Hobie bait tank priming issue

[Mr. NiceGuy]

- Is the scoop of your intake tube facing forward?

- Once I inadvertently crimped my intake tube by shifting the position of the tank when I synched it down.

- I typically inspected the bottom of my tank and removed any visible seaweed blocking the impeller after each outing. I thought this was enough. My pump was getting slow so I disassembled the pump to discover lots of other debris on the inside that was not particularly visible without taking the pump apart. Taking the pump out of the tank and twisting it apart for a thorough cleaning made a significant difference. The cheesy plastic nut that holds the pump into the Hobie tank strips easily so don't overtighten. Replacement nuts are available for a $$$ price, of course. Hobie does an excellent job making things just perfectly weak enough so that when it breaks it's our fault, not theirs.

- Your pump speed depends on battery voltage. Check to see if you are getting a full charge. Bait tank pump speed is based on 6v rather than a 12v battery we use for our FF and/or other things. These batteries can crap out pretty easily with non-use, overcharging, etc. They are semi-consumable so we are encouraged to replace them as "normal maintenance" ... not particularly designed to be commercial quality or long lasting.

- Lastly, make sure your drain plug on the side is in place so the water gets up to the top of the overflow tube.

That's all I can think of for now. It's a pretty simple system. Learning to take my pump apart after every trip is what made the difference for me. Yes, it's not a strong pump. To flow freely, it must be clean. Any small threads of sea grass wrapped around the axle can slow it down.