[1991 26 command aka 28 Sedan] Bilge logistics

[Phrancus]

So here I was: the boat smells like Diesel and I got to the conclusion that fuel was spilled along the fuel tank.

So I thought up all kinds of really smart ways to clean it all under there.

And then I found out that up forward, under the 'bed' there's trouble: water has been seeping through a badly positioned wire-through hole in the anchor locker, along the bow center, under the carpets towards the area above the bow thruster. Result: rotten floor and a foul smell.

Removed the soft parts of the floor and found that the bilge around the fwd thruster has a small hole towards the area under the fuel tank

This leads me te believe (well... hope) that there IS a hole for liquid to flow from front to back to the engine room's bilge. Is this a reasonable conclusion?


What I will do:

remove the water tank (it's in the way of any holes (for fuel lines and power cables) between living area and engine room), Perhaps remove completely and mount a flexible 120 litres water 'tank) up front. That should reveal what is and what is not available as 'route' for bilge water from the front to the back. Anyone know what to expect?

And I will devise an air ventilation that sucks air from the fuel tank area into the bilge (diesel, no vapor risks), with a small 0,something mA fan to minimse any smell buildup in the living area. The boat is on shore power or engines running most of the time anyway so battery power loss is no big issue, I will however, add a battery saver (shut off below 11,xx V).