Rain in my bilge? wha...?

[gpp7824]

Ok I know there have been a lot of discussion about the bilges and compartments...
But here is my point of serious confusion. I've always had my boat on a shelf in dry dock storage (forklift retrieval). But I brought it home this past weekend to install my new SeaDek mats!

Naturally it starts to rain after I get the floors scrubbed, dried, and acetone cleaned...

When the rain stopped for a bit I went out and tapped the bilge on and was shocked how much water was coming out! We got about 1.5" of rain last night and I realize that the cupholders all drain into interior spaces (ridiculous...) but I thought all of the interior decking drained directly out of the scupper?

How is this water getting into the bilge area? Thinking it was a ton of rain getting in via the seat cushions, i grabbed a water hose and laid it on the deck and let it run for 5 min. Plenty of water running out of the scupper, but sure enough flipped on the bilge and it had a lot as well. ???

Does anyone here store their boat uncovered in the rain? If so, will the engine eventually get in the water as it continues to fill? I see uncovered boats parked at storage units all the time, surely the rain they get doesnt just sit in the bilge...

Help me finally understand where the water is flowing on the interior of these boats...

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Not sure about the 2016's but my era of boat lets water drain into the bilge via the ski locker door and fuel access door.

 

[Ancient canoe]

I would guess a lot of that rainfall falling on the interior deck is likely going into the ski locker which drains into the bilge.

 

[bronze_10]

Mine gets water in the bilge when it is in the driveway even with the cover on... although no where near as much as when it is uncovered. I leave the drain plug out and place it in he table holder on the swim platform along with he wrench as a visual clue to put it back in. I leave it out so whatever gets in will drain out.

 

[Mainah]

The scupper inlet is under the engine hatch handle at deck height. Cupholders and the ski locker will drain into the bilge. Keeping the garboard plug open and the boat level or slightly tipped back when trailered will let the bilge drain effeciently.

The seats and interior cabin walls also make up a large surface area that does not all make it to the deck (most should with the design) so some rain may end up in the storage compartments along with the cupholders and from there the bilge if it rains enough.

Best fix for rain is a mooring cover. Next best is a direct wire automatic float bilge pump. I added this type as an independent second bilge system so I can shut the batteries off even when tye boat is docked in the water as the direct wire bypasses the battery switch.

If the boat is level a very signifcant amount of water would have to collect before reaching the engines as the opening to the bilge extends all the way from stern to bow below deck. My guess would be at least 20 gallons if not 50.

 

[Matt Phillips]

on my boat the swim platform hatch drains into the bilge...so any water falling in that area would be in there.

I too use a bypass switch and then connect a solar charger to my tower to maintain the battery. It's worked flawlessly for five seasons now. I also use the storage/towing cover and it keeps the boat dry.

 

[Julian]

Boat out of the water....drain plug should be out (unless stored inside).

@Murf'n'surf my 2005 ski locker lip and gas door lip both drain outside the hull. but you do need to make sure they aren't clogged.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Boat out of the water....drain plug should be out (unless stored inside).

@Murf'n'surf my 2005 ski locker lip and gas door lip both drain outside the hull. but you do need to make sure they aren't clogged.

The drain works until the flow is too great, then it runs straight into the locker/bilge.

 

[gpp7824]

Is this list correct...? Front-to-back.

• Bow anchor locker: Drain to ski locker
• Bow and cockpit cupholders: Drain to under-seat compartments
• Under-Seat compartments: Drain to bilge
• Ski locker: Drain to bilge (when plug is open)
• Gas tank locker: Drain to bilge (when plug is open)
• Cockpit floor: Drain to scupper
• Engine compartment (this is part of bilge?): Drain via bilge pump
• Swim platform locker: Drain to stern via small dedicated hose
• Swim platform cupholders: Drain inside swim platform
• Inside swim platform: (this is part of bilge?): Drain via bilge pump
• Bilge space: Drain via bilge pump... (what about the stern drain plugs?)

This leaves me with the stern drain plugs... if both of mine are open, why do i still collect water in bilge that gets pumped by bilge pump?
Where do the drain plugs connect? What spaces are actually PART OF the bilge?

 

[Hannibal]

The day we brought our new FSH home, it started raining and rained for a week. When I raised the leaning post to check the next weekend, I couldn't believe how much water was in the bilge. I turned the pump on and it ran for a long time to pump it out. With the cover on, I think the only water that gets in is when my bride washes the cockpit while I wash the hull and trailer. I drain that water at the ramp.

 

[seadude]

These boats sit bow low and don't drain well via the scupper unless the the bow is raised, either on the trailer or a cradle or underway.
If mine sat in the slip and the solar trickle charger couldn't keep up with the bilge pump draw, given enough rain I have no doubt it would eventually sink!