We have a 98 3100 open with twin crusaders.There seems to be a bunch of water around the shower sump that isn’t being pumped from the bilge by either mid or aft bilge pumps, both of which work fine. I cleaned out the shower sump and filter, the pump float and switch seems to be working fine.
Is there a front pump outside the shower sump (another bilge pump maybe electronically triggered?) that’s not going off, and moving the water out of the bilge? Maybe it’s just gravity or something clogging the flow with the water not flowing back to the other pumps….. open to thoughts and ideas here. Thanks.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Home Port: Kings Park, NY
Vessel Info: 2003 38' Open Cummin's 6CTA's (450 hp)
Posts: 695
Threads: 13
Likes Given: 1
Likes Received: 92 in 84 posts
Joined: Dec 2010
Home Port: Kings Park, NY
Vessel Info: 2003 38' Open Cummin's 6CTA's (450 hp)
Are you sure the shower sump pump isn't overflowing during a shower.... I had a similar problem in that the shower float switch and pump were OK but it wasn't taking the water fast enough during a shower... It caused the shower sump to overflow during a shower but did empty it after the shower was shut off.. It wound up that the choker valve located in the small hose just after the discharge from the pump... Its really hard to see/find... I'd disconnect the discharge hose from the pump ( it's about 3" or so) and see if the choker valve is bad. Mine was and after I installed a new one all is now good.... Its Rule 1240R Duckbill Valve.. ( [Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register] )
There should be a bilge pump in the bilge near the shower sump. Mine in my 97 31 open kicks on and off every few minutes, there is no float switch. If it senses water it stays on or else shuts off. There is a breaker under the steps that turns it on or off. That said I very rarely have any water in that area except every once in a while during winter storage I get a little. I would check to see if your bilge is working and try sending a good volume of water into the shower sump and see if it overflows. Another thing to consider, I see you are in Florida. Is your A/C condensation running into the shower sump? That is how mine is setup but maybe yours is not or something came loose causing it to drain into the bilge? Oh - One last thought, is the water in the bilge fresh or saltwater. That could be a clue as to where the water is coming from (assuming you boat in saltwater).
I had the same problem last year when I bought the boat, it turned out the air conditioner condensate drains into the shower sump and I didn’t have the shower sump breaker on. I always leave it on now. On my boat, there is a small bilge pump near the shower sump.