bilge water

[Beeg]

Just acquired a Cat. 25 swing keel. Haven't owned a boat in 35 years. Boat sat in cradle several years. Lots of mold and mildew in bilge and lockers. Most came out with bleach and water, which brought out this question. Water collects in bottoms of most spaces, doesn't drain to rear, where bilge pump is. There are lateral ribs under the floor visible through the hole in galley area floor covered with fiberglass that hold water and block it from draining aft. I drilled a very small hole down into one of these ribs, moisture and damp light wood shavings came out in the flutes of the drill bit. Question: can I drill a hole through these ribs to facilitate water drainage aft, where bilge pump is. Once I get rid the stagnant water and mold, I'd like to make it easier for water to get to the bilge pump to avoid this situation again..

 

[sailormanbigd]

drain holes

yes you can drill holes in your boat...its your boat do what you want. Sorry, could'nt resist. I too owned a sailboat without limber holes to drain lockers, compartments, etc. I could have drilled holes in the compartments but they were fiberglass about 3/16" thick (NO COREING TO GET WET) but alas i sold it first. Never did like sponging out all that water all the time, especially down here in FL mid summer. Once in awhile I could get one of my teenage sons to do it, but I feelt guilty for haveing them work for sailing.
You can drill limber (drain) holes if you make damn sure its not into anything or more importantly through something. You will have to decide on a way to protect the wood core though, something like small dia pvc tubing glued into the hole with epoxy or 3m 5200 to prevent water from destroying th wood. My 2cents Pat

 

[Ron20324]

Uummm... can't you stop the water from coming in in the first place?

 

[Ross]

When I have had to drill through any wood on my boat that was certainly going to get wet, I made the hole larger than my finger, put on a latex glove and digitally coated the wood in the hole with epoxy.

 

[mark_swart]

You might find that after the first hard sail the water will work itself out and to the lowest point in the boat. Then you just need to find your leaks so that no more comes in.

 

[Beeg]

thank's to all that answered.. all the small cat owners say they get water. the blige is only about 6 inches deep, but a good hard sail, or choppy seas causes the water to slosh everywhere. (around fresh and black water tanks, under forward and aft berths,under galley benches, everywhere) I know I'll never be able to kill all the old mold and mildew that's in the boat now. I just would like limit how much water stays in the boat when I'm not sailing her. I hoped I could usher most water under the aft berth, put in an automatic 500 gph bilge pump, and just have fun. She will sit in a powered slip in the harbor 7 to 10 days between trips.. Rain is tough, she has 6 windows, all leak. she's to old (1981) and gellcoat to weathered to attempt new gaskets.

 

[CalebD]

Would Catalina have made a boat that did not have limber holes in the ribs? I'd bet that there are limber holes but they are all plugged up with crud. Poking around with a finishing nail you might be able to find and clean out limber holes that were meant to be open.

 

[shipwreck66]

You're getting 6" water you got a definite leak around that swing keel or a through-hull fitting somewhere. My Catalina 25, a swing keel, had similar leaks. Did you ever have the thru-hull for a head intake? Those are notorious leak sources on boats that age