JASinIL2006
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2012
- Messages
- 5,729
I'm normally a pretty handy guy, and buying a boat has pushed me to try my hand at a number of new types of projects.
The worst by far, though, has been installing a second bilge pump, with float switch, in my little bowrider. Following an idea I read about here, I epoxied both the pump and float switch to a piece of lucite, and my plan was to then epoxy the whole assembly to the floor of the bilge.
Drilling the hole in the hull for the outlet wasn't too bad (although anytime I do anything to the hull, even above the waterline, I get a bit nervous...). I used a Forstner bit and the resulting hole and installation of the outlet fitting looks very nice.
I did not, however, count on it being such a pain to get the pump assembly into the bilge. No matter how I try, the closest I can get to actually touching the bilge floor with my hand is about 4" away! Even then, I had to remove a bunch of stuff from the storage area next to the bilge and contort my tall self into a pretzel. I eventually fashioned a mop of sorts from a rag duct-taped to a 2x2, allowing me to clean the floor with some acetone. (Yes, I ran the bilge blower - and a box fan - so I didn't breathe too many fumes.)
After I figured out how I could get the pump assembly past the assorted pullies, wires, hoses, etc., and into the bilge, I mixed up some epoxy and used a spatula purloined from our kitchen to get the stuff into the bilge. I used the outlet hose (already connected to the pump, in a rare lucid moment for me) and the wires to suspend the pump assembly over the puddle of epoxy, and then slowly lowered it into the stuff. Hopefully, I hit the puddle squarely and the pump is in the right spot.
That it was 92 degrees and humid last night when I was doing this didn't help, either. Tonight I connect the outlet hose to the outlet fitting and I'll hopefully be done with this.
I'm hoping this is my last excursion into the bilge for a while. What a pain? How do others access their bilge without entertaining thoughts of transom removal! Heaven help me if this thing doesn't stay epoxied to the floor. I must just have to sell the dang boat!
The worst by far, though, has been installing a second bilge pump, with float switch, in my little bowrider. Following an idea I read about here, I epoxied both the pump and float switch to a piece of lucite, and my plan was to then epoxy the whole assembly to the floor of the bilge.
Drilling the hole in the hull for the outlet wasn't too bad (although anytime I do anything to the hull, even above the waterline, I get a bit nervous...). I used a Forstner bit and the resulting hole and installation of the outlet fitting looks very nice.
I did not, however, count on it being such a pain to get the pump assembly into the bilge. No matter how I try, the closest I can get to actually touching the bilge floor with my hand is about 4" away! Even then, I had to remove a bunch of stuff from the storage area next to the bilge and contort my tall self into a pretzel. I eventually fashioned a mop of sorts from a rag duct-taped to a 2x2, allowing me to clean the floor with some acetone. (Yes, I ran the bilge blower - and a box fan - so I didn't breathe too many fumes.)
After I figured out how I could get the pump assembly past the assorted pullies, wires, hoses, etc., and into the bilge, I mixed up some epoxy and used a spatula purloined from our kitchen to get the stuff into the bilge. I used the outlet hose (already connected to the pump, in a rare lucid moment for me) and the wires to suspend the pump assembly over the puddle of epoxy, and then slowly lowered it into the stuff. Hopefully, I hit the puddle squarely and the pump is in the right spot.
That it was 92 degrees and humid last night when I was doing this didn't help, either. Tonight I connect the outlet hose to the outlet fitting and I'll hopefully be done with this.
I'm hoping this is my last excursion into the bilge for a while. What a pain? How do others access their bilge without entertaining thoughts of transom removal! Heaven help me if this thing doesn't stay epoxied to the floor. I must just have to sell the dang boat!
