Bow Drain

[nsteffens]

Yeah, that didn't even occur to me that water could come through the hull to deck seal. Most boats have the rub rail in the back way above water, but the SAN doesn't (one reason why I bought to boat because I love the look of the back). Just didn't realize that when the platform is under the water that water could drip in. Filled all ballast this weekend with the platform under the water and found no leaks. Yay! Checked the rudder and all the through hull components that I could access and still not water leaking in. It looks like my original guess still stands, it must be shaft seal.

My problem still exists whether it would be from rain, some seal or water over the bow. If I'm getting water in the boat from somewhere, and all bilge pumps are working correctly, why am I still getting water on the bow carpet from the bilge? They only thing I can think of is the bilge runs from the back of the boat to the front of the boat with the drain going directly into the bilge. When I'm trailering, that water then loads to the front and comes up the bow drain. Seems like I have to have the boat at an extreme angle to drain all the water out of the bilge.

I might try to investigate on a one way drain of some sort to prevent water coming up through the bow drain. I understand that the whole point is to limit the water coming into the bilge, but that might not always be possible. I would love to have a dry bilge all the time. but even better, I would love to not have a soaked carpet when done boating.

[brananders]

Can someone explain to me how the forward bilge pump works? I see the rear pump is connected to a tube that drains from a hole in the starboard side of the boat. The diagram in the owner's manual says the front pump should drain through the same hole, but there is only one hose running to that hole and it connects to the rear pump. I just parked my boat on a downhill angle with the bow facing down the hole and I ran a hose into the bilge. The water collected at the bottom of the ski locker but was not pumped out. I then parked on a hill with the bow facing uphill. The water drained to the rear pump and was pumped out, although there is still a couple of inches left that I will have to shop vac out.

Does this make sense?

[nsteffens]

When I hear the front pump come on, it passes water out the driver side toward the front.

brananders, I have the same issue, pump doesn't get out all the water and I have to park uphill to get most of it to drain.

[brananders]

Thanks, after taking a further look and pulling off the floor access panel I see that the front bilge is attached to a tube that runs to a drain on the front. I can hear the pump come on, but I don't think its working. When I ran the test by filling up the bilge and parking on a hill with bow down, nothing came out and I had 5 or so inches of water pooled in the ski locker but nothing was happening.

It looks like the only way to access the pump on the 210 is by removing the fuel tanks. Way too big of a job for me. Any suggestions?

[nsteffens]

brananders, when the bow is facing downhill, is all the water in the front of the ski locker? Do you have the plug in the ski locker? I've noticed that when the bow is facing downhill there is some water in the skil locker, without the plug in, and there is very little where the front pump sits. However, I can park the boat uphill and water runs out of the bilge even when the ski locker has no water.

[brananders]

In the test I did with the boat is facing downhill, the water pooled up at the rear of the ski locker around the belly ballast tanks. I would've thought that the front bilge pump would begin to pump it out as I poured quite a bit of water in there, but no water was pumped out. Maybe the water was too far in front of the pump, next time I'll try the same test on flat ground to see if I can get the front pump to work.

I also can have water moving to the rear bilge and pumping out when there is not water in the ski locker. I still haven't really figured out how the front bow compartment keeps getting soaked.

[nsteffens]

Took a look at the shaft and very little water was entering in. Noticed that the port ballast gauge was droping throughout the day when I had the valves closed. After I pulled the boat out and put it back in the garage, I heard some dripping coming from the back of the port side ballast tank. My guess is that water is leaking from the ballast tank and getting into the bilge and that is why I have so much water in the bilge.

Now, my questing is, what is the best way to find out where that leak is coming from? Do I have to remove the whole ballast tank or can I just move a few things around and check for leaks?

[slob02]

ALSO.........make sure it isn't leaking around the front bow hook. The one where you hook the trailer strap. I have seen a lot of boats leak in there in the past.

[johnboyy7]

I would also like to chime that I have the same problem with water in the now after the ride home. Now I pull stern plug after pulling boat out and drain all water out on the ramp. My front bilge does not pump all water out. Have noticed that my boat sits on the trailer with a bit of forward pitch. I'm prolly just gonna plug the drain.

[nsteffens]

yep, it seems that draining the water out of the plug is the only solution for now. I will probably be plugging the drain also.

[brananders]

I re tested my boat and the front bilge pump works fine, I had the boat on too steep of a downhill angle so the water was pooling in front of the bilge pump. So I'm still not sure why I'm getting what I think is too much water in the bilge and why the front bow area is always wet?

I guess plugging the drain is the easiest fix.

[johnboyy7]

I'm gonna try a thin piece of rubber under the drain guard and see if it being screwed down will be enough to seal it off. Let let y'all know how it comes out.

[nsteffens]

Pulled the ballast tank this evening (wow what a job). Brought it home and tested with water and a steady stream was flowing between the drain pump and the ballast tank connection. Appears to be a bad seal. I will be resealing it tomorrow and installing the ballast tank next week. Hopefully this will keep the bilge a little dryer!

[nsteffens]

will normail teflon tape work to seal the connection or should I try to use something else?

[grouper]

ballast tank

Hey....was just wondering, what kind of pump is the drain pump on the ballast tank & where does it go to?