CD TY Daysailor(Cuddy)-Bilge Drainage Problems

[rogergaby]

Yet another problem with my CD TY Daysailor. It's been on the hard for over 5 years-uncovered. The bilge will not drain adequately and had a lot of muck and flaked cockpit paint in it. I have tried shoving a stiff wire up through the drain hole in the center of the keel on the starboard side with no success. I cannot feel any drain hole on either the front or back side of the bilge-at least as far as my arm will reach. Any suggestions from anyone with a similar problem?
I also noticed a 4 inch steel lifting loop just forward of the cabin bilge drain(the rectangular hole in the cabin floor). It,s too far forward to get a cable on it for lifting purposes. Does anyone know what it is for?
Regards
Roger- Magic Carpet

[Jeff D]

I would pump out the bilge and manually remove the collected debris. I have never had a problem getting the bilge to drain.

My biggest concern with a boat that has been uncovered for that long is the impact of the freezing water on the bilge structure. I had a Bullseye, whose design is similar to the Ty Daysailer except that it did not have a garboard drain. The builder (CCSB) warned that the bilge should not be allowed to freeze over the winter - they had experienced fiberglass cracks owing to the force of the expanding ice. We used to sponge the bilge dry and add antifreeze before shrink wrapping.

I also have a lifting eye in the bilge. I have always assumed that it was used to lift the ballast during construction.

Jeff

[Dick Villamil]

I concur with Jeff - the "lifting eye" was to install the keel - not recommended to use it to lift the boat because it isn't strong enough - especially if rusting away under water for a while. I have the weekender model and it also had water in the bilge that was allowed to freeze - it caused the fiberglass to separate from the ballast and water freezing caused the hull to develop cracks. That is how I found and purchased the boat. After repairing the cracks and injecting resin into the voids between the ballast and hull it now is watertight. If you have a garboard drain it may be plugged with debris - use a suction pump, air compressor or vacuum cleaner to blow from the exterior back into the bilge to free the sludge. It may take a while but should work. Try some hydrogen peroxide to dissolve the sludge. Good luck - make sure you dry out the voids with alcohol before injecting resin.

[rogergaby]

Thanks to both of you who responded. The lifting eye was a mystery.
I spent a few hours today using a pressure washer on both ends of the bilge-I just cant believe all of the debris in there-including peeled paint from the cockpit. It's draining a bit better but I still would like to know where the drain in the bilge floor is. I inspected the keel pretty closely looking for cracks-didn't find any.
Our Jeanneau 44 had a similar problem with its rudder. Seems the previous owner had the boat up on the great lakes and did not drill holes in the rudder to drain it when it was onthe hard. The result was a distorted rudder with a lengthwise crack in the fiberglass over 4 feet in length. I reglassed the aft end of the rudder and tried refairing the sides of the rudder-not much better-but it's still on the boat.
Thanks again for the help.
Roger-
Magic Carpet.

[John Martin]

Dave Perry, Cape Dory/Robinhood Marine talked at the CDSOA national meeting a few years ago. He told us that lifting ring was used for construction, only. Do Not use it to lift the boat.

[Skeep]

2 Threads Response-

First the Bilge Drain...
I am curious about Roger's reference to a drain hole on the starboard keel? The only holes on my Typhoon are the scudders on both sides coming from the cockpit area. Question: are there other drainage points I am not aware of on this vessel? Just purchased mine in Dec 2012 and am doing the cleanup and refit on her now.

I too am experiencing some entry of rainwater into my bilge area without any apparent reason. I've sucked her clean but mother nature is entering with force somewhere. My suspicion is water eddys at the toe rail, cannot drip out amidships and seeps downward in the seam of deck and hull into the lower bilge.

Second, the Steel Loop...
I also share some fear over ever attempting to lift the CD with that ring. However, why position the square access hole in the floor of the cuddy immediately over the ring if it were not intended to be used in the event of a need? It might come in very handy for a steel cable to lift and adjust a CD onto a trailer for some reason. The classic "Rod Serling's Son" (sic) video claims that a CD may be uniquely hoisted by its chain plates. Hmmm? I cannot see this happening for a Typhoon. My vote is on the steel ring.

skeep

[rogergaby]

Skeep-
The drain hole on the keel only appears on Daysailors,which are not self bailing. So we have to physically drain our bilges while sailing.
The steel ring in the keel is not meant for lifting as I was informed in a previous post. It was used during the manufacture of the keel. The ring in my boat is forward of the bilge access hole .
regards-
Roger

[Oswego John]

The Steel Loop...
I also share some fear over ever attempting to lift the CD with that ring. However, why position the square access hole in the floor of the cuddy immediately over the ring if it were not intended to be used in the event of a need?

I think that the grate in the sole is where it's at is because it is over the deepest part of the bilge and facilitates pump out. It also provides access in placing and maintaining a bilge pump.

I agree with the others. Don't use the ballast lifting ring to raise or lower the boat.

O J

[Skeep]

Roger and OJ, I certainly defer to your motion on the ring and will not be lifting her with that any time soon then!

As for the water in the bilge then, and the comment, "we have to empty our bilge while sailing," am I to understand then that some Ty skippers have bilge pumps aboard? Hand operated? Plastic cups?

Skeep

[Oswego John]

Hi Skeep,

Most of the Ty owners that I've known, if they used bilge pumps at all, used manual pumps. Not every owner had a pump. I knew one owner that was away from his Ty for weeks at a time and he installed an automatic, float controlled, battery powered pump. A bank of batteries or a large battery will add much weight to a small hull. Then, a suitable place has to be found to secure the battery(ies).

I have several types of manual pumps to choose from. I have a garden tractor type, small battery to power my running lights for the few, rare occasions that I need them. I am a firm believer in KISS.

Not all Tys have automatic, cockpit self bailing. Much of the water accumulation in the bilge is from rain. Some boat owners use a boom tent to deflect rain beyond the coamings.

We can hardly wait to see your boat when all spiffed up. Pictures, pictures, pictures.

O J

[Skeep]

I have to make mention on this subject that after this thread I experimented with my CD Ty leaving her uncovered for a period of rain. Much to my surprise, there was some water in the bilge but negligible. Most of it was eddied by the starboard toe-rail. Eureka! I succeeded in using varnish to occlude the leaky seams. My problem had been the screw holes when acted as conduits for rain water. I am happy to report that I am well on my way to a dry bilge, today in fact!