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I end up with rain water or wash down water in the boat, forward bilge area. Just behind the forward pump there is the drain plug and two wooden rectangles that are cut to a point at the front with a wire attached. Are those grounding plates of some kind? Do I need to worry about the wood rotting? They seem to always be wet but not submerged.

Being that my deck doesn't attach to the hull sides behind the side panels I don't think there is a way to avoid rain water getting in?

While I'm at it. I notice outboard of my stringers stays dry but I can't see where there would be any area that allows the water to drain down to the center of the boat?

Peter,

There are limber holes at the aft end of the outboard stringers that drain water.

The wood blocks in the forward bilge are backing plates and the wires are to sintered bronze grounding plates on the exterior of the hull.

To keep the forward bilge dry you'd have to isolate the bilge at the cabin bulkhead and install a PVC pipe drain race from the anchor locker extending back to the isolated aft bilge. http://www.bertram31.com/newbb/viewtopi ... son#p74236" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks Cap. I can't isolate yet as I have a mess of stuff below decks between the enginges that all need to be rerouted. I guess most with a original style cockpit are getting water below decks? It's just not making it's way into the cabin bilge when isolated.

Peter,

Water in the cockpit bilge is inevitable regardless of the deck style... My main reasoning for isolated bilges is that cockpit water stinks and I don't want it under the cabin sole.

i just always shop vaced it out after a rain fall. i kept the bilge sahara dry so if there was any water in it i would know something was amiss. found a few slow leaks that way.

is that cockpit water stinks

That's just the NJ guys peeing in the bilge and shower drain. :-)

Randall,

I use a shop vac too. It's not that easy, no shore power or inverter so I have to lug around my generator. I never do it after I wash down the boat. I have to return a few days later.

Bruce wrote:

Bruce

At least the NJ Faithfull shower.