way to check is when the problem occurs, trim way down the bow using the tabs or the motor trim and see if the bail well pumps starts pumping water
 
On the 330 the intake scoop for the bait well is never out of the water under normal sea conditions. In fact, if you leave the seacock open at higher speeds, the bait well will fill with water due to the pressure resulting from the scoop with the pump off.
 
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