Water access to main bilge from engine bay.

[John C]

Is the only access from the engine bay to the bilge via the small holes in the bulkheads? This means all water must first flood the space between the liner and cabin sole including the aft keel bolt inspection chamber. This does not make sense to me. Is there meant to be a hose or something?

 

[Geoff McLaughlin]

One Way

I don't know what the original design intent was - but - the first owner of my 34 put a small bilge pump in the basin under the engine, and fed the outlet hose to the main bilge - this works pretty well at least as a fix.

 

[Pete Burger]

Engine bay drain

John, careful about providing an automatic drain from the engine "pan" to the bilge. The reason this is not provided is that it is against the law to dump oil or fuel overboard - big fines if caught. Since there is a likelihood of oil being leaked under the engine, it is isolated, and kept from the bilge.PeteS/V KAILANI

 

[Clyde Lichtenwalner]

Drain

Actually, I have my packing adjusted to the point where there is really very little water accumulated under the engine. I have thought many times of doing something about this nearly drainless catch basin, but even without a dripless stuffing box, water accumulation is not much of an issue. I keep a sponge in that area and when water accumulates, I sponge it out. As stated before, we are dealing with a pollution issue here as well as a safety issue. Inspecting this area for oil and fuel leaks is very important, and sponging out a cup or two of water every morning before starting is not a problem.

 

[Dakota Jim Russell]

Which Basin??

I thought the original question was the basin under the engine which usually has no drain to the bilge for polution reasons.The basin under the packing box needs little draining, and water here can be eliminated with a dripless packing. However, the Hunter, and many similar boats, are designed in a manner to let various water leaks drain behind the liner (whether on the floor or the ceiling) to the main bilge, allowing it to be collected at this point and pumped out.

 

[John]

Prevents pollution

Having owned a 34 and now a forty I am familiar with the engine drip pan. The bilge under the engine is designed that way to prevent accidental oil and fuel spills. If it were connected to the boats bilge and you had oil or fuel in oyur bilge when the auto bilge pump went on you would be polluting and subject to fines in the $10,000.00 catagory. I use the sponge system and keep the drip pan dry.