I have a '85 28.5. Any water that gets on the floor of where the engine is, has a tendcy to linger for a very long time before it drains to the bilge. There seems to be quite a bit of tunneling going on from all the different sections under the flooring to the lowest section where my bilge is. In all those sections water seems to accumulate a bit..to eventually pass on only after a while. How do you clean and maintain these channels for water passage! Should water not be building up and hanging out at all....that is sort-of my guess! I also only have one power bilge on board...should I have a back-up???
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Design Flaw
James, The 28.5 (and many older models) was designed with no drainage between the various cavities created by the molded in ribs and stringers. This was an acknowledged design flaw. The pooled water would show up mysteriously while heeled, slowly rotting out the cabin sole from below. Many owners have drilled holes between the sections to allow water to flow. Sounds like someone already did that to your boat. I caulked in some hoses because I didn't know if there was any wood below that may be affected by the free flowing water... I keep a good sponge and bucket availble to drain the engine comparment (It does not drain to my bilge) A properly adjusted packing gland should not permit very much water to collect in that compartment. Some folks have added a second electric bilge pump. I carry a piston type hand bilge pump as a backup. Enjoy your 28.5. We have enjoyed ours for years (and will continue to do so untill both daughters graduate from UF!) Rick Greyson s/v Parrot Eyes
James, The 28.5 (and many older models) was designed with no drainage between the various cavities created by the molded in ribs and stringers. This was an acknowledged design flaw. The pooled water would show up mysteriously while heeled, slowly rotting out the cabin sole from below. Many owners have drilled holes between the sections to allow water to flow. Sounds like someone already did that to your boat. I caulked in some hoses because I didn't know if there was any wood below that may be affected by the free flowing water... I keep a good sponge and bucket availble to drain the engine comparment (It does not drain to my bilge) A properly adjusted packing gland should not permit very much water to collect in that compartment. Some folks have added a second electric bilge pump. I carry a piston type hand bilge pump as a backup. Enjoy your 28.5. We have enjoyed ours for years (and will continue to do so untill both daughters graduate from UF!) Rick Greyson s/v Parrot Eyes
Bilge
You may wish to reconsider the drilling of holes between the engine compartment and the bilge. If you look inside the engine compartment cover you should see a very large sticker warning about pumping waste overboard. I have seen on this forum the topic discussed several times and you may wish to review the archives. I know that on my 28.5, which is fairly dry, the water collected in the engine compartment still picks up traces of diesel and oil. I use a boom to collect. In the larger picture, these traces would be small in impact but tell me you ever spill a drop of oil or fuel when changing oil or bleeding the fuel system. Also this fuel and oil will migrate to the bilge through the stringer system leaving a not so pleasant oder. Your call.
You may wish to reconsider the drilling of holes between the engine compartment and the bilge. If you look inside the engine compartment cover you should see a very large sticker warning about pumping waste overboard. I have seen on this forum the topic discussed several times and you may wish to review the archives. I know that on my 28.5, which is fairly dry, the water collected in the engine compartment still picks up traces of diesel and oil. I use a boom to collect. In the larger picture, these traces would be small in impact but tell me you ever spill a drop of oil or fuel when changing oil or bleeding the fuel system. Also this fuel and oil will migrate to the bilge through the stringer system leaving a not so pleasant oder. Your call.
My only "major" problem
with my 1987, 28.5 has been drainage as you described, although water/fluids from the engine compartment is minimal. I usually sponge that area out on an as needed basis. My biggest problem was a leak (minor thank God) from the waste holding tank that ended up under the floor boards. If you look around,you'll also notice that ANY leak from the hot water heater or the fuel tank will also NOT wind up in the bilge unless someone has opened-up or drilled their own "limber holes" to allow drainage forward to the main bilge. I'm happy to report that after sealing some minor leaks around the windows over the sink and nav. station and chasing down the leak at the holding tank, my 28.5 is a very dry boat . My bilge pump never runs on its own!!! Design flaw YES, but you can make this a VERY dry boat. I'd take a serious look at the packing gland around the prop shaft if I was taking on alot of water in the engine compartment.
with my 1987, 28.5 has been drainage as you described, although water/fluids from the engine compartment is minimal. I usually sponge that area out on an as needed basis. My biggest problem was a leak (minor thank God) from the waste holding tank that ended up under the floor boards. If you look around,you'll also notice that ANY leak from the hot water heater or the fuel tank will also NOT wind up in the bilge unless someone has opened-up or drilled their own "limber holes" to allow drainage forward to the main bilge. I'm happy to report that after sealing some minor leaks around the windows over the sink and nav. station and chasing down the leak at the holding tank, my 28.5 is a very dry boat . My bilge pump never runs on its own!!! Design flaw YES, but you can make this a VERY dry boat. I'd take a serious look at the packing gland around the prop shaft if I was taking on alot of water in the engine compartment.
Bilge
I think Eric has it right. I believe there is an EPA type requirement that the engine "compartment " be separate from the "main Bilge" to prevent oil and fuel from being pumped over board. He also has a good point about diesel under the sole, which would be some what unpleasent. My 28.5 is so dry that there is dust in the bilge I clean out yearly. The only area with water is the diesel bilge where I sponge it out regularly. My stuffing box only drips while the shaft is turning and not at rest. Therefore I water containment is not much of a problem.
I think Eric has it right. I believe there is an EPA type requirement that the engine "compartment " be separate from the "main Bilge" to prevent oil and fuel from being pumped over board. He also has a good point about diesel under the sole, which would be some what unpleasent. My 28.5 is so dry that there is dust in the bilge I clean out yearly. The only area with water is the diesel bilge where I sponge it out regularly. My stuffing box only drips while the shaft is turning and not at rest. Therefore I water containment is not much of a problem.
Water
You can also buy absorbant bilge pillows to sit under the engine which does a good job of keeping that area dry. It will soak up any fuel there may be and the water seems to evaporate out of the pillow readily when you run the engine for a while. Enjoy! Great boat.
You can also buy absorbant bilge pillows to sit under the engine which does a good job of keeping that area dry. It will soak up any fuel there may be and the water seems to evaporate out of the pillow readily when you run the engine for a while. Enjoy! Great boat.
Engine Diaper and Packing Gland
First - packing gland at next haul-out. Repack it as needed, or on a scheduled basis, whichever is better. Then engine diaper (absorbs oils, not water) under engine. Water is common in boat bilges, but keep the oil, diesel, waste, dead crayfish, fur balls, etc. out of the bilge. Flush drain holes and hidden bilge compartments with bilge cleaner periodically for a clean smell. This technique might not hold immediate results, but may be considered more of a long term approach.
First - packing gland at next haul-out. Repack it as needed, or on a scheduled basis, whichever is better. Then engine diaper (absorbs oils, not water) under engine. Water is common in boat bilges, but keep the oil, diesel, waste, dead crayfish, fur balls, etc. out of the bilge. Flush drain holes and hidden bilge compartments with bilge cleaner periodically for a clean smell. This technique might not hold immediate results, but may be considered more of a long term approach.
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