So, how do I get water out of the bilge?

[island808]

inside the cabin then down into the bilge (its a 2002 with the little hole under the stairs that drains to bilge.

so no drain plug eh? Just bail.

wait a sec -- what are you calling the "bildge" ...

there hole under the stairs is for the water ballast system, and it does drain , out of a big 2 inch + size hole in the back of the boat, . this is also the hole you plug, once you have taken on teh water, and are ready to sail.

The bildge is teh area under the "hatches/pannels" that are under the beds and seats.

Let's just clarify this, until 1999 the X had it's ballast vent inside the step at the companionway, after 1999 it was under the front bed. In both cases however the X has a small half inch hole at floor level just below the steps to drain any cabin water to the bilge. I never understood this logic as it is easier to mop up water from the cabin than it is from the bilge? Anywho a sponge and bucket while laying in the aft berth is definately the way to get rid of bilge water, I have been known to almost fall asleep doing this as it is very cumfy and snug down there.

Hey bartmac, where did you get that hook/pump? Sounds cool. Dennis.

Thank you.. I thought I was going crazy... why would someone put a ballast plug where it would slosh out onto deck. I agree its kind of silly to have it drain to bilge. But, if you woke up in the morning to ankle deep water from a ran storm, with your drooping blanket wicking the water all over you, you might wish the water was in the bilge.

At the same time, that plug all the way forward is a bit of a run back and forth. But I was fighting the salesman that didn't think it was important to flood the ballast.

I'm just going to get some bilge pump action.

You'd really think there would be a way to drain the boat before pulling it up the ramp, or if it was stored... say .. on a trailer in your yard. Where's my hole saw? But seriously, I may just investigate.


I mean.. amiright?

[WASP18]

After filling up the water bag for the head last week (boat on the trailer), the hose clamp distorted the bag fitting (I screwed too tight) and I discovered water coming from that nickel-size hole at the bottom of the stairway. A couple of gallons emptied out onto the rug from that hole. I used my large sponge to absorb. I tried using the West Marine hand-pump bilge pump and the water wasn't deep enough to make it work. It was a good learning experience discovering where water from that area under the dining table would go. I thought the hole was for outgoing water, not incoming. I checked the voids under the matrasses in the rear and they were dry.

[yukonbob]

Ok this is getting crazy. The small half inch hole in at the bottom of the stairs was to create a warning system in case the bilge filled with water (potentially up to the back berth level before someone noticed and the boat became unstable. There is no factory bilge drain at the back of the boat nor IMO should there be. There is a ballast drain which should not be connected to the bilge or again you'd have a slight problem. The bilge filling with water from leaving the hatch open is pure idiot tax (not trying to be mean) and you'l probably never have to do it again.

[seahouse]

For those with an M and wanting a short route to the exterior for bilge pump discharge the handiest point would be through the top of one of the vertical rudder steering tubes; the same route followed by the rudder lowering lines. A shorter route = higher pump discharge rate, and less power consumption.

The through-bolts on the tube for the steering Pitman arm mounting would have to be allowed for. It's a ready-made through-hull down tube provided courtesy of the factory.

Haven't seen anyone here use it yet, but this location is also a possible route for wiring transom-mounted sensors. Simple abrasion resistance from steering shaft movement is likely required, such as running the wire through a piece of poly airline.

- Brian.

[Wind Chime]

To remove small amounts of water in our bilge, we use a plastic turkey baster.

[Whipsyjac]

+1 To Yukon Bob's last post. This may be a trailerable boat, but it's no longer in the little boat class. The fewer holes in the hull the better.

[Tomfoolery]

I have a baby wet/dry vac I got at the BORG for less than $20 on sale. I've used it both for tidying the place up, and for drying out the various 'bilge' areas from time to time. Much faster than any manual method, but it does require 120VAC.

And ditto the clarification on the small hole in the step - it's a warning hole, and not intended to get cabin sole water to the 'bilge', especially since this boat really doesn't even have one, but the last place you'd want water to go is into those places under the sole where it accumulates.

Mine's a 1999 model, hull number 899, and it has the vent under the v-berth only, not under the step. I use the space inside the step to store papers in a water tight box, primarily the registration. So at some point in the '99 model year, MacGregor moved the vent from under the step to the v-berth.

[kevinnem]

thank you all for the clarification RE the holes by the step, I was not away there was EVER different location of the vent hole, nor that some boats had a second "drain to bildge hole"

RE- required bildge pump -- do you have a link for this, I was not aware (in canada?) that a bildge pump was needed.

quick second note -- are your batteryies okay ? any safety concern there? they are in bilge, and it seems you have a lot of water in there....

[island808]

Currently just one battery, it's on a mounting bracket. Water is only... An annoyingly in the very back due to angle.
I suppose I could argue that the broker get the bilge pumped for me. But it's good to do thing yourself, Really get in there and inspect and investigate.
Going to run up there tomorrow and bring the shop vac and secure the mast. Do a little more inspection and inventory.
Might maybe borrow a trailer to get it down here... But... I can wait a few days.

[JohnCFI]

My is dated for August 98 (according to Macgregor's when I sent them the hull number), it has the vent under the middle step, nothing up forward. The vent under the V berth was September onwards apparently..

[Mac26Mpaul]

Thanks for the tip on those Bridgenorth Bailers Bart. Gunna have to order one of those $119 posted (about half that in the US of course)

http://www.arnoldsboatshop.com.au/8ft-b ... 08/dp/5846

I'v been thinking about buying a yabby pump with bildge pump converter (will work better than my current bilge pump which is a bucket )
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_item ... lutePage=1

https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_item ... lutePage=1

[island808]

I still have yet to track down my leak. Kind of waiting till season is over, since im in a slip.

Figure the chainplates or other decktop holes are at fault. Plan on resealing the whole kit and kaboodle this winter.

Since im on a lift, i have to lower into the water and tie off to get the water accessible.

During a night of thunderstorms, i get about a quart in the starboard side. And a cup in the port. Just shopvac it out as it isnt enough to pump. Just want to keep the mold at bay.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Bob is right about the warning system and I found out first hand when the lightning blast blew out my 2 inch through hull last summer. Without that warning hole, the liner of the boat will keep you in ignorant bliss during water entry until the boat is half sunk.

During the first few years of my Mac26X ownership, water entry was non existant, it was always bone dry, then the next few years turned out to be chainplate leaks, which I figured out how to seal.. Now the last few years seems to be bedding compound wearing out on deck fittings. I've fixed a few here and there to keep the water entry very minimal but some year, I should take on the larger project of re-bedding everything and then it should become bone dry again for a few years. You know how it goes though, if it is "mostly" dry, then the motivation to take on larger projects seems to lessen.