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Not drilling a hole in the bottom of my boat

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sailor025
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/14/2003 : 08:47:07

I have water that stands in two spots in my boat and can't drain down into the bilge. The first is the battery compartment. The batteries are stored under the settee on the starboard side, next to the water tank. The second place is the large storage locker on the port side of the cockpit.

I'm considering drilling holes in the low point in both of these places. Other than being careful to not drill through the bottom of my boat, can anyone think of a reason I can't put a couple of 1/4" holes in these locations so the water will drain?

Thanks

Rodney

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 09:38:45

Rodney,<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I'm considering drilling holes in the low point in both of these places. Other than being careful to not drill through the bottom of my boat, can anyone think of a reason I can't put a couple of 1/4" holes in these locations so the water will drain?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>Where ever water was getting trapped in the liner and forming puddles, I drilled 1/4" to 1/2" holes through the liner into the bilge. The 1/4" holes aren't as conspicuous, but the 1/2" holes don't get clogged as easily.

A few other spots you might want to take a close look at are where the bottom edges of the plywood bulkheads in the head compartment rest on a narrow ledge in the liner. Any water (from rain leaks, etc.) that runs down the bulkhead or across the berth or settee platforms can become trapped against the end grain of the plywood. My bulkheads had some minor venier delamination there. I've seen other designs where plywood extended all the way down into the bilges, requiring constant vigilence to prevent structural rot from getting started there. I'm glad the folks at Catalina had the good sense to keep plywood up out of the bilge water.

-- Leon Sisson

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 09:43:34

Rodney - you might want to back up a step and ask "where is this water coming from?" Find the leak (often easier said than done <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>) and fix it, then you won't have to drill extra holes!
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>
TRFK#2262"This Side Up"

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 10:35:45

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
"where is this water coming from?"
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Ditto . . . also, as the water travels to these low spots it may be getting something else wet, e.g., plywood core, that will be damaged.

I'd find the source of the water and correct it.

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Heartbeat
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 17:10:56

I agree that finding and fixing the leak is the best solution.

I have a (slight) leak in the bow eye. Rather than haul the boat for a leak that only happens in 3'+ waves, I use a dehumidifier. Buying the dehumidifier was cheaper than a hoist. I'll fix it at the end of the season. For now, the boat is nice and dry. It even got rid of that case of 'boat smell' I was always fighting.

If you do drill a hole to allow the water to drain, I would suggest that you drill the hole oversize, then fill it with epoxy, (West System, Gougeon, whatever you call it) then re-drill to the correct size. When adding a little hole like this you want to make sure the water doesn't end up soaking the core.

-Matt

Heartbeat
Catalina 25 Tall
#4816

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luckystar
Navigator

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USA
236 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 18:52:09

I agree with finding the source of the leak. I had the same problem and almost did the drilling, then installing a pump from the suggestion of a big inboard diesel boat owner. They have shafts that leak and are used to this problem, but with our boats, it's more likely coming from a stancion, port or the chainplates (like mine was) I was glad I searched for the leak as I found that it was draining down the chainplate in the head and soaking the wood before it got down to the port side locker. If i'd ignored it, you could have heard about my dismasting on this forum!! Good luck!

Patrick Burnett, Little Rock, AR
S/V Lucky Star #2707 1982 SK/SR 
<img src="http://www.proxycreative.com/clients/luckystar/luckystar_0602_sm.jpg" border=0> 
http://www.proxycreative.com/luckystar.html

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 21:58:27

Finding the leak is the right idea, especially if it's in the wood-cored deck or involves the plywood bulkheads (as with the upper shrouds). However, in the partitions you're talking about drilling, there's no wood core. If you want to put holes down there, just do it, as Leon did. The major drawback is you won't be as aware of the leaks that may be damaging wood up above. Another way to locate a leak is to draw chalk lines across the bottom in the suspected areas, watching for where the leak washes off the chalk. Very instructive.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

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sailor025
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2003 : 04:49:05

Thanks for all the advice. I will probably drill the holes, use the chalk idea and find the leak and fix it. It's nice to have so many people to talk to about this boat. They are great boats, aren't they!

Rodney

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2003 : 13:18:56

I would think twice about drilling a hole in the bottom of the battery compartment. That's a sealed tub for a reason.

Once after being in some rough conditions, I checked the batteries. One battery's hold-down strap broke loose and, in the tumbling around, spilled electolyte. I wouldn't want that draining down into the bilge.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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