Trojan Boat Forum

are F-28's bow heavy?????? all of my bilge water runs to the bow of the boat in the v-berth. I have a bilge pump there but just doesnt seem right.

Now I have never filled the water tanks the engine room, this weight ballast the boat to allow the water to run to the stern? Dont know. or is the added weight just that?

My bilge water also goes to the bow to be picked up by the forward bilge pump.

So where is all the H2O coming from? My 30' Sea Raider has a bilge pump in the bow but it has never run and everything up there is dry. My stern bilge pump only runs in stormy weather.....just curious, my boat is very dry.. I'm in a covered berth, I'm sure that helps............John

most of it is rain water, I hope! but my rear pump has never ran since owning the boat.

If I every get my boat in the water I will be glad to let you know what my f28 does.

LOLO

Larry

My f28 allways collectes in the bow and the front pump takes care of it

gofish103 wrote:most of it is rain water, I hope! but my rear pump has never ran since owning the boat.

Yup, same with me

The lowest point in the bilge of all semi-displacement (a.k.a. semi-vee) hulls is foward in the forefoot where the 'vee' is at it's deepest. This also happens to be where the cabin sole is stepped down in many designs, a trick used to make the most of the available headroom. Don't let the water get too deep up forward in these designs or your feet will be sure to get wet!

ok, sounds like im ok, just seams like a strange design!

Low point being in the bow is standard for the F series boats. Water in the bilge typically comes from rain (through hatches in the aft deck) or dripping through the shaft or rudder stuffing boxes, or overflow from when you fill your fresh water tank... (in mine the overflow hose goes to the bilge...).

is the bow area where everyone is tapping into the hollow keel to put a bilge pump in??

this design really bothers me, if something major happens and there is a failure with the front bilge pump. there is no where for that water to go except up into the berth!!! What a mess that would be!!

does anyone have a picture of the hole cut into the hollow keel?

Lets keep things in perspective -- the hollow keel doesn't really hold that much water. Maybe 10 gallons at most. If something drastic happened and the boat started taking on water, its not like it will sink like a stone bow first... it will settle. If the forward pump doesn't kick in, once the boat settles low enough for water to make it to the aft pump, it will kick in (as long as your limber holes are clear). The boat won't sink any lower until the aft pump quits, which isn't likely until the batteries are dead.

If the boat is underway and planing, because of the bow rise, the aft pump will be at the lowest point - any water from leaks or otherwise will run to it and be evacuated.

Bottom line - as long as you make sure your pumps remain operational, limber holes are clear, and the batteries are good, you are in good shape. Rigging something to try to drain the keel as well is an optional / preference item.