6"+ water in the bilge/engine compartment?

[meegwell]

This is related to another thread I started recently and a common question of when should the bilge go on: How does a large amount of water get in the engine compartment in a day of rain? Uncovered, wet slip. In doing all this bilge research (haven't solved the orginal question of it not working when key is off - batteries on but I have things to check there) there are many related thread and it caused another question to come to mind.

I had about 6" of water in the engine compartment, maybe more. If all the deck rain drains through the scupper, how did so much water get in the engine compartment? I turned the key on and the bilge immediately came on and drained it all (took a bit of time). I hope to solve the issue of bilge not coming on without key on but now I am just curious how the hell so much water gets into the engine compartment? Wondering if there is something else I should be checking.

Thanks all, been a learning experience and this issue I need to get straight.

 

[fatboyroy]

if you have access to a trailer, put it on one and dump some water on each scupper, check if any is leaking. then go to anchor locker and so on.

 

[meegwell]

if you have access to a trailer, put it on one and dump some water on each scupper, check if any is leaking. then go to anchor locker and so on.

Wouldn't be doable to trailer it unless absolutely necessary. I was thinking I will use the dock hose and just do some trial and error spraying around and see where is comes in. I need to do a similar process as I test the bilge with key off issue. Not sure if I'll discover anything but...

 

[fatboyroy]

Wouldn't be doable to trailer it unless absolutely necessary. I was thinking I will use the dock hose and just do some trial and error spraying around and see where is comes in. I need to do a similar process as I test the bilge with key off issue. Not sure if I'll discover anything but...

that works too. I am leaning toward scupper hose since 6" of water is a lot if you have anchor locker leak or any close compartment that would leak slowly.

 

[Matt Phillips]

Hard to check, but also look at the through-hull for your ballast bags. On my 2017, the flange for it sits right on one of the bunks and that's a lot of pressure on that flange. to alleviate this problem, when the boat was off the trailer, I removed the felt and sanded the bunk down in that area.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

What I have seen in the older boats is that rain water enters the bilge through the seats and floor locker drain.

You really should install a second bilge pump and wire it direct to the battery for long storage and an emergency backup. Install a bilge alarm while you are at it so you can be alerted instantly of high water due to a cooling/exhaust hose leak.

 

[meegwell]

Hard to check, but also look at the through-hull for your ballast bags. On my 2017, the flange for it sits right on one of the bunks and that's a lot of pressure on that flange. to alleviate this problem, when the boat was off the trailer, I removed the felt and sanded the bunk down in that area.

I've read about this issue and recall seeing it when I bought the boat and wondering why some sort of throughput was on the bunk. I like the sanding idea!

Since my issue is related to rainfall only (have no other leaking/water buildup issues) and only when the bilge is off (for me, any time the key is off) I assume it wouldn't apply here?