So now that the fuel tank business is over with, its time to pay full attention to the old gal. For quite a while I was getting some water in the bilge and I always dismissed it as either rain water or that half broken flange on the fitting for the livewell drain. No big deal, I always pumped out what ever there was on the way home from the fishing grounds. Error #1
Compounding this problem was the way the boat sits in the driveway. I always thought I had the bow high enough, water would easily drain from the deck scuppers whenever it was raining out...no problem . Error #2 - Little did I realize that even with that, because of the pitch in the driveway the deep vee part of the hull in the bow area really was never much higher than the bilge drain in the stern. So a little water would always be in the bilge under the cabin area.
While sea trialing her after the fuel tank replacement we decided to do a little fishing. Also decided we weren't going to use the livewell and do a check on the bilge after the trip. Wouldn't you know it, we got about a gallon of water out of her. That was a disappointment, so we decided to investigate a little further.
Well apparently the thru hull fittings of the 90's aren't the thru hull fittings of today. This particular elbow had 1" female threads and a flanged insert which is what you see when you look into the livewell. Well with the broken flange and no seal underneath (unlike the ones today that use a nut on the back) any water than came up the thru-hull when floating or at anchor or water in the livewell would slowly leak into the bilge. So yesterday I was lucky to be able to unscrew the broken piece and run down to the marina and buy something I can use. Replacing the entire fitting was another option but that will have to wait. Access to it thru the access plate is a real PITA.
Looks like I will be able to just cut the barb off this one and use it, but I did notice that where I am cutting it I will lose the dog ears on the inside where it is meant to be grabbed by a tool to be tightened.
Compounding this problem was the way the boat sits in the driveway. I always thought I had the bow high enough, water would easily drain from the deck scuppers whenever it was raining out...no problem . Error #2 - Little did I realize that even with that, because of the pitch in the driveway the deep vee part of the hull in the bow area really was never much higher than the bilge drain in the stern. So a little water would always be in the bilge under the cabin area.
While sea trialing her after the fuel tank replacement we decided to do a little fishing. Also decided we weren't going to use the livewell and do a check on the bilge after the trip. Wouldn't you know it, we got about a gallon of water out of her. That was a disappointment, so we decided to investigate a little further.
Well apparently the thru hull fittings of the 90's aren't the thru hull fittings of today. This particular elbow had 1" female threads and a flanged insert which is what you see when you look into the livewell. Well with the broken flange and no seal underneath (unlike the ones today that use a nut on the back) any water than came up the thru-hull when floating or at anchor or water in the livewell would slowly leak into the bilge. So yesterday I was lucky to be able to unscrew the broken piece and run down to the marina and buy something I can use. Replacing the entire fitting was another option but that will have to wait. Access to it thru the access plate is a real PITA.
Looks like I will be able to just cut the barb off this one and use it, but I did notice that where I am cutting it I will lose the dog ears on the inside where it is meant to be grabbed by a tool to be tightened.
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