Pearson 422 et al Why the deep sump at the aft end of the keel

[Keithward]

Looking for this as a live-aboard for spouse and self. Read report of weakness being the aforementioned void in the keel. And of modifications necessary, but there were no listed modifications. What might the mods be?
Why is the void there? It doesn't seem like the ballast ratio is high. Why not fill it? What is the weakness specifically?

It also seems like the boom could be longer???

I wouldn't be asking all these questions but I am very enamored with this boat.

Threshold purpose for me joining the forum!

[Cheechako]

Not sure what you are talking about, but usually the "deep sump at the aft end of the keel " is the bilge where water collects and is pumped out. Never heard of an "issue" with that boat.

[roverhi]

The deep sump keeps water that inevitably finds it way into the bilge in the bilge. Boats with shallow sumps or none at all will have that water slopping up the sides of the hull soaking everything it comes in contact with.

[gjordan]

Deep sumps are wonderful. As Roverhi said, shallow sumps are a real pain in a cruising boat. Be glad Pearson built it that way. Just my 2 cents worth. _____ Grant

[jstevens]

The only significant downside to the bilge on the P422/424 is that it is hollow and can be cracked if the boat is set up improperly on the hard. A number of owners (myself included) add several layers of fiberglass. Others have partially filled the void with cement. In the later case, that also allowed the bilge sump to be used for storage.
Most owners just left it alone with no problems.

John

[skipmac]

John is a long time owner of a 424 which has the identical hull to a 422, just different interior and is very familiar with the boats. I have a 422 which I have totally rebuilt over the last eight years.

In the Pearson the sump is much more than other boats with a bilge sump. The middle of the keel is actually hollow and I have also heard reports of boats that were damaged when blocking. When hauling you have to block the leading and trailing edge of the keel, NOT in the middle under the hollow space.

One big different in the 422 and 424, in the 422 that big hollow sump holds a 140 gallon water tank. The 424s I have looked at it's empty. Great use of the space BUT, the tank is a separate structure sitting in the sump but not filling it. This leaves a 3-4" gap all the way around the tank including under the bottom. This gap creates a space that is as inaccessible as the inside of a black hole. Also makes it tricky to get a bilge pump pickup and switch into the sump. Drop something it there and it's gone.

I actually drilled a large drain in my keel to access the hole for cleaing and retrieval of lost rags and such that could clog my bilge pump.

As to why, have to ask Bill Shaw or Pearson about that.

[George DuBose]

Skylark, a 1973 Pearson 36-1 has a deep bilge and during the layup of the glass in the keel stub the aft end of the bilge is so narrow that the glass work was pretty bad and certainly insufficient. The fact that the bottom of the keel is not parallel to the waterline put extra stress on the aft end of the keel.

That plus the rocks the boat must have met in her long life meant that there was a crack in the glass at the top of the keel's aft end. Reinforcing this weak spot from outside and inside has resolved the crack issue and subsequent leak.

Other Pearson's with deep bilges have had to add extra floors or other remedies to this common problem.

The good news is that the lead keels are "J" bolted to the keel stub with 5/8" bronze threaded rods and then all glued up with polyester resin. The keel won't fall off even without nuts on the bolts.

[skipmac]

Oh yes, regarding the boom. The 424/422 came with a number of different rings. Many (most?) were ketch rigged but also sloop and cutter rigs. I have heard that the early sloops were just the ketch without the mizzen mast. Have seen some of the "cutter" rigs that were sloops with a staysail added. My cutter the mast is actually a few feet further aft and is more of a true cutter which also means a shorter boom and slightly smaller main.

If you're really interested in a 422 feel free to send me a PM. Would be happy to talk Pearsons until your eyes glaze over.

[Jack Lahr]

Ex 422 owner with nothing but praise for the boat a solid sea boat!

[AJ_n_Audrey]

I have a deep sump on my Pearson 367, and I'm very happy to have it, especially after having my bilge pump die in April on the ICW. Lifted the floorboard (was planning to put in bilge cleaner) to find water just below the V-drive dipstick. The manual bilge pump worked great, thankfully.