bilge on centerboard boats

[sailor]

I purchased a CD 270 in October and have never actually seen the bilge. There are two small hatches behind the mast step but one has been used to reinforce the mast step and the other is shallow and you can't see below it. There are also two back in front of the companionway steps but they also are shallow and don't see down to the bilge. I know there is a pump under the bathroom bulkead for the shower but you can't see that sump. There is also an automatic bilgepump down under the salon table somewhere but can't get to it. How do you actually see down there or get access if you have to clean or change the automatic pump??

[Jim Walsh]

I purchased a CD 270 in October and have never actually seen the bilge. There are two small hatches behind the mast step but one has been used to reinforce the mast step and the other is shallow and you can't see below it. There are also two back in front of the companionway steps but they also are shallow and don't see down to the bilge. I know there is a pump under the bathroom bulkead for the shower but you can't see that sump. There is also an automatic bilgepump down under the salon table somewhere but can't get to it. How do you actually see down there or get access if you have to clean or change the automatic pump??

The owners manual has the following information pertaining to bilges and bilge pumps;

BILGE

Pump the entire bilge dry and clean out any debris. Drain the bilge
hoses and pump(s) to prevent freeze-up.

BILGE PUMP


The Cape Dory 270 is equipped with a permanently installed diaphragm-
type bilge pump. The pump itself is located in the cockpit area and is
operated by inserting the (removable) handle into the through deck
fitting. This arrangement allows the pumping of the bilge with all
hatches closed; a safety precaution should you have, to pump in severe
conditions.


Water is carried from the bilge to the pump by a reinforced plastic hose
with a strainer at the bilge end. This strainer should be checked
FREQUENTLY and cleaned as needed. The pump discharges water overboard
through a fitting located above the waterline near the transom.


The pump is designed to pump water containing a variety of debris, but
can become clogged by excessive solid matter. If the pump should fail
to prime itself after several strokes, check to see that the pick~up
hose is positioned properly, then check the pump body for debris. The
rubber diaphragm may be removed by loosening the screw which holds the
stainless steel clamp. Inspect the pump body for foreign material and
gently lift the intake and outlet flapper valves to determine that they
are clear. Reassemble the pump and continue pumping. Another problem
causing the pump to not prime could be a chafed hose. This can be
checked by holding your hand over the end of the hose to see if suction
is felt.


It is wise to pump the bilge before casting off and again on returning
to see if the boat is taking on unusual amounts of water.


Note: If you decide to have an electric bilge pump installed, be sure to
consult an expert on the wiring

It might help to follow your manual bilge pump hose to its terminal point which should be equipped with a strainer and be located in the deepest part of the bilge. That may result in finding the easiest access point. It may be that the centerboard model has very shallow bilges rather than the the one large bilge most full keel models possess.

[sailor]

My boat does have the manual pump but there is also an electric one that is controlled by a switch on the electrical panel under the companionway. The switch can be toggled to manually override the sensor and run at will. These boats do seem to have shallow bilges unlike the keel boats I had previously owned. I am thinking now that possibly any water down there runs toward the rear and the pump might be right under the companionway. I am going up to the boat tomorrow and take a more powerful light and some more tools and really start looking around for it. I am uneasy not being able to visually look into the bilge and check on the pumps and other things that may be down there. I know there is an outlet hose for the shower pump that goes back there and exits at the stern but who knows what condition it might be in. Stuff hidden in dark, inaccessible bilges are easily ignored.

[sailor]

Got to the bottom of it yesterday. Finally got the small inspection ports up and the two in front of the companionway steps both lead to small, narrow bilges on either side of center and there is a bracket mounted to a large, longitudinal beam on centerline and it supports the bilge pump. The forward inspection ports behind the mast step don't lead anywhere as the center one is full of some type of hard substance that the surveyor said was used to reinforce the mast step. I am guessing the shower pump is under that stuff. The twin bilges on either side of the centerboard are about 12 inches deep and taper down to about 2 inches wide at the bottom. They apparently run from the mast step back to about the center of the engine. Pretty unique system for someone who has never owned a centerboarder before. I pumped out all the water the electric pump would get then turned to the manual pump and got it down to about 1/2 inch of water in the bilge. Next will mix up some bilge cleaner and will leave it in there for a couple weeks and try to use the boat. There was still some ice on the columbia river yesterday in my marina.