Re: [bolger] Re: Dry Bilges

I am now sailing a Vega 27 and am happy to have a drain plug in the bilge.  My ice box drains into the builge so when I haul I dump some detergent in the bilge and scrub around in there and wash the whole thing out with a garden hose. The boat stays pretty sweet and it might not if it weren't easy to scrub her out.  If any food crumbs get in there a good rinsing out is also a good rot preventer on a wooden boat          Doug

On 04/02/2011 04:23 PM, John and Kathy Trussell wrote:

 

I once was a passenger on a big deep v. The owner’s wife backed us into the water and agreed to meet us at the end of the day. We motored 6 miles offshore to an artificial reef, anchored, and began rigging the rods when we noticed a lot of water over our feet. We had a plug but we had not put in. Exciting times! Happily, the motor started, we tied a float cushion to the anchor line and dumped it, and were able to get up on a plane and suck the water out. Since then, I have painted ‘PLUG!’ on my trailer tongue as a reminder to install the plug before I launch. So far, it has worked.

 

JohnT

 

---

From:bolger@yahoogroups.com[mailto:bolger@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf OfRon Magen
Sent:Saturday, April 02, 2011 4:00 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject:[bolger] Re: Dry Bilges

 

 

Bill & 'yonder' -
Depending on the type of 'Drain', or more specifically 'Drain Plug', hang a
'reminder' on the hatch latch or some other VERY CONSPICUOUS place.
Something that MUST be unlocked or used BEFORE you even get the boat off the
trailer.

On the P15 I am refurbishing, I put in a scupper of brass tube and used a
'screw/snap-latch' compressing plug. It is a separate piece. If this was
used as a Bilge Drain I would attach a loop of Stainless 'safety wire' to it
and place it on the hasp of the hatch lock. It would be not only
'conspicuous, but the first thing I would touch before even entering the
boat!! It would ANNOUNCE that THIS was the FIRST thing to be done.

Even if you don't use this type of 'stopper' - use something ELSE as a
'mnemonic. I believe the P15 originally came with a simple cork - attach a
BIG one or even a large wooden plug shaped like one. Or an old latch-type
Thermos stopper, etc.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

> 2a. Re: Dry Bilges
> Posted by: "yonderman@..."yonderman@...jmbell1
<snip>
> I've never regretted having a drain plug in the bottom of my larger boats.
> This is particularly useful when you are trailering during a heavy
> rainstorm.
<snip>
> Of course you have to remember to put the plug back in before you launch!
> I've forgotten this crucial step a time or two, I have to admit.
<snip>
Bill Howard<billh39@...>wrote:
>> Questions for all you experienced builders and sailors:
>>
>> How does one get water out of the bilges? . . . But what to do about
>> casual water in the bilges of a 1300 lb boat?
>>

Bill & 'yonder' -
Depending on the type of 'Drain', or more specifically 'Drain Plug', hang a
'reminder' on the hatch latch or some other VERY CONSPICUOUS place.
Something that MUST be unlocked or used BEFORE you even get the boat off the
trailer.

On the P15 I am refurbishing, I put in a scupper of brass tube and used a
'screw/snap-latch' compressing plug. It is a separate piece. If this was
used as a Bilge Drain I would attach a loop of Stainless 'safety wire' to it
and place it on the hasp of the hatch lock. It would be not only
'conspicuous, but the first thing I would touch before even entering the
boat!! It would ANNOUNCE that THIS was the FIRST thing to be done.

Even if you don't use this type of 'stopper' - use something ELSE as a
'mnemonic. I believe the P15 originally came with a simple cork - attach a
BIG one or even a large wooden plug shaped like one. Or an old latch-type
Thermos stopper, etc.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

> 2a. Re: Dry Bilges
> Posted by: "yonderman@..."yonderman@...jmbell1

<snip>

> I've never regretted having a drain plug in the bottom of my larger boats.
> This is particularly useful when you are trailering during a heavy
> rainstorm.

<snip>

> Of course you have to remember to put the plug back in before you launch!
> I've forgotten this crucial step a time or two, I have to admit.

<snip>
Bill Howard <billh39@...> wrote:

>> Questions for all you experienced builders and sailors:
>>
>> How does one get water out of the bilges? . . . But what to do about
>> casual water in the bilges of a 1300 lb boat?
>>

I've never regretted having a drain plug in the bottom of my larger boats. This is particularly useful when you are trailering during a heavy rainstorm. On a large open boat, it's easy to wind up with a lot of very heavy water collecting in the bilges when you are trailering. I'd rather have a boat that drained to the highway than one that I had to get out an bail periodically. It's a safety thing above all else.

Of course you have to remember to put the plug back in before you launch! I've forgotten this crucial step a time or two, I have to admit. That's when you go back and get the trailer and haul it back out to let the water drain out. Any worry about leaking through the drain plug is way overstated in my opinion. It's just not that big a deal to have an opening below the waterline.

My current boat has an Elvstrom bailer mounted in the low point of the hulll. The advantage here is if you are going fast enough you can open it and bail the bilges without any effort by you.

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bill Howard <billh39@...> wrote:
>
> I am building a 1/8 scale model of Jim Michalak's Picara design. This has been an educational build. What I learned would convince me to never start a full size boat without building a model first.
>
> Questions for all you experienced builders and sailors:
>
> How does one get water out of the bilges? I just turn my June Bug upside down to put it on top of my CRV, and any drops fall out.
>
> But what to do about casual water in the bilges of a 1300 lb boat?
>
> My fiberglass Daysailer had a bilge plug in the transom for this purpose; when on the trailer this was the low point, and water fell out.
>
> What is the secret for larger wood boats?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Bill Howard
> Nellysford VA
>

Hmmmm, just had to share this. When I worked the plating industry, I was cleaning the lab equipment, in particular, a pipette with a bulb in the center. The cleaning solution was hydrocloric/sulfuric heated, I was stupid enough to use my mouth to suck the liquid up into the pipette instead of using a suction bulb. Carefully watching the liquid rise in the bulb, I did not stop suction in time and wound up with a mouth full of acid! It did not taste good at all, the chemist grabbed me and threw me under the faucet and darn near drowned me, I spit acid all over the place. My mouth went numb for a few days, but I survived. Word quickly spread around silicon valley and I became the "acid man". Never under estimate the power of suction!!

Fairwinds,

Dennis

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew" <a.c.l.yen@...> wrote:
>
> >
> > Your boat cover is cat-proofed right?
> >
> > Not too many cozy nooks around my place that the neighbor's cat hasn't found yet
> > and occasionally soiled. The upside is the area is fairly mouse-free.
> >
> > Justin
> >
>
> The bilge water is actually awful but not from wildlife - inboard motor=oil and fuel in the bilge. But I'm not as silly as I look - the tube is transparent and about 5 metres long so you know well in advance when to stop sucking.
>
> Andrew
>

>
> Your boat cover is cat-proofed right?
>
> Not too many cozy nooks around my place that the neighbor's cat hasn't found yet
> and occasionally soiled. The upside is the area is fairly mouse-free.
>
> Justin
>

The bilge water is actually awful but not from wildlife - inboard motor=oil and fuel in the bilge. But I'm not as silly as I look - the tube is transparent and about 5 metres long so you know well in advance when to stop sucking.

Andrew

>The tube is in place under the tarp all the time so all I have to do >is suck on the end to get the siphon going any time I am walking past >the boat.

Your boat cover is cat-proofed right?

Not too many cozy nooks around my place that the neighbor's cat hasn't found yet and occasionally soiled. The upside is the area is fairly mouse-free.


Justin

Andrew:

I intend to do what Dennis has done someday on my 15' ply inboard trailer sailer that sits on it's trailer most of the time - But since I haven't got around to it yet I have a length of thin tubing (air hose from an aquarium) that I put one end in the bilge and siphon out any rainwater whenever needed. The tube is in place under the tarp all the time so all I have to do is suck on the end to get the siphon going any time I am walking past the boat.

It takes 1/2 an hour to drain a few litres of rainwater - but I don't have to attend to it once it is siphoning.

Andrew

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "dennislancaster36" <dennislancaster36@...> wrote:
>
> On my OldShoe, I installed a bronze drain at the lowest point of the cockpit sole, just to the side of the keel. Drain has a screw in plug. It does not leak and I have it removed while the boat is on its trailer just in case water should get in under my tarp. Prevents that huge cockpit from filling with water.
>
> Dennis
>

A bilge pump and a sponge.

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bill Howard <billh39@...> wrote:
>
> I am building a 1/8 scale model of Jim Michalak's Picara design. This has been an educational build. What I learned would convince me to never start a full size boat without building a model first.
>
> Questions for all you experienced builders and sailors:
>
> How does one get water out of the bilges? I just turn my June Bug upside down to put it on top of my CRV, and any drops fall out.
>
> But what to do about casual water in the bilges of a 1300 lb boat?
>
> My fiberglass Daysailer had a bilge plug in the transom for this purpose; when on the trailer this was the low point, and water fell out.
>
> What is the secret for larger wood boats?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Bill Howard
> Nellysford VA
>

On my OldShoe, I installed a bronze drain at the lowest point of the cockpit sole, just to the side of the keel. Drain has a screw in plug. It does not leak and I have it removed while the boat is on its trailer just in case water should get in under my tarp. Prevents that huge cockpit from filling with water.

Dennis

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bill Howard <billh39@...> wrote:
>
> I am building a 1/8 scale model of Jim Michalak's Picara design. This has been an educational build. What I learned would convince me to never start a full size boat without building a model first.
>
> Questions for all you experienced builders and sailors:
>
> How does one get water out of the bilges? I just turn my June Bug upside down to put it on top of my CRV, and any drops fall out.
>
> But what to do about casual water in the bilges of a 1300 lb boat?
>
> My fiberglass Daysailer had a bilge plug in the transom for this purpose; when on the trailer this was the low point, and water fell out.
>
> What is the secret for larger wood boats?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Bill Howard
> Nellysford VA
>

I use a manual pump designed for kayaks followed up with a sponge if I want to get the last bit of water out of the cockpit of my Chebacco 20.

Bill Jones
Mechanicsville VA

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bill Howard <billh39@...> wrote:
>
> I am building a 1/8 scale model of Jim Michalak's Picara design. This has been an educational build. What I learned would convince me to never start a full size boat without building a model first.
>
> Questions for all you experienced builders and sailors:
>
> How does one get water out of the bilges? I just turn my June Bug upside down to put it on top of my CRV, and any drops fall out.
>
> But what to do about casual water in the bilges of a 1300 lb boat?
>
> My fiberglass Daysailer had a bilge plug in the transom for this purpose; when on the trailer this was the low point, and water fell out.
>
> What is the secret for larger wood boats?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Bill Howard
> Nellysford VA
>

I am building a 1/8 scale model of Jim Michalak's Picara design. This has been an educational build. What I learned would convince me to never start a full size boat without building a model first.

Questions for all you experienced builders and sailors:

How does one get water out of the bilges? I just turn my June Bug upside down to put it on top of my CRV, and any drops fall out.

But what to do about casual water in the bilges of a 1300 lb boat?

My fiberglass Daysailer had a bilge plug in the transom for this purpose; when on the trailer this was the low point, and water fell out.

What is the secret for larger wood boats?

Thanks for your help.

Bill Howard
Nellysford VA

Way to go Denis,
I was shocked when I saw your pictures and realized just how small you shop space truly is and what you have produced from it and what you had to do to get the boat out of it! Good on you mate, she will be a fine pocket cruiser. Looking forward to more pics.

Best,

Dennis OldShoe "Pearl"
Bellingham, WA.

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "meier.denis" <meier.denis@...> wrote:
>
> Finally posted a few pictures of MicroWave. Started building a Micro a few years ago then wanted a Navigator, then decided I needed a roomy cockpit so I took a few ideas from here and there on this site (thank you all) and this is what will launch this summer. Way overbuilt but should be a safe camper cruiser for a novice sailor.
>
> Denis Meier
> Onoway, Alberta, Canada
> MicroWave
> PDRacer #435 Duck
>

Finally posted a few pictures of MicroWave. Started building a Micro a few years ago then wanted a Navigator, then decided I needed a roomy cockpit so I took a few ideas from here and there on this site (thank you all) and this is what will launch this summer. Way overbuilt but should be a safe camper cruiser for a novice sailor.

Denis Meier
Onoway, Alberta, Canada
MicroWave
PDRacer #435 Duck