Filling-in bilge sump "black hole"

[Cyrus Safdari]

Did it while engine and fuel tank were out previosly converted from wheel to tiller so quadrant etc already out too

Basically made diagonal "lid" to cover the area, glassed it in, cut a hole aabd poured in expanding foam, then gelcoat over whole area

Video pouring the foam at http://www.sailingwhimsy.com/2022/05...ngine.html?m=1

[Celestialsailor]

Nice work.

[Benz]

I did that as well with one of my darkest, most inaccessible recesses. Why have 'em?
I also made sure my bilge sump was within easy arm's reach for cleaning.

[gonesail]

deep bilges are nice .. as opposed to shallow ones where water can slop out on the floor when the boat is heeled .. not a good thing. but when you can't even reach the bottom of it .. what you did makes sense to me.

[Cyrus Safdari]

I was worried about having a too shallow bilge after I filled part of it,, and turned part of it into two water tanks,,but I kept a good chunk of the sump in place for high capacity bilge pumps and i arranged the plumbing so the cabin sole is watertight but there are cabin sole scuppers which along with various compartment limber holes are all connected by hoses to a pump for discharge overboard minimizes water sloshing around in a sump. (Sole hatches are watertight with latches and gaskets)The Whale Gulper IC with the manifold inlet head is used to automatically drain multiple sources of water ( usually such as both the shower and sink in the head) but you can hook it up to any compartments that can hold water including to wet lockers and scuppers or drains on the cabin sole (I put three cabin sole drains right below the companionway: one under the ladder and one each port-starboard sides on cabin sole are near companionway entry, so water splashing in from the companionway onto cabin sole area right under it for about 4'would immediately drain regardless if boat was heeling) This is to deal only with small amts of water; there are also larger capacity standard bilge pumps with separate plumping )