Our recent flooding brought to the forefront a situation I have known about and yet did not address: the limber holes in the stringers that separate the bilge compartments are way too small. What has always happened is that water cannot move fast enough into the chamber with the bilge pump and this was a big problem when we were flooding the other day.
I did not know if they had a spec for the holes during construction, but I could never get even my pink finger into any of the holes. What I felt was sharp and irregular as is someone had done a very sloppy job of putting fiberglass and resin into the holes.
Yesterday I finally ripped all the plumbing, pumps, and strainers out of the bilge and used a 1.25 inch diameter hole saw to open up the holes. What I found was approximately 3/4 inch diameter PVC tubing that was covered in glass and resin. It made it difficult to drill the holes, but now I have 1.25 inch diameter holes that I have sealed with epoxy resin to prevent water intrusion.
Just throwing this out there for anyone's consideration.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
I've considered doing that exact thing. I was going to drill out the holes, seal them with epoxy, then insert a piece of PVC tubing. As I understand it, there is a wood former inside those floors; even if only there as a mold until the fiberglass cured, I'd rather not expose that wood to water, if possible.
The small limber holes that are there from the factory will not pass anything more than the trickle from a dripping packing gland. Hardly useful.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Yes, Gary, there is wood in mine. I wonder what purpose the PVC tubing serves, though. By itself, it won't seal the wood against moisture, so you need the epoxy. There is no abrasion occurring, so again I wonder how the PVC helps.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/