Wet Bilge?

[Jack]

Hi all,

I am curious about the long term effects of water in the bilge. So I thought I would post a few questions and try to start a discussion about it so I might gain better insight into the subject. Questions are at the end...

We have a traditional prop shaft/stuffing box set up and I have changed the stuffing about 2/3 seasons ago. I have recently tightened the stuffing box a little because I thought it might be dripping a bit too much. I will have more info on that success or failure next week. I have considered going to a dripless system but would like to get more opinions about it first.

My apologies if this has been done to death in the past and if so could someone please direct me to those archives.

Just wondering how many of us have water in the bilge on a regular basis?
How many have just accepted this as a natural part of boating and do you not see any long term effects on the keel bolts, thru hull fittings, grounding, etc?
How many have dry bilges, how did you achieve that and do you think it makes a difference either with systems or comfort?

Thanks for any and all info...

J&R

 

[Justin_NSA]

Check out the active "Dripless" thread. It may answer some of your questions.

 

[Jack]

Yes, thank you...
Lots of good info and answers some of the PSS questions I have been wondering about.
However, I am also wondering about any long term effects of water in the bilge may have on the mechanicals under the sole?
ie: keel bolts, grounding wires, thru hull fittings, pump mechanics, etc...

J&R

 

[JamesG161]

Just wondering how many of us have water in the bilge on a regular basis?

My OEM installed AC condensate line goes to my bilge and most bilge pumps are not a"shop vac".
So I have no worries about expected water in my bilge.
Jim...

 

[whatfiero]

I keep a sponge under stuffing box and ring it out every week hardly ever over fills sponge

 

[JamesG161]

keel bolts

Depends on your bolt/washer material.
Grounding wires? I hope not protected from water intrusion.
The rest is boat dependent. We need pictures.
Jim...

 

[Justin_NSA]

Are you in salt water?

 

[Jack]

My AC (not air conditioning) is grounded to two different keel bolts with two grounding wires each.
One recently corroded from it's copper connector. It was an easy replace/repair job but I would love to not have to worry about it if possible.
J&R

 

[Gunni]

Dry bilge. Volvo shaft seal. I would be most concerned by mold and airborne allergens. And unless your hull interior is barrier coated, a wet bilge represents a threat of moisture intrusion to your laminate - weakening of the hull.

 

[Roland5048]

I'm close to my boat so every time I go to her, which is pretty much every day, I check the bilge and sponge out any water. Most of the time any water in there is after a heavy rain. This way, if there is any water and it has been dry outside, I know to investigate further. Also, stainless needs to be exposed to air. Covering the keels bolts and nuts with water does them no good.
Also, after awhile, that stagnant water will begin to smell.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

How many have dry bilges, how did you achieve that and do you think it makes a difference either with systems or comfort?

Don't allow no stinkin' sea water in my bilge. That's where I store the toilet paper.

I'm a bit of a rebel as a hold over from the hippie era and I've run my flax/teflon packing gland bone dry for the last 17 years (about 1900 hrs.). This drives several members on this site around the bend because it DOES work if done properly. And by properly I mean, if you can set the lash on your diesel, you are over-qualified to run your gland dry. See here for the idea:

http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/do-we-really-need-to-leak.136282/&highlight=need to leak

 

[Jack]

Justin,
yes for salt water...which makes things a bit more critical
Gunni,
hull is barrier coated and yes,we are always concerned about letting airborne allergens and mold develop. I trust you are happy with the performance of the Volvo shaft seal?
Roland,
exactly what i was thinking, bilge water will soon become exhausted of oxygen which will have an adverse effect on any stainless steel keel bolts

This is so helpful to have people to bounce info and ideas off of!
Thanks...

J&R

 

[Gunni]

600 hrs on the OEM seal, no problemo. Are your interior bilges barrier coated, mine are not.

 

[Jack]

Ralph,

thanks for the link...
great info.

jack

 

[Benny17441]

My AC (not air conditioning) is grounded to two different keel bolts with two grounding wires each.
One recently corroded from it's copper connector. It was an easy replace/repair job but I would love to not have to worry about it if possible.
J&R

What AC? Alternating Current? Ground needs to be connected to shore back to the power pedestal. Running ground wires to the keel could gravely injure swimmers and pets in the water should a faulty appliance be plugged in. Please clear what you mean by AC?

 

[heritage]

Years of salt water in the bilge can corrode stainless steel keel bolts. This one wasn't too bad, a couple of others were completely destroyed. The corrosion occurs under the nut an

d washer where the bolt is deprived of oxygen.

 

[Chevy1217]

The only thing that gets my bilge wet is my icebox the drain heads right into it I just use a shop vac or the pump out at the dock depending on how long I was out and how much ice I used for the trip. It never bothers me at all I have drip less system and keel bolts don't leak ice box is only cause of my wet bilge Neva worrie

 

[Jack]

Benny,
I will try to get some photos of the wiring diagram and the actual wires attached too the bolts later today (sat)

Heritage,
that is exactly what I am concerned about. I am in a salt environment as well and I would like to avoid any unneccassary corrosion where ever possible.

Chevy,
I just built a cooler in the boat where the trash bin was. (we never used the trash bin) Used rigid foam insulation and got an R factor of 13. I 'T'eed the drain into my sump pump for the shower so now all i have to do is hit the pump switch to drain the cooler. Very convenient.

 

[JamesG161]

Years of salt water in the bilge can corrode stainless steel keel bolts.

A solution to this is to put a small zinc in your bilge water that connects all of your SS bolts electrically to the zinc.
I agree, the bolt shown in your picture, had insignificant corrosion that would affect the bolt's tensile strength.
Make sure your washers are Stainless Steel too!

I get the feeling from this post that most think salt water is bad actor. It, per se, is not, if you protect your metals. Heritage's comment about YEARS is spot on target! ( not days or weeks). Ask the US Navy.

IMHO bilge water is mostly a "odor" problem than a properly coated container and galvanic managed one.
I worry more about the near distilled water of my AC condensate having no dissolved metal's content than minimal salt water exposure (full of dissolved metals).

All my comments assume you are NOT putting a DC current flow to those bolts by grounding or a bad bilge pump motor wiring.
Jim...

 

[JamesG161]

bilge water will soon become exhausted of oxygen

Not if your bilge is open to air, but as Heritage pointed out, the washers or the the nut/bolt threads may have covered or starved the O2 in key areas. The zinc would nearly stop that. Stress Corrosion Cracking is minimal in most boat designs and would be ZERO if we used Alloy 20 stainless for our bolts.
Jim...