Bilge well holes!!

[Liam]

I have an automatic bilge pump in the bilge well. The pump comes on every two minutes. If it detects water pressure it keeps running until pressure is lost. If no pressure it cuts of in two seconds.<br /><br />In the same area there are two through holes, both are plugged, one from the inside and one outside. However, there is a third hole!! This one is in the side of the biloge well and drains from between the deck and the hull. I feel that this hole is a problem and should be plugged. <br /><br />I recently pulled the boat and water drained for a good 5 minutes. I believe the water (rain or washing) is going through this hole while the pump is idle and sitting in the hull.<br /><br />The boat is a 72 16' MFG. Should I plug this hole? Is my theory correct? All help greatly appreciated .<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Liam

 

[fone_man]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

My thoughts on automatic bilge pump.......<br /><br />...on a 16 ft boat... not needed unless it sits out in weather with no cover on it @ dock, etc...<br /><br />Put a manual bilge pump in w/switch you control & will not have to worry about it running or pulling battery down when away.<br /><br />

 

[grandx]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

Liam, <br />I have some experience with holes. I'm a bit confused about your description though. The hole in question... Is this the same hole that the bilge pumps water out? The other two holes you talked about... If they are not connected to anything (live well, wash down, etc) they should be plugged. The 3rd hole, if it is your bilge drain will not work if plugged of course. Is this hole sufficiently above the static water line (8" or better)? You could raise it, or you could put a check valve in line so it only drains and does not fill from the outside. If it is not the bilge hole, find out what its function is, if it does nothing usefull seal it off. Give some more details and I'll be glad to help. Assuming it is your bilg drain... while towing the boat, you may have displaced the water in the hull sufficently to raise the level at the pump, causing it to turn on and pump. Most pumps work with a float, when the level rises it activates.. Holes below the water line are a recipe for disaster, I speak from experience.

 

[Liam]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

Thanks fone_man and grandx,<br /><br />The boat is at the dock 24/7. The bilge pump drains out via tubing. The third hole allows water from deck into hull or the reverse (which it may be for) to allow water from hull to bilge well and then out via pump. I have the pump tubing going through with the steering cable into the transom. This third hole is probably just trouble and should be blocked. My concern is that I don't know why it is there in the first place!!<br /><br />Thanks again<br /><br />Liam

 

[TONY H]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

Liam, If I understand you correctly, you have two holes in the engine Well that probably will let water run overboard (Scuppers) and you have a single hole that lets water run from your Deck to your bilge. If that is correct AND you keep your boat in the water all the time, you need to put the bilge pump in the bilge. Many smaller boats have holes from the deck to the bilge because it is not uncommon to yank the plug out of the boat when it's on the trailer. You keep it in the water so all the Deck water is going straight into your bilge.<br />If you do plug this hole, you will get water gathering on the deck...how will you handle that issue?

 

[Liam]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

Sorry all, I am definitely no making myself clear. My deck has a small recessed box section that extends below the deck in the back (6"X8"). This is where the bilge pump sits. In this box there are three holes. Two extend out the back, through the body and are plugged. The third is on the port side of the box and leads to the cavity between the deck and the hull. If this is plugged the pump can clear all deck water. If not (which is the way I got the boat) this water can enter the cavity. I need to know why it is there and are there any consequences of plugging it?<br /><br />Thnaks to all who have given me assistance ,<br /><br />Liam

 

[Kyle Chism]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

Does your boat drain through the hull? I have a hole through which excess rainfall/water from swimming drains. If you boat does, then this is probably the purpose for that hole. This may help, or it may not. I am just a newbie.

 

[Liam]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

No, this does not drain through the hull. The box I described is like a catch basin for the deck. The bilge pump sits in there and pumps out above the transom. But if it is to be a catch basin it shouldn't have a hole that leads to the cavity between deck and hull . It is a 16ft MFG with a 60 HP johnson outboard.<br /><br />Thanks all,<br /><br />Liam

 

[Kyle Chism]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

If this basin is in the deck, check in the bilge to be sure that another hole isn't in the same place back there. If there is one, That is where it leads and it is for excess rainfall to exit out the plug hole. I had a similar problem because water was just sitting under my cuddy because it wasn't high enough for the water to drain back to the bilge. Sorry I can't help.

 

[philtheskipper]

Re: Bilge well holes!!

Get rid of the "2 minute" bilge pump and use a float switch(just my opinion). Next time you have it out of the water just through a hose in the compartment with pump disabled. Eventually you should be able to see where the water drains. I know, didn't take a college degree to think of this one but just might solve your problem.