Vent hole in bow??
 

Hey Formula Dudes,
On all three of the Formulas I've owned, there is a small hole in hull at the bow, just starboard of the stem. Does anyone know the purpose of this hole? It seem to connect to the small under-cushion storage in the v-berth. Is this a vent for that storage area? If so, it lets more water in than out. Whenever I am in rough water and taking waves up to the rub rail, water pumps in through that little hole. Its a PIA, I have to go up there and sponge out the storage area. So........I plugged the hole. Any thoughts from you guys?? :confused:

I've got the same thing, but thought the previous owner drilled it out to drain out water that might leak in from the bow cleat. I thought about sealing it up, but put a small chrome clamshell over it instead. I put it on with 4200, open end facing back and down. It will still drain any water that might get in there but it doesn't take any in. I can take a pic of it this weekend...

Mine has the same vent, but I'm pretty sure it is the vent that's connected to the head.

Craig

Overflow and water tank vent hole, located just above first strake line at the starboard side of bow.

MFB, its not the water tank vent, thats a seperate vent. Maybe an overflow, but my previous boats (223 and 242) didn't have built-in tanks but still had the holes. Guess I could call Steve Tester at Formula and find out what the heck it is.

Bill, I thought about covering it with a clam shell too. But then it just draws more attention to it. Not a bad idea though. At least its function, whatever it is, would maintained.

You aren't asking about the drain for the bow anchor storage are you???

Add me to this too....When I first got the boat It would take on water when "plowing" at speeds just under plane. It would leak into the compartment in the front of the cabin where the docking lights are and where the support for the center cleat is on deck. From this compartment it drained into the cabin floor.......I used silicone on the outside and filled the inside hole with marine-tex. That was 3 years ago and I haven't had any problems since....I still wonder what the hell it's for though.......BOILERDADDY are you there??????:D :D :D Here is a pic of the hole from the outside......

"Bad-Habit"
86 F3LS

hmm

I ain't got one like that (91 F311SR1)

That's the one...

Blown Formula, I did consider that the storage may be an anchor locker and the hole may be drainage for the locker. However, how dumb is that!!?? I mean did Formula really expect that we would pull up a muddy, weed covered hook, carry that dirty hook through the cabin, pull up cushions and drop it in that tiny storage compartment:mad: Maybe, but I for one am not dragging an anchor through my cabin. You may be right though. I have not called Formula yet to find out, its more fun speculating about the engineering (or lack thereof) of this mysterious hole.

Mcollinstn, your 91 311 does not have this hole huh??:confused:
I have a 311 also, '89. Thats pretty strange isn't it. Maybe in '90 or 91 they stopped putting the hole in there. Do you have the storage locker under your front v-berth cushion?

Thirdbird!... My error, as I was unaware that storage compartment location in the cabin. I was thinking of my 312 that has an on the bow locker, with access from outside. There is a drain out of it that comes thru the side of the hull, although it is higher than yours. Ya' got me curious now guy!!

My F-206 has the same hole.
That locker in the bow is way, way too small for an anchor.
An anchor sized to fit the locker would be damn near useless.:confused:

Yeah Iggy, I agree totally! So, what the heck is the hole for? This is bothering a bunch of us. If that really was Formula's intention that the storage area is an anchor locker, then thats just plain dumb!!

The anchor locker is much too small. even a fold up anchor is too large to fit.....at least it will hold the rope and keep the sand out of the boat..

my guess, although i will look tonight to confirm, is a vent for portapotty? it may draw a vacuum with it's small opening pointed rearward to ventilate the prorta potty when moving.

my guess. I know i have a pumpout hose and a vent hose that attach to the portapotty. when I clean and refill it (I don't use the pumpout feature)

i also guess they installed in near the from hook to make it less conspicuous ( hey how about white instead o fblack :rolleyes: )

Rambunctious, no way on the potty thing man. That little hole in no way communicates with the potty or the potty room. I really think its a drain for that little storage area but I have no idea why they thought it needed a drain. Well, guess I'll blast off a cycber note to Formula and put an end to our debate.
;)

I have one on my Excalibur too. I use that area for storage, not anchors. Water always got in there through that drain hole so I silconed it closed. Stays dry now. I think it's there in case a cleat or bow rail starts leaking so that it won't fill up with water. I just check the compartment periodically.

My vent is a white plastic fitting aimed down and back. It is right next to the bow stop roller in the picture.

Y'know, I'm not sure how big the space is up there. The freshwater tank is under the berth up there, as is the pump for it. I'm hoping to use her this weekend (or else soccer will eat the whole weekend and I will not be able ). I'll look.

I do know, though, that I ain't got any hole like the one in the picture. I do have an overflow for the water tank way up high.

M

That cracked me up, all I could think of was hearing "Potty or Potty room, come in Potty or Potty room... this is the little hole in the bow..."

Anyway, the potty vent is a stainless one up closer to the rubrail and looks like the fuel vent. On mine, the bow comes down to a low spot on the inside and then flattens out under the v-berth. There's a small depression in front of where it flattens out and the hole is in the bottom of that. It's got to be there to drain that spot, but I can't think of any good reason there should be any water there.

Can't be a potty vent mine doesn't have one, a potty that is.
Never bothered to look into the storage compartment to see if it does have a drain. Guess I'll have to now.

My 1989 272 has one and I've been wondering for years:confused: :confused:

OK people, you too Iggy, I just got off the phone with Bob Boyd at Formula. The answer to the question is...(the envelope please) "It was a drain for the anchor locker". So I questioned him as to why many had the hole and no locker (like mine). His answer was..."because some hulls have standard drilling and will get the hole with or without a locker". I then suggested it as a drain in case cleats , bow light or dock lights leak? he agreed with that. So now many of us can get a good nights sleep tonight:D

Well then did all the boats take on water then? Seems like they would have put a clam-shell on it or something...

Never noticed if mine took on any water.
Don't think I've been out in water rough enough for waves to get that high on the bow.

BTW thanks mopower for the update. I'll rest easy now.

Ok, here's my fix. It may not be real pretty, but it keeps the water out.

OMG Bill 272 , Looks like you have MY boat...same colors.
BTW, Pretty boat:D

There are 2 or 3 other 272's with my same graphics on Lake St. Clair, along with a 292, 311, and a 357. I can't find a very good pic now, but this should do. I did just re-do my interior vinyl. I'll put it in a separate post.

God I love Formula's....they are like Duracells....they just keep going, and going, and going...............!!! and lookin' GOOD!!!

Bill272 , OOPS my colors go all the way to the top on the back , not just half way up:o Sorry , mines better looking:rolleyes: LOL