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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

weep holes in bilge

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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/24/2007 : 05:12:33

On my boat (1980 C25) there are several individual compartments that pass for bilges under the cabin sole. These are accessible from several removable covers. None of these "compartments" appear to be interconnected. Water that collects, does so in each one individually. Ideally there ought to be weep holes between each of them. So, here is the question. Is it feasible to drill through what appear to be stiffeners between the compartments so that any water that collects below the sole will find its way to the lowest part of the boat? Are these stiffeners just fiberglass or are they wood with glass over them??

Has anyone performed this particular "operation' on their boat??

newell

Newell
1980 C25 SR/SK
AVALON

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 06:58:22

Newell,

My 88 TR only has one floor pan access point to the bilge (over the keel bolts), so I don't have first hand knowledge of the problem. That being said however, I suspect that the "stingers", probably really floor pan supports, are in fact fiberglass-encased wood which would absorb water over time, become soft, and eventually be useless for their intended function.

No boat is ever completely dry. Save yourself some work and aggravation, be aware that the collection points are there and periodically sponge them out. You'll most likely find a host of projects on this site to better occupy your time and money.

Edited by - aeckhart on 05/24/2007 07:01:47

ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 10:13:45

I've replaced most of the wiring on my boat and in the process have drilled holes in the compartment walls at low points in the bilges to route the wire.
My boat is dry but if it did start taking on water I want it to run to the bilge pumps instead of collecting in one area.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 12:08:39

Here's a pretty good article on [url="http://www.yachtsurvey.com/internal_hull_accessibility.htm"]limber holes,[/url] what you guys are calling weep holes.

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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 18:53:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 Here's a pretty good article on [url="http://www.yachtsurvey.com/internal_hull_accessibility.htm"]limber holes,[/url] what you guys are calling weep holes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Great article! Thanks for sending along. I wonder if anyone has had the opportunity of need to make these holes between all of the various compartments?? Observations would be appreciated.

newell

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 22:39:45

About the only wood below the cabin sole of the early swing keel C-25s is the plywood core attached to the underside of the sole. Catalina wisely chose not to install wood where it would likely become saturated with bilge water (except the very bottom of the mast compression post).

I have drilled small holes in all the low spots of the hull liner (cabin sole) into the bilge. I have connected all my bilge compartments with either limber holes, or PVC pipe with removable plugs. The pipe & plugs allows me to keep the storage lockers isolated in case a stored liquid spills or leaks, or to keep bilge water from sloshing 'up' into the storage areas when heeled. If I need to drain them into the bilge (for cleaning, or to allow a water leak to reach the pumps), I can remove the plugs. In the swing keel models, there are at least two main low points, located on opposite sides of the keel trunk a couple feet aft of the mast (depending on how the boat is trimmed).

-- Leon S.

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Jay Schkloven
1st Mate

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USA
84 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2007 : 10:27:44

My boat also has two access panels which I check from time to time. The previous owner drilled 8 small holes in the floor about one compartment in a effort to let the moisture evaportate. The boat is dry and does not have an mold issues. This might be an option. The small number of holds has never caused an issue. If there is a lot of water in a compartment, then that needs to be addressed.

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panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2007 : 12:42:27

Along these lines I found some blisters on the keel this spring. I found that they seemed to form a line across the keel that was equal to the depth of the bilge. When I pulled up the boards it looked like I have had some water in there, but what bothered me most was that the hose for the bilge pump was screwed down to the bottom. Any water that collected there could seep past these screws. Once I'm sure everything is good and dry I am thinking of using Iterlux Bilgekote on it. Has anyone else found similar problems.

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2007 : 06:48:10

I cut limbers through all my compartments. I have a dinnette with a swing keel.
[url="http://home.wmis.net/~dhapp/limbers/limbers.html"]Limbers[/url]

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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.