HELP! 28.5 Black Bilgewater

[mister_j]

I have recurrent black, smelly, mildew water beneath the floor of my 28.5. It's in the section aft of the bilge pump area, but doesn't drain into the bilge. I unscrew and pull up the narrow floorboard and clean it out frequently and it always reappears after I'm out sailing. I've been trying without succes to figure out where this stuff might be coming from.Anyone had to deal with this before? I would sure like to hear from the voice of experience!

 

[Warren Milberg]

Bilge Water

I, too, had some water in the area behind the bilge in my 1986 H28.5 when I bought it. I found the source(s) to be: run-off from the packing gland, shower, and ice box running along the stringers and not getting to the bilge. I have re-plumbed the shower and ice chest to go directly to the bilge. I also readjusted the stuffing box so that it drips only enough to keep the shaft cool. I also placed one of those absorbent mats under the engine. No more black water.FWIW, I was also going to re-plumb the drainage area under the engine to allow drips from the stuffing box to go directly to the bilge, too, but so far the amount of water under the engine is minimal.

 

[Dave9990]

Warren!

Can you post any pictures of you drain plumbing either here or on the twentyeightfive site?Thanks,Dave

 

[texastom]

I posted this problem before

I have the same problem in my main bilge. I possed the problem to Peggy and she confirmed that it is probably from the ice box since we don't use the shower. It's the only thing that drains into the bilge other than the stuffing box. As Peggy says we have created a swamp in our bilge area. Because I live in a hot, humid climate it doesn't take too much for bacteria to get started. The only solution for me is to pump the ice box drainage out of the boat some how. Let me know if you have another solution. My bilge is stained black.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Trying to solve a problem without doing any work?

I thought this problem looked familiar...Boats are endless work. That is, unless you're willing to take a lot less than it would be worth if you'd done it when you sell it.So ya only got a couple of choices: Cut and install a hatch or a sump, or live with the odor. You can prob'ly knock it down by pouring bleach down the ice box drain..but that's gonna eventually destroy the drain hose.Just 'cuz the builder didn't do it doesn't mean it shouldn't be done: cut the hatch. You'll improve the value of your boat.

 

[Dave Smith]

Its bilge water

I had this problem also, bilge water spills into that compartment when the boat heels over, I dont think its ice box water because that drains inbto the main bilge, drill some holes so it can drain, dont drill thru the hull though

 

[Bruce]

Pump for the ice box drain?

Had the same problem but not as bad. There was always a little smelly water in the bilge. Came from the ice box drain. I cut the drain hose, put in a small bait box pump(watertight for $15) in the line. Then I ran the line into the sink drain with a $2, 1 1/4" dishwasher drain fitting from the local hardware.Bingo! No more smell.Just run some a little clean water thru the icebox to clean it out. A cap of bleach doesn't hurt either. Works for me.Good luck.

 

[Mike H.]

bilge bile

When I removed the sole of my hunter 28.5, I found plenty of fungi-based horror festering between the stringers aft of the bilge. There are weep holes in each stringer up to but NOT including the engine tray area. However, these weep holes are about 1/4" or more off the hull, so water gets trapped in between the stringers and then you have your black yucky stinky water.The sources for the black water are as the other posters have said - the ice box and the shower drain can contribute especially if the original shower hose is still under there - it probably has developed cracks. Now theoretically, the engine tray water should NOT find it's way into the forward stringers or the bilge because it may contain fuel, oil or both - and pumping that stuff out into the sea is a major no-no. Some water can get into the stringers from where the battery cables run through the stringer to the starter.Also, the fresh water supply to the galley sink runs through one of these stringers and in my case, I had a fresh water tubing leak inside the stringer that contributed to the water accumulating in this area.When I replaced the sole - I cleaned the stringers aft of the bilge as best I could. I also opened the weep holes so they met the hull to maximize the water flow into the bilge. I replaced the shower drain hose, but I did not plumb the ice box. I have had very little water in these rear stringers even though I use the ice box - presumably because I opened the weep holes to meet the hull, allowing for more complete run-off into the bilge. Removing the sole is a ton of work, as you have to disassemble the galley to do this. I agree with the other post that the less labor instensive solution is to add a sole hatch so you can clean/flush regularly. Note there is no access to the inside of the stringers other than the weep holes, so you will never get the inside of the stringers completely goo free.Good luck....PS - to replace the galley plumbing, you do not have to remove the sole since the run through the stringer and are not exposed under the sole.....