10M Engine Room and Bilge question

[Bimmerbill]

Good morning all!
I'm working on cleaning out below deck and around the engines in my 1984 10M International.
The boat had a genny originally and the seacocks are still there. The wood used in mounting them doesn't look good. That area is always full of water. I think I may remove them and glass over.



If anyone can answer a few questions, that would be great:

-Should I mount the bilge pump along the engine room bulkhead, or toward the bow? The old pump was mounted right in between the genny seacocks, which are toward the bow.

-There were two wood supports and a particle board shelf mounted over the seacocks. I assume this was for the genny? Surprised to find particle board on the boat. The deck of the engine room, between the two engines, appears to be the same material. You can see it in the lower left of the photo. It feels sturdy and I don't feel any soft spots. I'm considering pulling it up to see what is under there and to clean it. Anyone know what is under there? Is it worth cleaning under there?

-The battery boxes were lag bolted with rubber grommets into the two stringers, the same place the engines are mounted to. The glass covered wood is in good shape. Is lag bolting with grommets the best way to secure the battery boxes? Of course I'll seal up any old holes with epoxy and make sure I seal up any new mounts with butyl tape or epoxy.

-Wire management. There was square plastic conduit box mounted in the engine room. I'm going thru the wiring and removed the conduit box and covers. They were full of years worth of dirt and grime. What does everyone use for cable management? Nicely zipped wrapped and secured? I see flex and spiral wire covers that are fire extinguishing online. I'd like to be able to inspect the cables and wires and to keep them clean.

Sorry for the long post! It's been raining up here a lot so I can't paint the bottom. Since I bought the boat last year I wanted to go thru the wiring and clean the engine room and engines.

Once again, thanks in advance!

[prowlersfish]

If your not going to reinstall the gen then you can glass it but if there is a chance of putting one in the repair it .

Not knowing your boat I can't give a good answer on pump placement

[Big D]

If the seacock/thru-hull is leaking between it and the hull, you must remedy it now. Remove the seacock thru-hull and inspect the core. You may have to dig out a section if it's bad and repair. If the core is wet in that area, you want to get all the wet stuff out. Ditch the particle board.

[Big D]

...Wire management. There was square plastic conduit box mounted in the engine room. I'm going thru the wiring and removed the conduit box and covers. They were full of years worth of dirt and grime. What does everyone use for cable management? Nicely zipped wrapped and secured? I see flex and spiral wire covers that are fire extinguishing online. I'd like to be able to inspect the cables and wires and to keep them clean....

Personally I prefer just the zip ties. I like to be able to see my wiring, and it's easier for tracing later. Also, if you need to add wiring later (you likely will), you simply follow the existing run and zip tie on the new wire and it won't look like an add-on rather than cutting the zip ties securing a split loom, then push the wire through the loom, etc...too much work. Also consider that there are specs for wire bundles in engine rooms. There is a limit to the number of wires you can have in a bundle and still keep the wire's rating/capacity for a given run. It's all about heat. Encasing the run in a loom limits this further. If you are using zip ties with holes to secure the run to a bulkhead with screws, use a metal product every so often in case a few plastic ties fail. This will keep your wiring from sagging and clear of machinery if that happens.
http://www.elecdirect.com/catalog/5c6e7 ... 6ce90.aspx

[Flyboy]

If your International is like mine, the wood cover between the 2 engines is the cover of the holding tank. I'd have the tank pumped out before taking a look inside.

[Bimmerbill]

Thanks for the info! I won't crack the lid open if its the black water holding tank!

There doesn't appear to be any leaks but I'd like to remove the old stuff anyways. I'd love a marine generator, but no way do I have the cash for that!

[RWS]

If your International is like mine, the wood cover between the 2 engines is the cover of the holding tank. I'd have the tank pumped out before taking a look inside.

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There is no wood in my waste tank lid. - 1983 International 10 Meter Express

The inside of it is smooth gelcoat, as is the bottom of the tank.

The lid itself also has a baffle built into it.

RWS