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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

starboard bilge

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waltex
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/23/2006 : 17:16:01

I've been off for quite a while rebuilding '79 SK #1126. I've never sailed this gift to me. We are bonding well. It is apart now almost ready to paint, get new windows, encapsulate the SK with new bronze 1" pin (old one is bent 3/8" I don't know why), replace some hardware, etc. My current problem is that I started sawing a 4" hole in the stbd floor next to the keel well so I could pump the rainwater out. I have hit wood? or some other material which is affixed under the floor. I know, I know, I should have asked here before cutting a hole my cabin floor. It won't look good patching it, but carpet will cover it. What access can I make to pump bilge water from under the stbd cabin floor? I'm tired of pumping rainwater out so put it under roof and want it to dry completely. Thanks for your help.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2006 : 22:34:51

Uhhhmmmm...

You did what?

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 05:39:47

Understand that you are just getting into what seems to be a rebuild operation and so...leaks, I guess, are somewhat out of control. Under normal conditions, most of these boats will have an occasional leak from a rain storm but the accumulation of water is miniscule and collects in the center of the boat which is generally accessible by pulling up the board that is locate d there for that purpose and to gain access to inspect/gain access to the keel boats. I guess that is only on keel boats, so I am not as familiar with a swing keel arrangement and the removable floor board.

My '89 has a bilge pump and so if water was real bad in the bottom, then I guess I would pump it out with the bilge pump (manually).

Given your circumstances of water collection and until you can get control of it by attending to various leak paths (resetting/sealing fittings/checking windows/sealing area around the scuppers), you may want to look into a small electric water pump that they use for aquariums or else from a marine store. These utilize small tubing that you may find easier to position and then dewater off the boat. I have not done this but i have cleared water from a hole where my home underground water sprinkler box was located and I used an aquarium pump.

Perhaps others will have better ideas.

Edited by - on

waltex
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 11:18:54

In my confusion I made a misstatement. I am not encapsulating the keel with a bronze pin. We are using smooth pickup bed spray to encapsulate the keel. Evidently it has been used for years as 'Cold Tar Epoxy' in boat yards. I am replacing the bronze keel swing pin (not from Cat Direct) Old one was bent 3/8". I don't know what caused the damage, but 27 years usse is a long time.

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 11:45:28

That pickup bed spray sounds like an interesting idea. I'll be finding out what kind of condition my keel is in in about a month when I haul mine out.

Edited by - on

cat78
1st Mate

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34 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 15:43:39

I have cut a hole in my starboard bilge and coverd it with an screw in inspection plate so I can access it in the future. I put the plate towards the rear of the boat because this seems to be where most of the water accumulates and also it seemed to have the most room between the floor and the hull. I cut it out with a hole saw. I forget what I hit in the process but it wsa pretty thick. The water in my 78 cat came from two places. The first was a poorly installed outboard motor bracket, which I fixed, the other was board at the bootom of the cabin door. Over the years form people steeping on it tilts in towards the cabin rather tilting out to the cockpit as it should. Therefore when it rains in a certain direction the water runs down the washboards hits the sill and runs into the cabin onto the covers under the stairs and into the bilge. I find that once or twice a season a wet and dry shop vac does a good job of removing all the water. In the winter, I put a large tray( a cat litter box does very well) under the stairs and it seems to catch most of the water.
dave Passing Wind cat78
PS that guy, Andy, sure likes to put his picture

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 15:53:19

It is a signature photo, I have one too but I have my preferences to not include my sig automatically, I usually use it when I am posting to someone new or have just started a thread.
here it is

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 10/24/2006 15:54:01

waltex
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 09:15:54

Thanks folks. Since I'm new to owning a sailboat and don't know what I'm doing much of the time, I guess I just panicked and stopped sawing the hole about half way throught the job. I called Lowell @ Cat Direct and he encouraged me to keep on sawing, but be careful not to penetrate the hull. I did and now I have a beautiful 4" floor hole that gives access to the starboard bilge. It was full to the brim with water and I poured in some bleach to kill what mold I could before pumping it all out. Today I'm off to get a 4" deckplate that I can install and unscrew whenever it's time to clean the rainwater from the bilge. Happy sailing!

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2006 : 13:00:35

You should have seen my wifes face when she saw me cutting an 1 3/4" hole in the hull of my new $20,000 Catalina 25 sailboat to fit a depth sounder transducer. I would have laughed except she was ready to crown me as it was. Frankly, the pucker factor was a little high when making the first cut. After eventeen years and a bunch of puckers later, the boat's still afloat. This won't be your last project like this. At least you have the advantage of this great forum for advise.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2006 : 16:00:58

Walt
I'd say that it's important to identify exactly where the water is coming into your boat and remedy it. Often its the windows, the pop top/the sliding cabin top, hatch boards and always....the swing keel winch cable tube.
My 1981 Swing Keel has an inspection plate in the cabin floor beside the keel trunk. My understanding is that PO put it there. Properly done, an inspection plate does not look out of place. Many owners put carpet down. I use a thin rubber back commercial carpet that I hold down with double sided tape. Couple times a year I take it outside and shake and then at the end of the season I take it home and store it along with my sails so that it doesn't get musty etc.
AND, post pictures, ask lots of questions. Good luck and have fun!

Edited by - on

waltex
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 18:35:19

Thanks again. She is mostly apart. I've never sailed her because I didn't trust her. Keel is off. The new bronze 1" pin arrived with sleeve 1"ID X 1 1/8" OD from McMaster.com Keel was sandblasted, dimples & holes filled with epoxy & sprayed with pickup bed spray. This week we will level the keel & drill hole with 1 1/8" bit. Rotted bulkheads & lavatory counter are being replaced. Cushions being recovered, deck topsides & bottom are almost ready for paint. Keel was down & cable was broken when I got her. Now we have found that when the keel dropped the top end smashed against the well and we must repair FG. Fortunately I have an old salt helping. He has a set of Catalina construction drawings coming to show us exactly what we are up against and properly repair FG. Once that is done we paint and reassemble. Great project since I'm retired and have the time. See my new subject posting about painting the deck.

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 19:17:00

Walter,
I put a hole in the tabbing at the aft end of the cabin right along side the keel trunk. I ran the bilge pump hose through the hole. I laminated some 17 oz biax where the hole was going to be, and then cut the hole. I epoxied a piece of 1 1/2 PVC inside the hole. It gives it more of a cleaned up look.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 19:31:19

Hey Dave, nice flame back there.

Grow up and enjoy the forum.

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 19:32:20

for cat78,
On my 77, the sill at the bottom of the drop boards has a little stop tacked down behind the bottom of the bottom drop board to stop the water from comming in the cabin. Maybe that will stop the water comming in on your boat. It's about 1/2" wide and 3/16" tall. It provides a little step there that the water has to get over, to get in the cabin.

Edited by - Happy D on 10/29/2006 19:33:23

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.