Forward Bilge in 228G Seafarer

[Peahead]

Got my 2000 228G delivered in May 2012. Throughout the first part this season I would always be checking things and noticed my fwd bilge was always dry. As the season past like a blink of an eye I only now am doing more looking around and notice about an inch of water in the fwd bilge ( just low enough that pump float switch likely wouldn't come on. Upon a taste test I found the water to be saltwater. At first I was a bit concerned as to how it got there as you can understand especially when I could have sworn the anchor rode had a overboard drain.

Well I noticed the 228 Anchor/rode compartment has no overboard drainage tha I can find so anchor rode must drain into fwd bilge, correct ??
Does this sound normal to you that an inch of water could bild up in the fwd bilge from just anchor rode rope draining ? I have no idea of the size the fwd bilge area so a bit unsure how much water is there. I recalled not using the anchor until late summer and then I used it 3-4 trips in the summer and fall.

 

[ctewks34]

My older Seafarer had a problem with cracked plastic thru-hulls that leaked sea water into the bilge... maybe your problem.

 

[wrxhoon]

The FWD bilge connects with the rear bilge all under the fuel tank.

Every time I use my boat I hose the anchor well so fresh water runs all the way to the rear bilge. After she is rinsed I put the plug in so the water pools the rear bilge pump will then go on I block that so the water pools to the front until the front bilge pump goes on.
This is a way to rinse my pumps (you don't want salt water in the bilge on a trailer boat) and check that they are working.

 

[Peahead]

Note my Grady is presently moored in a saltwater marina.

Thanks ctewks34, I have checked all the thru hulls via inspection access plates and the above water line ones are all dry and watertight - the only below water thru hulls ( under the stern portion of the hull ) for raw water intake and live well intake are of course coming through into the stern bilge area and both have no visible leaking and are seacock fitted. Even if those particular 2 thru hulls, the hoses attached or the seacoccks did leak they are in the lowest part of bilge (which sits probably 2 feet lower than fwd bilge does) so I can't see that water ever gravitating to the fwd bilge unless the aft bilge was flooded up to the battery compartment and the bow was in a down position) The 2000 228G has bronze thru hulls and I think plastic thru hulls were only on pre-98 on the seafarer.

wrxhoon thanks for the info - wasn't even sure the fwd bilge ran to aft to be honest. Ok so if I had my bow in a up position while on the hard , the water would run back to stern- ok get that . If I am at moorage though, and there is 1" of saltwater in my fwd bilge I should be able to run fresh water in there from a hose and either it will run back to the aft bilge or the fwd bilge will pump it out. Ok that seems ok ...... but the question of where the saltwater came from is still uncertain to me. Could I expect the anchor rode to drain and accumulate 1" of sea water water into the fwd bilge and not run back to stern bilge when the boat is sitting level in the moorage?

Anyone noticed sea water in your fwd bilge of your 228 while sitting level at moorage ?

 

[wrxhoon]

The water could come from various places , its probably been there for a long time , the pump will not pick all the water up. When under way all the water shoud go aft and the rear pump should pump most of it out.
Water could come in from the through hulls, even from the bilge pump outlet if you are in rough water or when you are out in roughwater with 2-3 people at the rear on one side.