Since bilge pumps need to also work when nobody’s around to activate them, they are fitted with something called a bilge pump float switch. A float switch is essentially a device that is affixed to the bottom of the bilge along with the main pump and cuts and feeds electrical power to the pump. One section of the float switch, often called the shoe because of its shape, is designed to float up as the water level rises inside the bilge. When this portion of the switch floats up it closes an electrical circuit inside the switch that then powers up the pump. The bilge pump will continue pumping water out of the vessel until the level is low enough that the float switch drops and disconnects the electrical current. As you can imagine, in boats that are left in the water unattended for long periods of time, a float switch is as important as the pump itself. Keep in mind that there are some pumps on the market that are designed as automatic pumps. These pumps don’t need to use an external float switch as they have an internal mechanism that switches them on in the presence of water. more