Enlarging Limber Holes?

[VisionPNW]

In order to facilitate easier cleaning out of my bilge on my Vision 32, I was thinking of enlarging the limber holes in the 2 bilge compartments. There seems to be a lot of gunk and water that is really difficult/impossible to get to. I was thinking of using a dremel to make the holes large enough to give enough access for my wetvac to get into. Before I did this, I just wanted to get some input and make sure I am not doing something that will cause issues I haven't thought of. Why would they make them so small anyway?

 

[ggrizzard]

If you do enlarge the holes, be sure to "thicken epoxy" the holes to insure no water intrusion to the core.

 

[Ron20324]

Water movement only needs a small hole. I guess the designer did not think people would allow debris to be allowed into the bilge. I agree.

 

[VisionPNW]

If you do enlarge the holes, be sure to "thicken epoxy" the holes to insure no water intrusion to the core.

I would be really surprised if there was cored fiberglass in the liner/grid structure. Can anyone verify?

 

[ggrizzard]

Ever seen blisters on a non-cored hull? I have.

 

[Hunter Ad Bot]

And now a word from the sponsor...

Cabinet catch for many Hunters

These catches were common on Hunters from the Legend-era through today's Marlow-Hunters. We keep a large stock on hand for emergency shipments or just getting spares.
See the product

 

[David in Sandusky]

It’s my understanding the the normal construction of a grid is fiberglass over wood timbers. This was confirmed when a friend rebuilt a waterlogged portion of the grid of his Juneau 32 a while back.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Wood for stingers and ribs in fiberglass hulls is common. Limber holes are almost always too small.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

I'd worry about using a dremel. You do not want any sharp corners in that limber hole as they are prone to cracking open. Safer to use a hole-saw. good luck

 

[Parsons]

I would be really surprised if there was cored fiberglass in the liner/grid structure. Can anyone verify?

I'll guess you will find out quickly when you look at what comes out of the hole as you drill. How thick are the stringers the limber holes are going through? When I look at my bilge, it's obvious that the partitions are the stringers, and they look like they're made of epoxied 2-inch thick wood. Really bad place for rot.

I'm not certain I'd thicken the epoxy much, however, as @ggrizzard notes, because although you do want it to hold in place at the top of the hole, you don't want it to take up much space in there.

 

[Will Gilmore]

How about a couple of pictures and measurements to judge better what approach seems right. Are you talking ribs or stringers or compartment walls? how big can you make the holes? Will a 1" or 2" hole be too big?

-Will (Dragonfly)