Riviera bilge issue - how to access?

[SunsetSteve]

As always, the manual no help. Fwd bilge (lowest point of bilges) will not drain unless I use a sump pump and drain hose. I thought there was no pump in that part of the bilge, but when I stuck my head down the hatch under the fwd table with a flashlight I could see there is a pump way up tight against the V. I can see no way to access that pump in order to replace it, and it would take a heck of a lot of water in the boat before the other bilge pumps (all in higher bilges) would trigger.

I would like to know if there is a way to replace this pump without sawing a hole through the sole and destroying the boat!

[buster53]

Are you sure there aren’t any bilge openings already there? On my 356, I have several openings in the aft cabin, but I have to pull up the carpeting to access them.

[bud37]

I have an idea the pump should have been below the table access.......when you look at this pump further up, is it fastened to anything or is it possible it is loose and just slid forward ??

But I agree with buster, sometimes there are access doors/hatches hidden quite well, even floor sections you can pull up after removing some screws.....Someone had to have put that pump there somehow....

[buster53]

Yep...Carver was famous for putting bilge access hatches in hidden, out the way spots. You just have to search as often, they are not easily seen.

[waybomb]

If I recall, and it's been at least 24 years, I think there's a hatch either the most forward seat cushion or the seat back.
Could be wrong though.

[SunsetSteve]

There is a hatch up front under the seat, but it doesn't reveal the pump. But maybe it wasn't a pump that I saw. Revisiting the manual it states that the 2807 has 2 pumps, the fwd one being located between the engines up toward the bow. Also - when the boat is at rest, the water will flow to the bow (thus all the water in the bilge under the table) so the instruction is to run the bilge pumps when first underway and the water thus flows back to where the pumps are. I will try this, but it seems very odd to me that Carver didn't just put a pump where the water settles when the boat is at rest.

[waybomb]

It's the same with 3697. At rest water goes to the bow.I installed a third pump up front.