H37C Starboard Cockpit Locker -- does it drain to bilge?

[sailnc]

Subject line pretty much says it all... I'm referring to the deep locker that appears to extend nearly to the bilge.
There was a lot of stuff stored in that locker in our new-to-us boat, and a fair amount of moisture, mildew and general grunge. Now that it is emptied out, I am very tempted to take a pressure washer to the thing, but wondered whether the water will safely drain to the bilge for pumping out? Are there places down in there that could trap water, or anything that could be harmed?
I haven't crawled down in there to look, and I'm not sure I want to without a Hazmat suit...
thanks!
Tom

 

[Jim Legere]

The bottom of the starboard cockpit locker is part of the 'pan' or liner that is bonded into the hull. This includes the area under the engine as well as the cabin sole. On my boat there is a hole cut in the pan under the galley drawers, for access to wiring and the suction hose for the manual bilge pump. There is also a round inspection hatch with removable cover behind the hot water heater (under the cockpit sole) that allows access to the shaft strut bolts. On my boat those are the only two ways that the bottom of the starboard locker connects with the bilge. Normally water will find its way out onto the cabin sole, under the drawers and in front of the stove. For this reason, I would not pressure wash that cockpit locker on my boat. Water on the galley floor does eventually find its way to the bilge via the grating at the bottom of the companion-way steps, but it also ruins the teak & holly plywood. This is a design flaw I hope to address when I replace the teak and holly cabin sole. I expect some kind of a dam & drain approach on the pan under the galley drawers may work. I will report back once I have figured this out.

 

[Johnb]

To be honest I figure that pressure washers are an invitation to damage just about anywhere other than outside the hull. Elbow grease and time will get you there. In that space a stiff brush and a shop vac will work until you have got most of it out and then damp mop/rag.

I have used detergent and water under the engine and in the bilge. I use a thirsty mate pump to get it into a container for on shore disposal.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Correct, the shelf under the icebox leads to bad places. Behind the drawers and the stove and onto the cabin sole. The muffler lays on the same shelf. I had pin hole leaks and could not find the source for the longest time. On port tacks water would appear in front of the stove. And so you get this picture.

 

[sailnc]

Thanks, all, for the insights. Glad I asked.
I managed to clean out that locker the old-fashioned way today. As nasty as it looked, the gelcoat cleaned up pretty well with some bleach/detergent mix and a lot of work. Tried to limit how much water got to the bottom but in order to rinse it, some was unavoidable.
So the teak&holly floor is laid right on top of this floor liner, in contact with it? I can see the angled part of the fiberglass liner in your photo that corresponds to the same angled portion of the wooden floor. Very interesting...and a bit surprising, given the potential for water to find its way there. I have noticed a slightly soft spot in the sole, in that angled area...perhaps this explains it.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Correct, that angled part probably just lost its adhesion. Maybe due to water but could just be time. There is not a lot of adhesive holding the plywood to the glass. Here's the new piece before the baseboard was reinstalled. Just noticed that I got my toes in the pic.

 

[frankies56]

Yes But I am courios. where is the water coming from ? I have seen this on a starboard tack and thought the water pressure to the cockpit was leaking some where behind that as there is no sea cock anywere near there. we were going pretty fast and hit 9.5 knots healing pretty good to any imput !

 

[Ed Schenck]

Any water behind the engine will find its way to the galley sole on a port tack.
The water can come from the hot water heater, engine hoses, and in my case a muffler full of pin holes. And you could not see it! Not even sure how we finally found it.

 

[frankies56]

You were right Ed, it was water heater. loose clamp. just had to go back there. and take a look.