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Water in bilge - pump pick-up questions

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/28/2004 : 22:48:44

(Checked tech-tips, searched forum archives and read the manual..didn't find the answers I'm looking for.)

The pickup hose for the manual bilge pump on my C25 Swing keel, traditional interior, is a hunk of very old, VERY stiff garden hose. The end of this line, which I assume should be down in the bilge somewhere, is actually located curled up under the drawers beneath the galley sink - doing a lot of good there, I know. I'll go with an electric pump as soon as I can but, in the meantime would like to at least have the manual pump pick-up in the right place.

The manual says, "The pump pick-up is in the keel stub under the main cabin sole."

1. To me, there does not appear to be access to run the hose (will get a new hose, of course) forward from the area below the galley sink because the hull liner rises to the cabin sole at that point.

2. Once I resolve issue #1, how far forward should the hose run? I'm assuming about midway through the cabin would be the lowest point of the bilge? What exactly is the keel stub?

3. I have water accumulating on the starboard side so I intend to run the pick-up hose forward on that side. Make sense?

4. I used a hand pump today through the access plate on the starboard sole (next to the keel pivot point) and pumped nearly two gallons of water from the starboard bilge area. I have not taken the time yet to do the "chalk" test to see where the water is coming from but I'm assuming that much of that water is the result of window leakage during Hurricane Charley and some heavy storms that followed days later. Does that seem like a lot of water in the bilge or not compared to other's experiences?

Thanks a bunch for any advice.

Steve

Steve Madden
'87 WK #5668 "Lorica"
Fort Myers, FL

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RoofRoof
Navigator

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USA
186 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 03:05:32

The previous owner of my boat used schedule 40 PVC pipe to run down both sides of the keel. These are plumbed to the manual bilge pump in the cockpit. I added electric pumps.

Also, for the starboard side I found this very small elec. pump called a super sub. It's about 2X2X6. So, you can cut a hole in the vertical wall and push it forward with a fairly stiff hose attached. I'll offer more details later when I have more time.

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 09:49:34

Steve, on 0029 the hose goes under the liner under the galley sink. My hose was also pulled out and coiled up under the galley sink.
This poor photo is looking down at the hull under the galley sink. If you stick your head through the cabinet and look strait down. On my boat there is a small opening between the liner and hull the hose goes through. I cannot push the hose through either. Kinda like pushing a rope!
Good Luck
http://home.wmis.net/~dhapp/hose.jpg

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 10:58:36

Dan -

Actually, that's a great pic and I appreciate your posting it. I know exactly what it's showing. Unfortunately, my boat doesn't have a hole where yours does. However, that doesn't mean one couldn't be put there. Based on my previous project experiences over the years, I'm a bit skittish about playing with drills and/or saws near the hull when below the waterline but, what the heck, nothing ventured- nothing sunk, er...gained, right?

Thanks,

Steve

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ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 10:39:31

Slightly different question: We had some smell in the bilge, so I dumped water in there to wash it out. The manual intake seems to be too far back, so it hardly picks up any water. Shouldn't the end of it be in the lowest part of the bilge? There is an electric pump in there but it did not take up the last 1/2 - 3/4 in of the water either. Could the electric pump be clogged?

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WGriswold
Deckhand

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USA
23 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2004 : 16:04:01

I've always assumed that the manual bilge pump was for disasters and not to keep the bilges anywhere near dry. Mine was under the cabinets under the aft sink when I bought the boat. Only useful when water is quite deep, probably in the cabin, one step from using a bucket. I think only an electric pump would keep the bilges dry or nearly so.

Wait Griswold
C25, Lake Tahoe

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2004 : 17:34:24

I use a small 2 gallon wet/dry shop vac to dry out the bilge. My bilge gets wet when I remove the knotmeter paddle to clean it. The shop vac is available at Home Depot for $35. I keep it on board. Seems I loan it out to just about everyone on the dock at one time or another.

You can also put the filter on and use it to clean up inside.

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2004 : 20:24:40

I just did the "chalk" thing in as many potential leakage places as I could find and am looking forward to seeing where the water marks are after the next rain. Of course, the next rain is supposed to be 6 to 10 inches from hurricane Frances so it should give me plenty of opportunity to find any leaks. Sure hope there are some because the alternative means the water in my bilge is coming through the hull somewhere.

With the hatch closed and the companionway boards in, I'm surprised how much open daylight there is at both upper corners of the top board. Gotta fill that in before Frances arrives too.

Steve

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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.