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What are these holes?

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T O P I C R E V I E W
dkharvie	Posted - 04/16/2021 : 08:58:26 New to sailing and just bought a 1987 Cat-25 #5320. I need to install a new bilge pump. I see a plastic mount where an old one was but not sure what these two holes were for? An even older pump? There's a bit of water in there so I'd like to seal them. Appreciate any answers.
7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Voyager	Posted - 04/18/2021 : 06:20:22 Also, if you find a few inches or more of water in the keel sump area, a plastic handheld kayak bilge pump can remove a great deal of water quickly.
Voyager	Posted - 04/18/2021 : 06:17:09 If you don�t have an electric heater for drying it out down below, I�ve used a small electric fan for air circulation and a small lamp with two 100W conventional (not LED) light bulbs. 200W of incandescent lights will produce a surprising amount of heat, so make sure to keep any flammable material like paper, cloth or rope away from direct contact with the bulbs.
Stinkpotter	Posted - 04/17/2021 : 10:38:42 If you don't see signs of water having been down there for a while, you should be fine with a simple fill--I'll suggest Gflex epoxy. Nice to hear you're returning her to service...
dkharvie	Posted - 04/17/2021 : 04:16:32 Thanks for all the advice... Definitely going to get it dry and fill them up. Still another 3 weeks until it's in the water for the first time in 4 years.
Stinkpotter	Posted - 04/16/2021 : 12:25:41 They look pretty big to me for screw holes. Are there a couple of smaller ones just to the left of or your arrows? Do the holes go deeper than a couple of inches, as if into the lead in the keel? (That might suggest a P.O. planned to add some keel bolts--something people do with their cast iron keels from earlier years, but unnecessary and I'd say a mistake in that vintage with its lead encapsulated keel with stainless bolts. As Steve says, the holes shouldn't remain there due to what I suspect is a wood core under the fiberglass like my '85 had. All water (rain leaks or whatever) wants to migrate to that keel sump. I'd check for moisture if possible, dry it out if necessary, then maybe pour in some penetrating epoxy like Git Rot, let that soak in to the surrounding core and mostly cure, and then fill with thickened epoxy.
Steve Milby	Posted - 04/16/2021 : 10:34:01 I don't know about the 1987 models, but the older C25s had plywood under that fiberglass. It's possible that the factory used fiberglass instead of plywood in later years. If that plywood gets wet and mushy, it's not good. No holes should be drilled in that surface. My C25 had no holes in it when I bought it new. My best guess is that the prior owner drilled the holes, including the ones that hold down the hose. The factory didn't install a hold-down for the hose on my boat. If the plywood is damaged, it can be repaired, but nobody wants to repair their boat when they'd rather be sailing it. First, I'd cover the boat with a tarp from stem to stern to keep any more water from getting in from any leak source. Next, I'd put some kind of small electric, low power heat source in the bilge and leave it there for at least 2-3 days or more to dry it out as much as possible. Then I'd seal all the holes with a little fiberglass resin, just to stop anymore water from getting in. The only way, and easiest way, I can think to determine if it's damaged underneath is to torque the keel bolts. They'll probably need a little tightening just from normal use, but they shouldn't need a massive amount of tightening. (I don't know the correct amount of torque, but someone else here can probably tell you. If not, call Catalina's customer service, and a Catalina tech can tell you. They're very helpful.) If they aren't too loose, then it will probably be OK. If they're very loose, then you'll probably need to cut out the floor, replace the plywood and fiberglass it over. Catalina will furnish drawings and recommendations for how to do the job upon request.
islander	Posted - 04/16/2021 : 09:40:04 Looks like some leftover screw holes from a old bilge pump. These boats only came with a manual pump so my guess is that a PO installed an electric pump that is no longer there.

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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.