Creating Self Bailing Decks - Help!

[jimbob AK]

So I just finished converting my 2530 from an I/O to an outboard and the results are everything I hoped for, EXCEPT that i've run into a road block with my self bailing decks. I had my fiberglass man create a gutter for the new deck hatch to sit in and my original idea was to just put a drain in the gutter itself and have it dump over the side via a hose and thru-hull. The problem is that my deck sits essentially at water level so the drain would be below the waterline which seems like a very bad idea (I dont want any more holes below the water line than I need). I could just let it dump into the bilge and let the pumps take care of it but this presents 2 problems: I dont want water in my bilge and since this is a charter boat there will also be lots of blood/slime getting rinsed off and I really dont want that in the bilge stinking things up.

Im pulling my hair out trying to figure this one out so any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Here are some pictures of what im working with:

 

[Bryan 2530]

Either, some type of waterproof hatch or instal sump for that drain so the smelly stuff doesn't enter the bilge.

 

[Photoguy]

Would be kind of a pain, but you could drain into a bucket or some other kind of container to either manually or mechanically empty. And as above, maybe better sealing of the hatch will eliminate most of the water entering?

 

[DaleH]

Do your existing scuppers work? Even if you changed the hatch lid with a gusset or sealing edge that drops over the top of the existing deck, you then could add a drip channel into the deck and route it to the scuppers. Note the deck is barely close to 1" thick so I'll glass a stiffener on the underside wherever this channel was routed ...

Just an idea ..

 

[Bryan 2530]

Would be kind of a pain, but you could drain into a bucket or some other kind of container to either manually or mechanically empty.

That's what a sump is...... :roll:

I like Dale's solution better though, a little more glass work but could be done.

 

[DaleH]

Then put T-H Marine ball scuppers on the scupper out- board ends ...

 

[Photoguy]

Would be kind of a pain, but you could drain into a bucket or some other kind of container to either manually or mechanically empty.

That's what a sump is...... :roll:

I like Dale's solution better though, a little more glass work but could be done.

Got it.
You can take credit for the sump idea...but the 'bucket' is all mine.

:lol:

 

[jimbob AK]

Thanks guys! I thought about the sump pump idea, it just had me worried with the amount of rain we get here (Ketchikan AK) that the pump would be running so much the batteries wouldn't be able to keep up.

I did not even consider Dale's idea, i'll have to take a look at it today to see how feasible it will be. I'll keep you posted
jim

 

[warthog5]

But by the time you got the channel cut deep enough to drain the hatch groove, the channel would be all the way thru the deck.

 

[Photoguy]

Thanks guys! I thought about the sump pump idea, it just had me worried with the amount of rain we get here (Ketchikan AK) that the pump would be running so much the batteries wouldn't be able to keep up.

A five gallon bucket holds a lot of water.

My boat has channels around the below deck ice box and rear seats. While they channel most water away, they don't channel all of it. Short of sealing that hatch I don't think you'll totally avoid getting water/fish parts in the bilge.

 

[HOTPURSUIT]

I hate to offer bad news instead of a good answer but I feel this is important...when the deck drains into the bilge or a sump as you may be considering it is all of the above messy, dirty and also a safety hazard. if you consider a sump please install some sort of safety device, twin sumps or high water warning system. I had a scarab center console that drained into the bilge for the same reason, the deck was even with the water line. I got caught in a bad storm once and was not only dealing with pouring down rain but water coming over the bow. Just so happened the bilge pump decided to quite, and when you are fighting a storm you have little time to focus on or notice anything else. It wasn't until I pulled into the marina that I realized the situation, I had water on the deck because the bilge was full, and I felt really luck to have made it back. The stern was sitting quite low in the water to say the least

 

[windknotnc]

Jimbob, how important is that huge deck hatch? Why didn't you just glass the floor and put a 13" x 23" hatch like the factory does? I guess you have realized that by moving the engine you have basically moved the self bailing point. I will admit I am not real familiar with the IO setups but I am very confident if you are regularly going to rely on any type of pump to keep water out of the bilge it is a bad idea. I can see a scenario with heavy rain, rough seas, and a battery issue that leaves you in the water. If it were me I would glass that large hatch tight and put a reliable appropriate sized access hatch to the bilge and rely on the self bailing hull design.

 

[warthog5]

Why didn't you just glass the floor and put a 13" x 23" hatch like the factory does?

Make it bigger....Make your life easier. Easier access means less stress and easier to clean.

 

[Bryan 2530]

That is what I would install.

Does Anchor make one big enough??

 

[warthog5]

http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse. ... ,1191.html

 

[Megabyte]

If it were me I would glass that large hatch tight and put a reliable appropriate sized access hatch to the bilge and rely on the self bailing hull design.

That is what I would do.
As for an access hatch, I'd use one like Bobby used in his 2530.

As windknotnc said, with the deck sealed off, let the self bailing design of the hull work for you.

 

[BradH]

If there is room, you could plumb the port deck drain to the stbd scupper and stbd to port. This is what SeaCraft did for years. It keeps the low side from back flooding but drains just as well when level.

 

[jimbob AK]

Fiberglass man just delivered the fish box I had him make for the gaping hole in the floor. It fits beautifully and it may solve my drainage problem also (im hoping). Its a reasonably heavy fiberglass box so im wondering if I get some really good rubber gaskets to seal the area between the top of my gutter and where the fish box sits if it will create enough of a seal to keep the water out of the bilge. Its the easiest solution so Im going to try it first and see what happens.

Here is the box, I am very happy with it (It still needs to be painted):