jtbedell
Member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2013
- Messages
- 24
- Location
- united states
- Vessel Name
- Socially Sea Cured
- Vessel Make
- 1989 44' Heritage East Sundeck
Hello all. I started a new thread because I had no idea what title to research this under. I have a 1989 Heritage East 44 (Nova) with three sumps along the centerline for bilge pumps. I noticed the forward one was getting water in it and had to be pumped about once every three days toward the end of summer. Since the other sumps where not filling and they are near the running gear I assumed it was a leak in the forward fresh water tank or lines and knowing it would be on land for the winter I left it until then. I just went to remove the float switch and pump to replace them and when I pulled the screws from the floor of the sump water started to gush up through the holes into the sump from what I thought was a solid fiberglass keel. I believe there is an air gap between the floor of the sump and the top of the top of the fiberglass keel. I was under the impression that the fiberglass was solid up to the bottom of the sump but I may be wrong. I then thought the water came in from dripping shafts while in the water and entered the middle sump where I had taken out the float switch (not sealing the holes) and put in a self contained automatic pump. I thought the shaft drippings came into this sump and dripped into the gap area and eventually was high enough to be above the floor of the most forward, and lowest, sump area. But now that it is on land and is filling up the one sump but not the other I do not think I was correct. Now I am wondering if I should open the floor of the sump and put a bilge pump down below the floor nearer the keel or try to foam in the gap and continue with the way it was originally made, or just re-glass the floor of the sumps, leaving the air gap, and assume it will not happen again. I am pretty confident of my abilities but his one threw me! No one at my marina (Worton Creek on the Chesapeake) had seen this before so I am trying to figure this on my own and can use any thoughts on this. Thanks, John