Bilge Theory - Opinions wanted!

[Commissionpoint]

Thats It????!!!!! Thats what it looks like with the cap off???!!! Man....... I had imagined something different under there. I dunno what, but something different.

Thanks Dave, for posting the pictures. I learned from them.

I hear you on your reservations about using a foam filler in there. Any thoughts about using a 2 part urethane rubber like PMC 700 series dry urethane rubber instead?

[Big D]

...This spring will fill the false keel with spray foam to eliminate standing water....

My 2 cents for what it's worth; I strongly recommend you resist the urge to do this. I have yet to find a foam product in spite of claims even in new boat construction that will not hold water. Any water that does get in there will stay there forever, will smell, and the only way to get rid of it is to remove the foam which will be a pain. Anyone that has done stringer replacements where foam is used to fill cavities under floors for stiffness will attest to this. Once saturated with water, the vessel will also be much heavier. Your best bet is to either prevent the water from getting in or have a means by which to remove it. There are several suggestions in previous threads. Try the "search function, it may bring up some useful info from previous discussions.

[Larrys78]

I have been through this issue with my f32 and came up with a fix that works well for me. I drilled two 3/4" hole both in the engine compartment above the keel one as far forward as possible and one far aft as possible. I installed a short piece of garden hose on aft hole with a female end so I can hook a garden hose to it. The other forward hole I installed a utility pump, switch and trough hull fitting and inserted the pickup a hose well into the keel. Once or twice a year I pour some bilge cleaner down the hose end hook a garden hose turn on the utility pump and thoroughly flush the keel under pressure. Works great that old smell of rancid onion is nothing but a bad memory.

[rossjo]

Interesting ...

Did you just glass in the front of the forward part (white)?

Are thes in order from front to back?

1) Under front stateroom floor?

2) Under front of galley floor?

3) Under Galley?

[Diverted Income]

Interesting. If the cap to the hollow keel is typically raised in a "V" shape then mine has been modified already. Mid-ship and forward are flat.

[rossjo]

Not exactly sure what you mean. Someone has removed the fiberglass separating the bilge from the hollow keel in these pictures.

Makes sense to me. How thick is it? I can't image it offers much in terms of structural integrity.

[Diverted Income]

This is the mid section with water standing in it, before pump problems were corrected.

[captainmaniac]

Interesting ...

Did you just glass in the front of the forward part (white)?

Are thes in order from front to back?

1) Under front stateroom floor?

I think this picture is aft - basically this is the forward side of the bulkhead between engine room and lower cabin area. There are more pics on CommoDave's photobucket account that show the same bulkhead from the engine room side (you can see the hoses for the vents and just see the fuel/water separators mounted on that bulkhead).

[Away On Busine$$]

Thanks Guys! Going to rethink my options. Lots here to think about.

[rossjo]

CapManiac - that makes sense - looks like someone glass the holes closed - might not be a bad idea if there is a mid-ships bilge pump ....

[comodave]

The photo of the bulkhead with the electrical wires sticking out is in the galley looking aft. They cut a piece of marine plywood and glassed it in on fore and aft sides of the bulkhead. I will be putting a bilge pump in the engine room as far forward as possible. The woven roving that was cut out was very thin and must not have had any strength. I have to clean the bilges next spring along with lots of more work. I just retired this week, so I will be traveling to Michigan next May to spend the summer on the boat. I will be putting a bow pulpit with windlass on, a hardtop over the cockpit, new canvas, new countertops, new upholstery, new inverter/charger and many other projects that will keep me busy and out of trouble...

[Nancy]

+1 to what Michael said! If we'd known how simply this false bilge was constructed, we would have removed it years ago. I'd read all kinds of posts about it over the years, but never saw photos.

Go for it, Michael. Looks like an easy job and a no-brainer.

[Commissionpoint]

+1 to what Michael said! If we'd known how simply this false bilge was constructed, we would have removed it years ago. I'd read all kinds of posts about it over the years, but never saw photos.

Go for it, Michael. Looks like an easy job and a no-brainer.

Its Comodaves fault. If he had posted those photos a few years back I could have bought it with the work already done.

Yeh, looks pretty easy Nancy, I must agree. Being a freshwater boat all its life I don't have any kind of stink from saltwater or anything as you know. I am kind of in the fence about messing with it or not. Something about not broke, don't fix. Then again part of me says the factory design is whats broke, so needs fix. Ugh. Decisions, decisions.

How about you and John come down and spend a week aboard for old times sake and take that project on? I'll put some beer in the fridge and turn on the hot water for you. You can leave the keys to the Albin on top of the battery box and while you are getting the Trojan sorted for me I'll go bar hopping around Burlington with the Albin. I like the sounds of that a lot better.

[Nancy]

Its Comodaves fault. If he had posted those photos a few years back I could have bought it with the work already done.

LOL! Probably true! Yes, you should go for it just on the bad design premise. You want a clean bilge, don't you? Just think about the 35 years of crud under there. Gross! Maybe you could just cut a small opening and see how bad it looks.

Great idea on the boat swap! Just be sure to complete your choice of any two projects for us: install bigger holding tank, find a location for and install battery #3, replace dinky forward bilge pump with decent one (don't forget to fabricate the necessary bracket). Fridge will be likewise stocked, HW on, and we'll raise you the air conditioning.

[Big D]

...Being a freshwater boat all its life I don't have any kind of stink from saltwater....

Not just a salt water thing Michael, standing/stagnent fresh water will do the same, run into this all the time up here too (in fresh water). It may simply not have a way for water to get in yet. If there is a way for water to get in, chances are the smell can get out. Having said that, I discovered this same issue in an Albin that did not smell but once the glass over the hollow keel was opened up, we discovered water, fuel, and oil. Just about lost my cookies when I got a whiff of it.