Water Witch Bilge Switch Reviews?

[Patrick_DeepPlaya]

Anyone have any first hand experiences with the Water Witch (Anything Bilge- Bilge Switch, High Water, Float Switch Replacements) electronic bulge switches? A search here and on SSCA turn up no hits which makes me wonder how they are even in business, but they seem like a great design.

Thanks for the reviews.

[AnchorageGuy]

Patrick, I can tell you that I have replaced a bunch of them. They came in on the brand new boats at a dealership I worked for and they usually went bad before we sold the boats. They either did not work or they usually stuck open and the pumps burnt out. We replaced them with float switches in every case. Some of these new boats were million dollar plus. I personally will not use them.

[landonshaw]

If not the Water witch, what did you replace it with? I am in the process of putting automatic sensors on my boat.

[knottybuoyz]

I installed a Water Witch model 101 last year. It works as advertised. As to reliability I can't say just yet. I'll test it this weekend to see if it's still working. It was an easy install. I had more problems with junk jamming up a float switch that's why I changed it out.

[Cheechako]

The Junior and Senior switches (forget the whole name... a float switch in a clear plastic tube) are great.

[jlogan]

I've used the Ultima switch, works like the water witch in that it senses water level through a change in the electric field when water contacts the outside case of the switch. So far, has worked fine. It lives deep in a bilge of a 1979 gulfstar, also had problems with a normal float switch, which is why I switched. Its been in the bilge for two years, and held up to bilge cleaner, a normal leaking Perkins, and any other abuse that happens in an old boat.

[GordMay]

I‘ve NEVER had a problem with any of the Ultra PumpSwitches (installed dozens).

Ultra PumpSwitches:
➥ TEF-GEL - Ultra safety systems - Home page

by Ultra Safety Systems, Inc TEF-GEL - Ultra safety systems - Home page
3755 Fiscal Ct, Ste B, Riviera Beach, FL, 33418, USA,
Tel: 407-845-1086 ~ Fax: 407-844-8566 ~ Toll Free 1-800-433-2628
Email: rolandorortega@yahoo.com

I can also recommend the Water Witch Model 230 (20 Amp).
➥ Anything Bilge- Bilge Switch, High Water, Float Switch Replacements

I’ve no experience with their 10 Amp Model 217, nor their budget version Model 101 (5 year vs 7 year warranty).

I’ve no experience with the Johnson Ultima Float Switch:
➥ Johnson Pump

[Strygaldwir]

I installed the water witch switch. It lasted about a month. I have yet to find a suitable replacement. I think I'll take Gord up on his recommendation.

[Strygaldwir]

Holy, moly!!!! Those are expensive switches!!! It gets a little tougher when you want to replace 4 of them. I think I'll replace as the current switches go bad.

[Strygaldwir]

As I think the issue I had with the water witch through, I may have given the thing a dis-service. I say it failed becaue it did not turn on my bilge pump when it was sitting under a foot of water. I then took the thing out and discarded it. I had bought one because I was having such difficulty with the Rule float switches laster for more than a year. Well, As I think about it, it was not salt water I had in my bilge it was caused by a blown hot water line. That line contain very clean, fresh, RO water. It may be that there was no dielectric solution for it to sense. In anycase, since I have on three occassions now had fittings or lines fail in my fresh water system, and 100 or so gallons of water in the engine space or bilge while not boat threatening, is certainly one of the conditions I'd like the automatic bilge pumps to handle. Besides has turned all my copper counterpoise gree.

[winterbuoy]

Just installed a 20 amp model in my boat. Filled up bilge with fresh water 4 times and she worked perfect. Now I am away for a month so if I get home and boat is sunk then I guess it's crap, not that it would anyway . I'll give you my report on or about June 15th. So far, I really like this unit but it's too new to tell yet.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Strygaldwir

As I think the issue I had with the water witch through, I may have given the thing a dis-service. I say it failed becaue it did not turn on my bilge pump when it was sitting under a foot of water...
... As I think about it, it was not salt water I had in my bilge it was caused by a blown hot water line. That line contain very clean, fresh, RO water. It may be that there was no dielectric solution for it to sense ...

Exactly right !
Any fouling (oil slick) on the sensor surface will also disable this type of switch.

[Strygaldwir]

Yes, the protected floats seem to be the best solution. Thanks again Gord! (Sigh, its a boat, every thing just cost more.... sigh....)

[Captjim]

Well, I see this is a old topic. I am in the 2013 era and until just recently, my water witch stop working, or so I thought. It was corroded wires from both switch and pump. I have had this switch for 20 years in a 10" deep Bilge. This is a 37' Racer/Cruiser. Don't believe every thing you hear from some, berating is easier than fixing!!

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Captjim

Well, I see this is a old topic. I am in the 2013 era and until just recently, my water witch stop working, or so I thought. It was corroded wires from both switch and pump. I have had this switch for 20 years in a 10" deep Bilge. This is a 37' Racer/Cruiser. Don't believe every thing you hear from some, berating is easier than fixing!!

I can't tell you how reliable the WaterWitch is yet because I'm still waiting for it to fail. It's 19 years now.