Bilge in a 1971 V22

[UseDaGreyMatter]

I am sure someone will get a good laugh at this one but here it goes.


If the V22 has a bilge pump on it, I don't see it. In the interest of safely does anyone have some advice on how to cover this issue or install a bilge pump on this model just in case. Heaven forbid we should ever get swamped but lets face it odds are sooner or later we will have water inside and I have not got the first clue as to the best place to put one or what alternative's exist other then a bucket and sponges.

Thanks

 

[Sumner]

I put in a bilge pump on our S before leaving on the last trip, but see 2 problems with what I did.

On the S and D the ballast tank is in the middle and rises higher than the bilge areas under the seats on both sides of the cabin. Right now I have one pump on the port side and it can pump up and out a thru-hull fitting up on the side of the boat above the rub rail. I have pictures of the installation, but not on our site yet.

I have the pump wired to a switch by the seat. If we started to take on water we could turn it on. The boat isn't slipped, so when it is in the water we are on it over 90% of the time.

Now for the problem. If we say holed the boat on the port side that would probably be ok as we could turn on the pump. Now lets say we holed the boat on the starboard side. The water would come in, but not flow right away to the port side since the ballast tank would prevent that. So the boat would probably start to list more and more to starboard and the water might never rise enough for the pump on the port side to do anything.

I had bought 2 pumps, but ran out of time to put the second one in on the starboard side. The boat is in Florida and we are going back to Utah. When we return to the boat in the spring I'm taking the other pump and installing it.

Now the second problem and that involves turning the pump on and off manually. I thought this would probably work, but lets say you are taking on water. You are probably going to be pretty occupied with stopping it from coming in and/or getting the boat to shallow water. Turning the pump on is no problem, but what happens if it can pump the water out faster than it is coming in. The pump will go dry and maybe burn up and that wouldn't be good. You are busy and won't have time to go down and turn the pump on and off.

I'm going to install also when we go back two low water switches that will turn the pumps (2 switches, one for each pump) on and off anytime the water is above the pickup on the pump. Now even if we are off the boat we can turn the pumps on, but they won't come on unless the boat is taking on water.

For you maybe just one pump in the lowest part of the boat or close to it will work since you don't have the ballast tank. Now if the keel trunk divides the bilge in 2 then maybe you will have the same decision to make. Either way I would also install the auto switch so you don't have to turn the pump on and off. Still install a manual switch in the circuit so that you could override the other switch. I'd use a single pole double throw with a center off. That way you could turn it off or to on or to on only if the sensor switch also goes on.

Good luck and at some point I will post pictures of what I did,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[Knuttle]

I have had my Venture 21 since 1970, and the only water that I have gotten into the cabin is rainwater, and there have been times when sailing the because of the strength of wind and weather conditions, my wife has threatened to start throwing the breadfruit over board, if we did not go in. Water over the side of he cockpit maybe but not in the cabin.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Right, get a big sponge, & small bucket, and seal up the boat real well. chain plates especially.

 

[Steve Morris]

Manual Bilge Pump

I use a manual bilge pump and a bucket on my 1976 Venture 21. It works great. I hardly ever get any water in the bilge to begin with.

 

[Sumner]

Right, get a big sponge, & small bucket, and seal up the boat real well. chain plates especially.

Yep, as far as water in the bilge from rain a sponge is all that we have ever used. I sealed one of our windows and the chain plates when we left the boat. Hopefully there isn't much water in it when we return to it. It rains more in FL than Utah, so I do worry some.

The only reason I added the bilge pump was for an emergancy and hopefully we never have one .

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links


Sum

 

[timebandit]

Level the boat by using the water line and the companion way step and then put some water inside, that should tell you where to put the pump.

 

[UseDaGreyMatter]

Sounds good

I put in a bilge pump on our S before leaving on the last trip, but see 2 problems with what I did.

On the S and D the ballast tank is in the middle and rises higher than the bilge areas under the seats on both sides of the cabin. Right now I have one pump on the port side and it can pump up and out a thru-hull fitting up on the side of the boat above the rub rail. I have pictures of the installation, but not on our site yet.

I have the pump wired to a switch by the seat. If we started to take on water we could turn it on. The boat isn't slipped, so when it is in the water we are on it over 90% of the time.

Now for the problem. If we say holed the boat on the port side that would probably be ok as we could turn on the pump. Now lets say we holed the boat on the starboard side. The water would come in, but not flow right away to the port side since the ballast tank would prevent that. So the boat would probably start to list more and more to starboard and the water might never rise enough for the pump on the port side to do anything.

I had bought 2 pumps, but ran out of time to put the second one in on the starboard side. The boat is in Florida and we are going back to Utah. When we return to the boat in the spring I'm taking the other pump and installing it.

Now the second problem and that involves turning the pump on and off manually. I thought this would probably work, but lets say you are taking on water. You are probably going to be pretty occupied with stopping it from coming in and/or getting the boat to shallow water. Turning the pump on is no problem, but what happens if it can pump the water out faster than it is coming in. The pump will go dry and maybe burn up and that wouldn't be good. You are busy and won't have time to go down and turn the pump on and off.

I'm going to install also when we go back two low water switches that will turn the pumps (2 switches, one for each pump) on and off anytime the water is above the pickup on the pump. Now even if we are off the boat we can turn the pumps on, but they won't come on unless the boat is taking on water.

For you maybe just one pump in the lowest part of the boat or close to it will work since you don't have the ballast tank. Now if the keel trunk divides the bilge in 2 then maybe you will have the same decision to make. Either way I would also install the auto switch so you don't have to turn the pump on and off. Still install a manual switch in the circuit so that you could override the other switch. I'd use a single pole double throw with a center off. That way you could turn it off or to on or to on only if the sensor switch also goes on.

Good luck and at some point I will post pictures of what I did,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

Wow all that sounds like really good info. Being complete unfamiliar with that model I'm really lost. DO you have pics posted any where so I can see how it relates to my V 22? Thanks

 

[UseDaGreyMatter]

Special precautions

I have had my Venture 21 since 1970, and the only water that I have gotten into the cabin is rainwater, and there have been times when sailing the because of the strength of wind and weather conditions, my wife has threatened to start throwing the breadfruit over board, if we did not go in. Water over the side of he cockpit maybe but not in the cabin.

Other then using your had and not going out in a blow, did you take any special precautions to achieve this?

 

[UseDaGreyMatter]

Level and add water

Level the boat by using the water line and the companion way step and then put some water inside, that should tell you where to put the pump.

Ok got it thanks

 

[UseDaGreyMatter]

Sumner I wanted to mention that I read your pages and WOW Oh WOW you guys have got one rally impressively SWEET lookin' lady you have put together!
My compliments to you both!
In time I'm fully planning on stealing many ideas from your pages

 

[UseDaGreyMatter]

Next question, does any one have a recommendation of what kind to get ( lower end of price range) or what kinds to avoid like the plague?

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I've had good luck with the rule brand bilge pumps. its the float switch that is the big problem... 360 gph should do it... but the 500 is almost same cost and size...

on the manual pumps, I added a longer exit hose to the stock setup, so I can pump the boat from the bottom of the bilge.

 

[Robspan]

I bought a 12v bilge pump with about 10' of hose and attached a cigarette lighter plug to it so it could be moved around. I've had it for three years but haven't had to use it yet. I've said this before but I think the old quote is true: The best bilge pump is a scared guy with a bucket.
Sum, it looks to me that even if the hole is on the opposite side from where your bilge pump is located, not enough water would accumulate on that side before it flowed around to the pump that you would have that much of a problem.
The old sailing ships used a technique called "fothering." They would put a sail on the outside of the hull against the hole. The water pressure would keep the sail in place over the hole and slow down the leak enough that they could pump out the water while making a more permanent fix. We might be able to use a small blue tarp to do the same thing. I'm happy to say I've never had to try it so I don't know if it would work. With our boats, an easier solution might be to just run them aground.

 

[Knuttle]

Normal Maintenance

Other then using your had and not going out in a blow, did you take any special precautions to achieve this?

Just normal maintenance and Remembering that discretion is the bigger part of valor.

The hatch is on the center line. To get water into the cabin through the hatch the boat would have to be nearly sunk.

You could get water in the cabin if you were sailing in sufficiently large waves and they came over the bow and washed over the boat into the cockpit. In those condition it would be best "batten down the hatches" Remember the discretion part of valor.

 

[UseDaGreyMatter]

Me? In big waves?

Just normal maintenance and Remembering that discretion is the bigger part of valor.

The hatch is on the center line. To get water into the cabin through the hatch the boat would have to be nearly sunk.

You could get water in the cabin if you were sailing in sufficiently large waves and they came over the bow and washed over the boat into the cockpit. In those condition it would be best "batten down the hatches" Remember the discretion part of valor.

Hmmm,. Me? In big waves? in the V22? NOPE! if it is that bad my tush is back on shore, NOW! LOL
When I get the sails set up I'm making absolutely sure they ALL have multiple reef points and if I have to go to the final reef we are pointing the bow to the dock!
Rule 1 at least for a while is flat water sailing or the next thing to it. or once we hit the coast very light waves on coast, as in can you say shoreline!!!!!

My Mommy raised five very silly and foolish children. Fortunately for me they are all younger then I am. lol
She who reefs and gets to shore, keeps her boat to sail some more.

 

[UseDaGreyMatter]

I remember that

The old sailing ships used a technique called "fothering." They would put a sail on the outside of the hull against the hole. The water pressure would keep the sail in place over the hole and slow down the leak enough that they could pump out the water while making a more permanent fix. We might be able to use a small blue tarp to do the same thing. I'm happy to say I've never had to try it so I don't know if it would work. With our boats, an easier solution might be to just run them aground.

I remember reading something about that. Sounds like keeping an extra tarp and lines handy set up to reach around the hull might be a really good emergency thing to have on hand, Its not like it would take a lot of room or money. When you consider that when the flotation on these macgregors is in place, adding that could keep you alive long enough to get some help and a tow back to shore unless it was extreme circumstances.

:dance: