The next compartment – under the engine & an extension of the engine compartment- contains the secondary bilge pump. It is located at the bottom of the cavity formed by the keel. Getting to it around the shaft will test the working range of your joints. The pump & float switch are mounted on a loose plywood base – to allow retrieval from the pit for repair & maintenance. Be sure that the pump is wired so that it is always "on" with the battery switches "off". Some boats have it miswired, so this precaution s not as strange as it sounds. Of course there is a panel switch so that one can turn the pump on manually.