Dry bilge obsession

[Home Cookin']

Re: Dry bilge obsession

why not go to the baby super store and get one of those bed-wetting alarms?
My view is--if it's not floating the float, it's not enough to worry about. If I had an antique wooden boat I might handle it differently. I like the way a good hard rain washes my boat--but it is set up for use on the water, so it won't hurt it.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

Previous owner of my boat didn't pay attention to the issue, and he always had a water in the bilge up to the lower switching point of the pump. As a result - mould everywhere below the floor, and the smell, which I can stand anymore, and we spend every weekend on the boat, and 3 weeks of vacation every summer.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Dry bilge obsession

you have a good point; like all things boating one size doesn't fit all. The way my boats sit, very little is accumulate around the plug area and there's no cabin to foul. A cabin cruiser with bilge awash would be a different matter.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

The front 35' of my houseboat stays bone dry up until the waves come crashing up over the front deck.. 3-5ft waves to do that... I generally try to stay out of em...

The last 5' of the boat, another story.... the ducting for the bilge sits on the deck, which is only 14-16" off the water. I've been swamped at my mooring before by boats racing to the edge of the no-wake zone. Im moored right on the edge of the no-wake..

Steel hull, and piles of flaky rust right now, so I didn't really worry too much about keeping it bone dry, because it was more muck than water. Working on getting it scraped clean and epoxied, and then I'll probably think more about keeping it dry. Not bone dry, but not inches of nasty water...

 

[skargo]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

I am laughing at your name, soggy feet. Seems appropriate.

 

[arks]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

looks like the engine cover has to be raised to let light in....he should mount some lighting in it

He has LED lighting in there. The video shows the hatch closing at :18 with the lights on.

I love C-Spray's boat!

Did you finally have the chance to meet him?

 

[bigbad 4cyl x2]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

you wouldnt need light with an infared camera to film in the dark

 

[Bluepike]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

If you have water in the bildge, you don't need a livewell.

Seriously though, why would you want to promote rust, corroded wiring and mildew? A nick in the fiberglass under water means rotten stringers. Water belongs on the outside of a boat, not inside.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

My biggest problem isn't leaking, it's keeping the the boat dry when not in use on the trailer. I've been through a dozen or more tarps, canopies and covers, none seem to last more than 6 months or so.

I hate having water down below, but it's never been a problem on the water, only in the yard. A good windy day and the cover and all the tie downs are gone and the boat gets wet, if the tie downs don't come off or break, the cover gets torn in the wind.

Luckily mine are all aluminum now but I hate having any water down below to help rot the deck.

I do have a buddy who's theory is that it's not a problem so long as it's pumping out faster than it's coming in. I think he's got 4 bilge pumps. His boat leaks all over, mostly from the motor mounting bolts, rub rail, splashwell boot, and various other poorly sealed openings. Not much bothers him, not even a few near sinkings due to big leaks or swamping incidents in rough seas.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

My biggest problem isn't leaking, it's keeping the the boat dry when not in use on the trailer. I've been through a dozen or more tarps, canopies and covers, none seem to last more than 6 months or so.

I hate having water down below, but it's never been a problem on the water, only in the yard. A good windy day and the cover and all the tie downs are gone and the boat gets wet, if the tie downs don't come off or break, the cover gets torn in the wind.

Luckily mine are all aluminum now but I hate having any water down below to help rot the deck.

I do have a buddy who's theory is that it's not a problem so long as it's pumping out faster than it's coming in. I think he's got 4 bilge pumps. His boat leaks all over, mostly from the motor mounting bolts, rub rail, splashwell boot, and various other poorly sealed openings. Not much bothers him, not even a few near sinkings due to big leaks or swamping incidents in rough seas.

If you & your buddy plan a fishin trip plan on using your boat

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Dry bilge obsession

I am laughing at your name, soggy feet. Seems appropriate.

heh, name comes from the story i posted in the SHT section..

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=361522