Drill hole where?

[rhythmsurfer]

I am installing a second bilge pump and float switch foward of the primary bilge pump/float switch. This is on a 1981 Hunter 36. I drilled a second through hull for the foward pump. This way, it has its own dedicated hose. Here is my propblem/question: The bilge has stringers?(I think that is what you call them) that divide the bilge into compartments. The problem is the hose needs to reach the foward pump. Where should I drill the hole for the hose to go through the stringer? In the middle? Off to the side? Does it matter?
Thanks,
Tony

 

[Roger Long]

Where should I drill the hole for the hose to go through the stringer? In the middle? Off to the side? Does it matter?

The best spot would probably be as close to the hull as possible but I wouldn't want you to drill a hole on my say so without knowing a lot more. Any hole could result in the stringer breaking if there is an impact at that point.

 

[Winkfish]

Are there not drain holes already in the stringers? How would water in one bilge compartment get to the other compartments? The few ones I've seen have drain holes connecting one compartment to the next, so the bilge fluids can flow appropriately.

 

[Maine Sail]

If I am not mistaken the older Hunter stringers are wood encapsulated in fiberglass. With any drilled hole you should seal the wood from potential water intrusion into the wood or the stringers will rot. Try routing the hose above and around the stringer and come down from behind the settees, into that stringer compartment, if you can.

You really don't want to drill holes in stringers if you can't seal the wood and keep it dry.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Rather than potentially weaken a stringer, what I would do is drill a small hole in each stringer to allow water to flow to the location where you wan to install the pump. Make sure the hole(s) are sufficiently large enough to ensure you can epoxy or otherwise waterproof the hole if stringers are wood which would be self-evident once you look at the drill dust.

 

[Winkfish]

Don, that's exactly what I've seen. I just figured that was standard on boats with compartmentalized bilges.

 

[Ross]

I believe that on wooden boats they are called limber holes. I agree with Maine Sail go around the stringers. This is going to be water under pressure so gravity doesn't need to be considered.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

or you could double up the stringer, fiberglassing a piece of wood to it, making in effect a cripple stud. then drill your hole.

 

[rhythmsurfer]

Thanks for the replies. I should have posted a picture but it is hard to tell that there is a 1/2" gap between the stringer and the bottom of the bilge. Water flows "through" this gap.