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

[island808]

I just bought it today, so I may be missing something obvious, please excuse the ignorance.

Of course I am aware of pumps, but I would think there would be a drain.

The boat was nice and dry when I initially looked at it, but then a tech changing the impeller, left the slider open during a thunderstorm. There is water pretty close to the surface of the rear berths (on a hill sloping rearward. front is now dry).

Is there a clogged drain or something or is it just a matter of pumping or am I missing something. It was level when it was rained on and it didn't drain then either.

Thanks...

[March]

You mean, he left that hatch open and water got inside the boat itself during a heavy rain?
That is to be expected.
Scoop it out and pour it inro the sink--it'll bail right out, if the hose is properly attached. Next time, make sure you batten the hatches in the rain.
Only the cockpit is self-bailing. The boat itself ain't.

[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.

[Tomfoolery]

so no drain plug eh? Just bail.

That's it. No drain.

Two words: Wet Vac.

[JohnCFI]

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.

Could always drill a hole in it

[paul I]

Welcome,

Step 1 : Dismiss Johns recommendation to drill (it was funny though).

Stem 2: Call the installer and complain. Be nice at first. If nothing better can be had, try to negotiate for him to lend you what you need to clean it up.

Step 3: Follow Tkanzler's two words. But if you cant find that, any small submersible pump will work, even a larger powerhead for an aquarium or a pond pump. Get a flexible tube long enough to reach to the sink (or deck, or even to a bucket). Set the pump in the deepest bilge area in the aft birth and pump the water out till the pump starts to run dry. Repeat as needed. The bilge areas do generally drain into each other on this boat, but not from port to starboard unless the water level is very high.

Step 4: Have a Beer.

Step 5.Clean up the remaining water with sponges or towels. Repeat Step 4 as needed.

Eventually purchase two nice large rectangular sponges and a turkey baster. This will be your bilge pump. Place one sponge in the bilge area under the starboard side cooler liner. Take out cooler and liner, you'll see the "starboard bilge" , or at least my "bilge" as dictated by my boat load with the boat in the water, YMMV. The port bilge is under the galley area single seat.

Monitor the sponges regularly. If the boat is in great shape the sponges will stay bone dry. if yours is like most of ours (you know who you are), you are likely to find a sponge-full or two following a rainy period. Squeeze em out, and put em back. Occasionally you may even need to turn to the turkey baster and a cup.

One last thing, you may want to consider draining it and re-flood it with clean water and some cleaning solution and drain it again. Then rinse . repeat... like shampoo.

[kevinnem]

I have to say the shop vac works well, but it was a pain to empty it over the side. To get the lowest water, I found teh use of a flat wide nozel to be really usefull.

I get water in my bildge as well, leaky chain plates I think.

some ideas i have had are to install a pump that i can then hook to hose to suck up water in teh areas it accumulates. do to teh "ribs" there is like 4 areas in the back I need to drain. I was thinking I could on land, 'vent" then water in to the ballast air hole, or the sink , rather then collect it in bucket an dump it.

[bartmac]

We have twin bilge pumps (one each side) and about to install a manual one.....but found on Ebay a boat hook about 5 ft long that had a pump function incorporated in it(big syringe like)...best thing since sliced bread...not only does it work as a extendable boat hook but also a pump...great for emptying the dinghy..using the reach of the device..also used it to clean the cockpit as it squirts water at good pressure...and makes for great toy...will squirt water 6-8 metres.Have organised a hose on the end allowing to use it in places the whole thing wont fit size wise

[kevinnem]

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.

[March]

On the 26X, there IS a little hole at the bottom of the step, meant to drain the water accidentally spilled on the floor into what passes as 'bilge'. Kevinem is referring to the main breathing hole under the step that is typically plugged with a regular expanding plug. That's the ballast tank vent. I guess you could use a funnel and pour the bilge water into the ballast tank, but why such a hassle? Ditto for emptying the vet vac overboard. The 26X has two sinks, one in the head, one on the galley and they both empty outside, above the waterline, if the relief hoses are properly attached.

[mastreb]

When I was in the Navy, I de-watered 4' feet of standing water in a 500 foot long warship bilge myself with a wet-vac, 50-gallon trash can, and hoist. Only took eight hours. The wet-vac rusted through in a week afterwards.

[sunshinecoasting]

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.

[Highlander]

This is beginning to sound like a hose job to me !!! , Yep one time I was working on the boat went into the house to get another beer , & down she came rain by the barrels thought to my self man guess I time that right so just sat back had a few more beers three hrs later looking out the window saying to myself sh_t this looks like its here for the day then remembered OMG I left the hatch open so I ended up just as wet as the boat , needless to i never done that again , but have come close !

J

[bartmac]

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

Ebay...I'll have to check the name on it...its North American.The other thing about it is that its really well made and quite solidly made ie much better that the two we already had (I might not be Irish BUT to be sure to sure...one each side attached to the cockpit combing just in case for easy deployment...having nearly holed our 26X on a damaged jetty last year.So now 3 in total ...one up front but no permanent fixing point yet.
Just googled "bailer boat hook pump" and its the "Bridgenorth".....even comes up as a water cannon...good for jetskis and the like

[yukonbob]

If you don't have or want to buy a sump pump or have a wet vac use the manual bilge pump you are required to have. It's goes surprisingly fast. From the sounds of it its a two beer job