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Dolly
United Kingdom
54 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 23:22:02
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I have a Norman Conquest, whilst it was laid up and slightly leaning forward the bow kept filling with water, is this water that had been lying in the bilge, if so where is the best place to fit a pump, from what i'm told the Norman 20 has a hatch in the floor to gain access to the bilge and you can also fit a pump in there, but my floor is all GRP with no access, I would guess this is the lowest point.
Can anyone with a conquest tell me how they have got over this.
Thanks
Les. |
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ken cattell
United Kingdom
192 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2013 : 00:01:09
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On my Conquest. When I removed the gas container (located on the starboard side in front of the seat moulding) to replace it I found a hole on the floor that looked as if it had of been intended for a bilge bump. However the was no coresponding outlet hole in the hull for an outlet so I assumed it was never fitted.
I decided to install a pump up front in the bow storage space with the level float switch imeadiately in front of it along the keel line.
To ensure any water doesn't build up behind the front bulk head I drilled 2 x 12mm holes as low down as I could get them.
Loads of water drained into that area for a couple of weeks after I done that, the previous owner had lived on it with a parafin heater so loads of condenation plus hull and deck leaks.
Its been dry ever since but still waiting to re-launch which will be the real test.
Photos of the installation available if you want me to put them up, hope the above helps. |
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Dolly
United Kingdom
54 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2013 : 21:33:49
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Hi Ken
At last someone with the same problem as me 
Pictures would be great, I was thinking of drilling a hole but wasn't sure that was the right thing to do, I was on the boat today as she is now back in the water, I guess now she is level there is only a small amount in the bow,and the rest must be behind the bulkhead as you have said.
In an earlier post we spoke about a outlet through the hull of my boat quite near the water line and thought it might be a vent pipe for a tank of some sort, this is below the step which is in front of the seat on the starboard side, this may well be an outlet the inside of the connector has a rubber hose which as been cut.
Ken would I be right in thinking that if I fit a pump in the bow there will still be water laying further back in the keel as this must be the lowest point.
Thanks Les |
Edited by - Dolly on 30 Mar 2013 21:36:40 |
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ken cattell
United Kingdom
192 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2013 : 22:14:35
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Right sorry for the delay, every night since the launch has involved the pub!
If I get this right some pictures may appear.
This is the bilge pump in the front (bow) compartment with the level swich forward of it. Sorry for hazy pics taken with a mobile phone. The pump and level switch are secured in place on a bed of Isopon fibreglass body filler from Halfords (IP40?) once I got the hull dry. In the bulkhead are 4 holes the higher 2 were to release the initial rush of water (I was using a 240v drill)! They went through just below the floor level.
I then drilled 2 larger holes as near to the hull as I dared. The hull has ribs along it which have notches out along the keel to allow water to pass (in theory). The Conquest seems to sit naturally bow down at rest so that is were the water gathers, well it does on mine anyway.
The second pic with the pump and level switch removed shows the base plate locations and a better view of the drain holes.
On a general note for the installation I run the outlet pipe along the port side and out at the hull just infront of the helmseat 12 inches above the waterline. Easy to see if water is discharging but a lot of water to drain back into the bow compartment when you stop pumping. I propose to fit a couple of non return valves in the discharge line to stop this.
Hope it helps.
Ken |
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Dolly
United Kingdom
54 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2013 : 09:37:33
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| Thanks for that Ken it all makes sense |
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bilge pump
