Rain water in the mysterious shower bilge

[Scott F. Murphy]

Not being a live aboard, in two years of ownership I have never been aboard "Some Day" ('79 Cherubini 33') during a heavy rain. Lately I've been finding the shower full of water after a heavy rain. I've tried the hose and inspected under the sink and in the cockpit locker but have not found any leaks. I filled the main bilge and ran its pump to check for leaks from the discharge. Nothing.Where else could it be coming from?Tomorrow its supposed to rain hard so I'll just have to spend the day below and see what I can find.Does anyone have any other suggestions. Scott

 

[Scott F. Murphy]

Not being a live aboard, in two years of ownership I have never been aboard "Some Day" ('79 Cherubini 33') during a heavy rain. Lately I've been finding the shower full of water after a heavy rain. I've tried the hose and inspected under the sink and in the cockpit locker but have not found any leaks. I filled the main bilge and ran its pump to check for leaks from the discharge. Nothing.Where else could it be coming from?Tomorrow its supposed to rain hard so I'll just have to spend the day below and see what I can find.Does anyone have any other suggestions. Scott

 

[Paul F]

vent overhead?

Scott, by relaxing on the boat during a heavy rain you will likely find the leak. I have plugged the drain from the head to the sump and do not get any water in the sump at all. If you have an overhead vent as my boat does, rain might come in though there and drain into the sump. Good luck. Let us know what you find.

 

[Paul F]

vent overhead?

Scott, by relaxing on the boat during a heavy rain you will likely find the leak. I have plugged the drain from the head to the sump and do not get any water in the sump at all. If you have an overhead vent as my boat does, rain might come in though there and drain into the sump. Good luck. Let us know what you find.

 

[Jeff5245]

I experienced water in the shower bilge

on a couple of occassions when there was VERY heavy rain blowing in from thestern. The rain was coming in through the companion way, filling the bilge underthe engine, then filling the shower bilge. Since the shower pan drains into theshower bilge, possibly the bilge was so full that it backed up into the shower.my pump in the shower bilge is run from a pull switch on the wall of the head,rather than from an automatic switch. The only other times I have had water inthe shower pan was when the valve on the commode was left in the open position,and the stopcock was left opened. The commode simply filled up and overflowed.You might check the water lines running to the sink in the head for leaks as well as the drain from the sink to the thruhull.good luck,Jeff

 

[Jeff5245]

I experienced water in the shower bilge

on a couple of occassions when there was VERY heavy rain blowing in from thestern. The rain was coming in through the companion way, filling the bilge underthe engine, then filling the shower bilge. Since the shower pan drains into theshower bilge, possibly the bilge was so full that it backed up into the shower.my pump in the shower bilge is run from a pull switch on the wall of the head,rather than from an automatic switch. The only other times I have had water inthe shower pan was when the valve on the commode was left in the open position,and the stopcock was left opened. The commode simply filled up and overflowed.You might check the water lines running to the sink in the head for leaks as well as the drain from the sink to the thruhull.good luck,Jeff

 

[Ernie]

I agree with Jeff and Paul, and..

I agree with Jeff and Paul's explanations, but also add one more from my experience. I tend to leave the port in the head open when I leave the boat (for ventilation). Of course this is only when dry weather is forecast. However, there are times when I've left it open and the weather turns bad, and I too have found the shower pan with a bit of rainwater in it.

 

[Ernie]

I agree with Jeff and Paul, and..

I agree with Jeff and Paul's explanations, but also add one more from my experience. I tend to leave the port in the head open when I leave the boat (for ventilation). Of course this is only when dry weather is forecast. However, there are times when I've left it open and the weather turns bad, and I too have found the shower pan with a bit of rainwater in it.

 

[Scott F. Murphy]

The mystery continues...

Work kept me from getting to the boat until an hour after 2 inches of rain had stopped. Again as expected the shower floor was almost completely covered. I had pumped it dry before leaving the boat Sunday.I again inspected under the sink, and in the cockpit locker. I checked the toe rail bolts and all hoses. The bilge under the engine was dry, not even any drips at the stuffing box. The vent has a dorad box and is under the bimini and the port was dogged down, checked with hose. The marine head and all hoses and holding tank were removed by a previous owner.Before leaving the boat I stretched a towel from under the port the the opposite wall and plugged the shower drain. At least the plug should tell me which side of the floor the water is coming from.Jeff's suggestion that there is an opening to the main bilge at the engine deserves some investigation.I guess the next step would be to pull the batteries and battery box and see if opening is open. I was beginning to think the shower sump is a tank only open to the shower floor and at the pump exhaust line.How would you change the sump pump if it dies?Thanks for all the replies.I'll report again after the next rain.Scott

 

[Scott F. Murphy]

The mystery continues...

Work kept me from getting to the boat until an hour after 2 inches of rain had stopped. Again as expected the shower floor was almost completely covered. I had pumped it dry before leaving the boat Sunday.I again inspected under the sink, and in the cockpit locker. I checked the toe rail bolts and all hoses. The bilge under the engine was dry, not even any drips at the stuffing box. The vent has a dorad box and is under the bimini and the port was dogged down, checked with hose. The marine head and all hoses and holding tank were removed by a previous owner.Before leaving the boat I stretched a towel from under the port the the opposite wall and plugged the shower drain. At least the plug should tell me which side of the floor the water is coming from.Jeff's suggestion that there is an opening to the main bilge at the engine deserves some investigation.I guess the next step would be to pull the batteries and battery box and see if opening is open. I was beginning to think the shower sump is a tank only open to the shower floor and at the pump exhaust line.How would you change the sump pump if it dies?Thanks for all the replies.I'll report again after the next rain.Scott