Hello again everyone. I obviously have a few posts to go before reaching Admiral status so here goes..... 

Has anyone got any clever hints or tips on how to get the bilges completely dry on a 312? 

As I mentioned in another post, I tried to swap my log paddlewheel out and put the blanking plug in. It looks probable that I made a bit of a mess of it and didn't align the blanking plug properly (the v notch) so it was leaking like a sieve. I won't bore you with the whole story of the 90 minute panic during which I couldn't get it back off again and had to run to the chandlers for a filter strap wrench to get it undone. Just imagine, two day old yacht and it is sinking! Anyway, quite a few litres of the salty stuff came aboard during this fiasco, but not enough to get the bilge pump started.

The question is: Do you have any clever tips or tricks for getting rid of the water? 

I tried mopping it out from the area around the log fitting but it seemed to keep reappearing. There was a limber hole just aft of the log that I poked my finger through and it seemed quite deep there. I bought a cheap oil pump (cheapest pump in the chandlers with a thin enough feed pipe) and managed to pump out quite a few litres from there. I suspect that there is some more but it is not easy to get at. The big floorboards are screwed down and the port side one goes under the chart table. Dominic confirmed that you can't really lift the port side one without removing the chart table!

I could unscrew and lift the starboard board, that is apparently over the bilge pump(s), but I don't really fancy doing that every time I swap the log paddlewheeel and blanking plug.

Anyone have any other ideas? 

Hi Blue Man

If you are nervous about the swap over I would suggest the following:

Remove the section of floor that the speedo/depth/log trap is in, this will give you much more room to work in

Familiarise yourself with the proceedure in your head before you do it to ensure you practise it then do it for real- especially the orientation of both the blank and the real unit with the arrow pointing forward. Make sure you get the orientation right and the unit down in the correct position before worrying about screwing it all uptight. When you get it right and are quick you should then be down to approx a cupful of water on board.

You can surround the area in the bilge with towels cloths etc to trap any water that comes in and stop it spreading to other areas. If you feel that you want inspect the bilge the floor section galley/starboard side under the steps can be unscrewed and lifted up carefully as it is not too heavy but is awkward to manhandle in the space without scratching anything. You can then dry this thoroughly and then use the towel method to stop having to do it again.

Good luck

Geoff

Prime Time

Hello again ,

I swapped them over on my Legend more times than I can remember over the last 6 years. I was a bit surprised by the rate on inflow on the new Hanse so I can only guess that it threw me into a bit of a panic! It doesn't help that the log is right in the corner of the cut-out and therefore very awkward to get a decent grip. You have to face aft and squeeze between the table and port saloon seat.

I can't see how to remove the large floor board around the log cut-out as it appears to extend under the chart table. Is your boat different?  

I'll try the towel trick, never thought of that before.

Thanks,
Andrew 

Hi Andrew

I have a glass fibre/gelcoat division just forward of the galley and chart table across the floor area. From there forward the section I was talking about is about a quarter of the total area (and to port)and if I remember correctly about 4 or 5 screws only. It is about 18" wide and the join to the large board is almost invisible so please check as it will make your life easier until you gain confidence with this boat.

Geoff

Geoff,

Of course, you are absolutely correct. I had it in my head that the piece under the chart table couldn't be lifted because that was where all the water ran to, going aft through the small limber hole in the GRP division that you mentioned. 

Thanks,

Andrew