Engine Room Bilge

[ccanupii]

I am a year in on our 2003 Carver 444 and after a water tank hose issue have found a fun fact. The compartments under the engine do not drain into the center channel of the bilge. So after the water ran and filled up the area under the starboard engine a wet vac was deployed to remove the water. Does anyone know why this is compartment would not flow into the bilge pump area under the batteries? and is there an issue with drilling a 1" hole through the stringer to drain to this area? Another option I am entertaining is to just add two more bilge pumps (port and starboard). Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated.

[Viper]

They isolated those compartments so any oil leaks wouldn't make their way into the center bilge and get pumped overboard by the bilge pumps.

Don't drill holes in your stringers unless you know what you're doing or you'll create other issues. If they're cored strings and not properly sealed after you drill holes, it's just a matter of time before you need to deal with bad stringers. For the amount of times you'll actually accumulate water under the engines, I wouldn't touch the stringers, even if they're the hollow type as drilling through them for draining needs to be done correctly as well.

[Phrancus]

And for the extra pumps: for an emergency one could do this. But not for automatic functioning as that water is likely to have some oil in/on it and you don't want that pumped out.

practically I'd mount pumps or hoses to the lowest points and make it so that a pump is easy to connect when you want to clean/empty those areas into cannisters. Like you did with the shop-vac but then easier to get the job done as the hoses moving the wrong way is the usual irritation in that small area. Make it easy; rather than pushing it ahead for that free saturday morning next week next week next week next next.... oh, the bilge smells

[DanM]

On my 2004 396 which I am guessing would have the same layout, has at the aft end of the main stringers up agains the rear bulkhead two 2" holes in each stringer that feeds a bilge pump that is directly under the auto fire extinguisher. Not easy to see but it's in there unless they made the change in 2004.

[bud37]

Generally the pass thru ( at least it was on the 350 mariner ) is aft so when the boat goes up, the water goes aft and thru the fitting there to the aft bilge pumps. Our mariner was the same way, you had to vac out the trapped water, most of it was resolved by stopping all the water leaks thru the deck plates etc....then only got water after torrential rains.

FWIW...the engine support stringers on our boat ( 01 350 Mariner ) were composite board material encapsulated with glass...the hollow stringers were forward of that.

I agree with paying attention to the bilge pump discharge quality, depending where you are there can be some serious fines for sheens. Bilge socks, pads and capture trays under the engines will help with that.

[ccanupii]

Thanks for all the information as I was hesitant to drill drainage thru the stringers. I have 2" holes on either side that does drain back to the rear bilge. I am opting for installing high water alarms on both the port and starboard sides. I am also setting up emergency low profile pumps just behind the strainer for each engine. These will NOT be automatic but will operate by switching at the helm so if there is an alarm I can check, access and then run the pumps if it is needed. They will pump to the aft bilge and then that bilge will pump over. No point in drilling holes if I don't need to.

To address the oil sheen issue, we spent two weeks degreasing the engine room. We have down a double layer of oil pads and will put a small oil boom around each pump to catch any oil that may be present. We also have replaced the older engine lights with 4 foot bright LED strips and there is no place that is hard see anymore.

I am sure this seems like overkill, but better safe than sorry and it is always give me peace of mind to know we have an emergency plan in place.

Thanks again everyone.