Dagnabbit -- I should've been paying attention the weather!

[Doryman]

What was he gaining access to? You might be able to reach down and touch your bilge pumps but not enough room to "work" on them or remove them.... still, access is good... or is that are good?

I hope Roger jumps in and explains all! :smile

Warren

P.S. "access is good"; "accesses are good."

 

[Mike...]

Just an update on this. I put the TomCat into storage today. It seems the boat and I both survived this fishbox fiasco unscathed.

If I had the money, I would find a really good gelcoat guy and remove the fishboxes. They make me that grumpy.

I'll start a new thread about access to the macerators and bilge pumps. Roger's mod might help. Eventually, I'll have to find a solution, because as it stands now, I don't see how one can service any of those pumps.
---
mike

 

[Captains Cat]

Matt U has had his bilge pumps out. I was able to unsnap one from the base and bring it into the cockpit, the wiring is long enough to do that. The screen was plugged up and I think it burned the motor out. I replaced it with the same kind and things are OK now. Matt found that the screws holding it down were not bedded properly, not sure how I'd fix that. Or rather I know HOW to fix it, just not how to get at it to do it.

As I said earlier, both of my FB macerator pumps are hanging on their hoses, the fastenings to the transom have either broken or were never put in. I also have the Racor filters inside there, up high but still inside and I don't like that. I need to relocate them to the transom over the Armstrong bracket, maybe this season..

Charlie

 

[Dreamer]

Ah, the ever frustrating fishbox/bilge pump/macerator follies! I did cut the large holes in the back of the fishbox for access to the bilge pumps. Now, at least, I can see them. I haven't tried taking one out yet however.

My macerator pumps are firmly mounted to the transom and completely in-accessible with my battery shelf in place. I would have to remove it and two 150# batteries to get to them. They are both frozen up and inoperative. The fishboxes now drain into the bilge directly. Which seems to work OK as long as the bilge pumps work.

The fishboxes, no doubt, looked good on paper when the TC was designed. In practice, a constant source of annoyance. It will be interesting to see if the Sea-Sport TomCat is any different.

 

[Sea Wolf]

FISHBOX FOLLIES, Huh!!!???

Who's got a drawing or photo of how these are laid out in relation to the rest of the boat and equipment? (If you don't own a TC-255, you're kinda at a disadvantage in visualizing the exact issues.)

Why not replace them with big access doors to the bilge pumps, sonar transducers, and whatever else is down in the "basement below"?

There ought to be enough collective smarts among all us-n' country boys C-Brats to re-engineer those boxes, even if red-neck style....

The hatches Joel bought turned out to be waterproof, so there ought to be some even larger hatch covers that could work for these.

I've even got a '54 Oldsmobile trunk lid you might try out, just for openers.....


Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

The fishboxes now drain into the bilge directly. Which seems to work OK as long as the bilge pumps work.
.

Wow, that has the potential to provide some interesting odors. I wonder if we can get an urban legend going here. Remember the one about the Corvette for sale for $1.00 because the owner died and was in the car for a long period of time....

 

[Mike...]

Who's got a drawing or photo of how these are laid out in relation to the rest of the boat and equipment?....
Why not replace them with big access doors to the bilge pumps, sonar transducers, and whatever else is down in the "basement below"?

I don't have any pictures of the cockpit. Maybe someone else here can post some.

It is an interesting question, however. I have pondered that, but the hatches would have to be doggone watertight. I really don't want to lose the advantages of the self-bailing cockpit -though I recognize that that are likely some who are not fans of those scuppers. Who knows, maybe I won't like them either.

'54 Oldsmobile trunk lid. Love it.
---
mike

 

[Mike...]

Ah, the ever frustrating fishbox/bilge pump/macerator follies! I did cut the large holes in the back of the fishbox for access to the bilge pumps. Now, at least, I can see them. I haven't tried taking one out yet however.

Hello Roger,

I completely understand why you did this, but I would not have the nerve to cut the drain holes, let alone holes big enough for those access plates! Doesn't mean I can't get someone else to do it though. But as I mentioned above, I am worried about losing the advantages of the self-bailing cockpit.

Still the fish boxes are a pain, and more importantly, I see no way to service the macerators and bilge pumps. But even with your access plates, it doesn't look like it would help with the bilge pumps.

Maybe my bilge pumps snap in like Charlie's. I'll have to check that this spring.
---
mike

 

[Dreamer]

Wow, that has the potential to provide some interesting odors. I wonder if we can get an urban legend going here. Remember the one about the Corvette for sale for $1.00 because the owner died and was in the car for a long period of time....

That would be a definite possibility if I ever kept something like fish in the boxes! Usually just cleaning supplies, hose and power cords down there. And, of course, the ever present mildew. You can probably tell how much I love my fish boxes...