water in bow

[km1125]

That loose line is probably coming from your rode locker, which is under the forward berth. There is a drain in the bottom of that. Not sure why they didn't run that into the shower sump too, rather than just drain it into the bilge.

Check the hose fittings on the shower sump box. Is it the original equipment one? With that one they just used a plastic box for the shower sump and connected thru-hulls to it for the hoses. Some of them would leak after a while, especially the one at the bottom that the pump is connected to. Most of the water would get pumped out, but what little remained could drip into the bilge.

Also check the hoses on your bilge pump. Mine had developed a crack so when the bilge pump was running only some of the water actually got pumped out of the boat. The rest leaked through the crack in the hose and right back into the bilge.

[RWS]

Source of the post When your boat is on plane is the best time to hit the manual switch for that forward pump, as any water in there will run back to the pump. It may not be enough to trigger the float switch.

Could you have the shower sump overflowing?

On my 3607, the rode locker under the fwd berth drains into the bilge. Does yours really have an overboard drain? It could also drain into the shower sump (which is probably the perferred method), but on mine it goes directly to that forward bilge.

my rode locker has a drain into the the bilge, The anchor locker has a small hole at the bottom that goes out the side of the boat. Are the Anchor locker and rode locker connected in anyway that water from around my windlass getting into the rode locker could be getting in the bilge?

[RWS]

Source of the post When your boat is on plane is the best time to hit the manual switch for that forward pump, as any water in there will run back to the pump. It may not be enough to trigger the float switch.

Could you have the shower sump overflowing?

On my 3607, the rode locker under the fwd berth drains into the bilge. Does yours really have an overboard drain? It could also drain into the shower sump (which is probably the perferred method), but on mine it goes directly to that forward bilge.

Rode drains into bilge, anchor locker has a drain hole at the bottom that goes straight out the starboard side. Do the anchor locker and rode locker connect in anyway that water getting through my windlass could be getting in my bilge .

[km1125]

Source of the post

Source of the post When your boat is on plane is the best time to hit the manual switch for that forward pump, as any water in there will run back to the pump. It may not be enough to trigger the float switch.

Could you have the shower sump overflowing?

On my 3607, the rode locker under the fwd berth drains into the bilge. Does yours really have an overboard drain? It could also drain into the shower sump (which is probably the perferred method), but on mine it goes directly to that forward bilge.

my rode locker has a drain into the the bilge, The anchor locker has a small hole at the bottom that goes out the side of the boat. Are the Anchor locker and rode locker connected in anyway that water from around my windlass getting into the rode locker could be getting in the bilge?

On my 3607 the area (I think) you're referring to as the anchor locker was not finished and didn't have a drain out the side. Does that area have a liner in yours? On mine there was a passage at the bottom and a large hose (I think 2") that went down to the rode locker. If you look at the front part of the rode locker, is there any opening there?

[Superg]

HI There. Thought I would chime in. I have a 3207. The bow is sealed except for a small limber hole going into yet another sealed bilge compartment with the shower sump under the kitchen floor. I believe what you likely have is condensation. Same on my boat which freaked me out, too, when I first encountered it. It is worse this time of year (spring) when the water is frigid and humidity is increasing, especially when warm fronts come in (like yesterday in Michigan).

If you don't think there could possibly be that much condensation, think again. A dehumidifier collects a LOT of water quite quickly by simply moving air across a cold surface (coils). Your boat hull is acting like a VERY large coil. That is a LOT of surface area that is always chilled. It is essentially an electricity-free dehumidifier, but the bucket is also your boat.

Some suggestions for what you can do:
1. Improve ventilation. The sealed bow and under-kitchen compartment don't allow enough (any really) airflow to prevent condensation when that hull surface gets cold. You can add a permanent fan down there, put a temporary fan down there, or route an air duct down there. These will all help. Of course, you could open up the limber hole a bit more in the forward bulkhead to improve airflow between the two compartments, but you still end up with essentially a large, airflow-free compartment. So don't think that would will help much.

2. Buy a dry bilge system. https://www.seaflo.us/product/dry-bilge-system/. At this price you can put them all over your boat. Put one sponge in the bow and another in the compartment with a shower sump. Another one or two in the main bilge if you choose. I will be installing this system shortly and will post pics when done. I like a dry boat.

3. Fill the bow compartment with spray foam insulation. This not only improves flotation (which hopefully you would never need unless you go head-on into a rock), but it eliminates the air space -- so no condensation possible except in the compartment with the shower sump. You will want to do this with a fully dry bow so as not to trap any moisture in there between the insulation and the hull.

Best,
John