H30 False Bilge

[sandpiper10471]

Discovered last fall my new- to-me shoal draft '81H30 has a false sump about 8" above the keel and on which sit the keel bolt nuts and bilge pump. This is my third Cherubini and this false bottom is an entirely new concept to me. I see a number of posts regarding the Cherubini 34 but haven't seen mention of the H30. The "plate" is solid glass about 1/2" thick. Have other H30 owners discovered this? Is it installed only with shoal draft keels? What purpose does it serve?

 

[Dalliance]

My ‘82 H30 does not have this. I have the standard draft (5’-3”) keel and I always assumed the only difference between it and the shoal draft was the bolted on keel itself. Maybe there is some kind of previous owner modification(?). Photos would help.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

I have never heard of such a thing in real life. I can think of no reason to have a ‘false bilge’ above the actual keel bolts except as a trick for smuggling (which I actually imagined in like 1983). As a feature it can serve no meaningful purpose and is profoundly UNseaworthy.

 

[sandpiper10471]

The sump bottom is 22" below the salon sole. The false sump is 14" below the sole. The keel bolts and washers are on top of the false sole.Thus, the bolts are well over 8" long.

 

[sandpiper10471]

Photo of false sump, 81H30, with inspection/exploration hole cut out.