Bilge question - where is the water coming from?

petemos · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:24 pm Post subject:

Jim, the stuff we are discussing really is not effecting in integrity of the boat. As a prior owner of several large Sea Rays I would say the things we are dealing with are somewhat minor, but because of the boat size, the type of people that tend to buy these boats and the overall layout of the boat, they are more apparent. The people that buy these boats are normally somewhat handy and care for them like a car collector. They also don’t hold any info back and tend to want share any upgrades or small things they find to “help out the guys”. People share things like I found an extra screw in the bilge, anyone know where it may have come from? In my prior boats I always found extra screws and water in the bilge and didn’t give it a second thought. I just put the screws in a jar in case and made sure the pumps worked and the batteries were charged. These are really very simple boats with a lot of utility not much to go wrong and not many hidden problems you are going to find later.
That‘s my take and why, “and don’t take this wrong” i moved down to a smaller and simpler boat. I want to use it, not work on it.

Jim

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject:

jhayes1068 · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks, to everyone with information about water intrusion problems on some C-Dory's. That's the beauty of this forum: knowledgeable members willing to share information. As a rookie in the C-Dory world, I appreciate everyone's input. I'll just try to pick a great boat when the time comes. Thanks, Jim Very Happy

Pandy Girl · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:43 pm Post subject:

Hi to New Wantbees,
What you find here is very good info. Like water under the rear floor don't see anything that it will hurt. It is fresh water from Rain not Salt Water. Just think about all other brands that don;t tell other ones about things like this, they may be in salt water with salt water leaks but you never here anyone post it in their forms
Jim (Pandy Girl)

Tim & Dave Kinghorn · Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 5:29 pm Post subject: Just a Note About C-Brat Folk

Although it may seem to a casual viewer, that much is made of very little (to paraphrase Shakespeare), I have, too, found over the years that the many forums have been a great source of invaluable information. This site is unique, and I greatly admire those who set it up and maintain it.

Since becoming a member, I have tried, as Ross of "Pacific Wanderer" has said, to give back a little of the much I have received. And as someone else has said: Is there nothing so enjoyable as just mucking about in boats?

I would agree as Sea Wolf has so well written, that any glass-cored boat (and that seems to be most) needs to be carefully maintained. Especially when the core is breached, great care should be taken to ensure those holes are properly prepared. And as Sea Wolf (Jack London?) has also pointed out, the larger the boat, the more opportunities for water mischief. As Jim of C-You-Later pointed out, This was a major factor in his decision to move to a smaller and simpler boat.

Tim and Dave

mjsiega · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:27 pm Post subject:

Does the C-16 have any "inner hull cavities"? Is the drain plug in the bottom of the transom drain right from the cockpit or is there some inner cavity there?

-Mark

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:28 pm Post subject:

Mark, just looked at my 16. Right from the cockpit, no "inner cavity"

Charlie

petemos

I was just up in Canada this weekend and after spending most of the time dealing with house related issues, I did get some time to look over the boat and see how things were. I was able to see that I don't have a hole in the back floor, just forward of the aft bilge. As there was some water in the bilge after the winter, I did not have the time to dry things down and see if I actually have a water issue, or it's just water rolling in from behind the tanks. At least for this 2007 CD 22', it would seem to validate that the hole is a manufacturing error or the factory chipped away some glass during the completion process. I will be up in Canada again next week so if it does not rain I will dry everything down good and see what I get.

Jim

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:33 pm Post subject:

Since this was recently brought up again by someone else recently, in a new thread, and someone referred to this thread, I came here since I have a 2007 Cd-22. Low and behold, my boat has two holes. Each one just in front of the Fuel tank space bulkhead, in the bottom corners just outside of the bilge sump area. You can see in these photos the holes in the bottom of the bulkhead. While not shown in the photo, the holes in the very short side wall of the floor sole, are in the same position as those in the bulkhead, as if someone just drillled thru both from behind. So, in the several years that has passed since this thread, what have others learned or done with the holes? Colby

Sunbeam · Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 10:09 pm Post subject:

I don't have anything like this arrangement in my boat, but of course that doesn't stop me from being curious Laughing

Since I see a slight deflection of the fuel tank cover panel in the bottom photo, it makes me wonder if the two matching holes are where the cover panel could/should be attached to the slight vertical portion of the sole (after edge). Or are the lower/inboard edges of the cover panels secured some other way already (like to the fuel tank cleats or something)?

If they were meant to be limber holes, you'd expect (hope) them to be upside-down U shapes at hull (inside/bottom) level instead of raised, fully round holes.

Sunbeam

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 10:26 pm Post subject:

The bulkhead ahead of the fuel tanks is held in place by a few screws along the top. You can remove those top screws, and with a little bit of (ok, a lotta bit of... ;-( determination get those panels out to access the fuel tanks. I thought maybe there would have been screws in those bottom holes to hold the bulkhead against the floor. But then reading all the past comments in this thread, perhaps not. Otherwise, the panels are wedged between the floor and the fuel tanks. In any case, I wish I would have been able to take a mirror to take a picture of the side of the floor board. But if you can imagine pulling those bulkheads flush against the floorboard, the holes in the floorboard line up with the holes in the bulkhead....as if screws would have been in there at one time to attach the two. (Which would make more sense as I think those discussing this in the thread only seemed to have one hole and it was more in the center. Niether of my holes are low, but rather somewhat centered between top and bottom of the floorboard.

C-Dawg · Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:47 pm Post subject:

In my boat, those two holes are used for screws that hold the panel to the deck.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 1:00 am Post subject:

Sunbeam · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 1:27 am Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:31 am Post subject:

Hm, then maybe I just need to replace the screws. Wink

My floorboard is not removable. I don't know if it's exactly like Sunbeam described, without going out to look at it, but the cockpit floor is mostly sealed or bonded all around. No way to get it out with out some cutting. If I'm just missing screws there, then I don't have that hole that others have talked about. Again, it would make more sense to have screws there....Think I'll go ahead and replace them when I get a chance. As it is now, I don't believe it is hurting anything, and since they are not flush against the bottom, I don't think there is any water in there.