'96 Celebrity Firestar - draining in floor storage?

[rideus2003]

Did these storage bins have drains in them to drain when the plug is pulled back in 1996? Water pooled up on cover and some came back into boat and into the storage and just sits there. This boat had all new floor and stringers put in so I wondered if they forgot to drain this storage or if it never had one and I just need to grab some old towels? Nothing pumps out when I run bilge pump either....

 

[southkogs]

Generally lockers like that have a drain that runs back to the bilge. It's typically aft and in the lowest point of the locker. If they redid the deck and stringers without putting one in, you've got some problem solving to do.

 

[frankthomas]

I have a 1989 Celebrity 182se. At the aft of the storage is a small slot or hole that will let water drain back into the bilge. It is at the bottom of the aft wall right down at the bottom. It’s only about an inch wide and a half inch tall. Feel for it. Maybe they just covered it with the carpet.

 

[rideus2003]

Thanks - I will check it thoroughly tomorrow. Hoping they just covered it or maybe it ya gotten plugged. If not - I’m open to suggestions as to what I should do? Fingers crossed....

 

[Blind Date]

I'd call the company who rebuilt it and talk to them about it. Cannot believe they would have not put a drain in for the ski locker which leaves me to believe it is probably just plugged. I know my '90 Celebrity 180 I owned years back had a drain for the ski locker.

Oh and BTW I think Firestars are cool!.....nice boat!

 

[rideus2003]

Thanks Blind Date - I know exactly who did the work so I'll call them as well - I agree, they are a very reputable place so hoping a drain is there and it is just plugged. I'll post an update.

 

[rideus2003]

Went home on lunch - unless it’s a super small hole - appears it is fiberglassed solid. Pic is of the aft wall near the bottom - the newer carpet is already coming unglued. I poked around with screwdriver and didn’t find any drains. Calling place that redid it. Can one be drilled after the fact? Believe gas tank is behind it....as a novice, I'm a bit hesitant to drill anywhere. In the interim, I'll just use old towels to keep it dry.

 

[rideus2003]

I'd call the company who rebuilt it and talk to them about it. Cannot believe they would have not put a drain in for the ski locker which leaves me to believe it is probably just plugged. I know my '90 Celebrity 180 I owned years back had a drain for the ski locker.

Oh and BTW I think Firestars are cool!.....nice boat!

Just talked to the place that did it and they stated "all drains should have been re-installed, we can always add drains if needed".

I'll look at one more time and maybe run a toilet snake through the the "tunnel" that appears to lead to the floor storage under engine - from the pics I posted, if there is a drain somewhere, it is too small for the human eye to see or is plugged.

 

[rideus2003]

Anyone know if putting a drain hole in myself is feasible/doable? Seems the tunnel that runs back to the bilge is directly underneath the storage right down the middle - seems I could drill a hole down and water should drain into that tunnel and back to the bilge?

 

[JASinIL2006]

I can't imagine the original design did not include a drain. I am guessing someone screwed up and failed to put one in when they fixed the boat.

Just to see if it works, I'd probably drill a 1/4" hole in the intended location and see if the locker drains out as you expect. If it does, you can drill a slightly larger hole as a permanent solution. You also will have to figure out a way to waterproof the wood you're drilling through, or you create a site for rot to start. Or, you could just take it back to the guys who fixed and have them correct their error.