Limber holes?

[Katouf]

New user, first post, so please be gentle with me.
My (new to me) Centaur has no external drain for the chain locker. Where does the water drain to and why does the fresh water (I left a pipe loose when I filled them) from my tanks under the forward berths not drain to the bilge pump pickup under the engine? Is there an under-the-cabin-sole passageway which is blocked or does one have to insert a piece of tubing to the area of the keel (via the space beneath the bunk mouldings) and pump it out using a mobile dinghy pump? Should I be contemplating cutting a hole in the cabin carpet?

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[boatmike]

Hi Katouf!
Don't worry about being new. Generally people here don't bite!
As I remember the good old Centaur, the area under the forward bunks was intended to be a glassed in bouyancy chamber and there was nothing in it. On some later models the sides were cut into to produce cave lockers and on others a hole was cut in the top for a hatch for storage. Either way there are no drains fitted to this area as it was originally intended to be dry. Some boats have had water tanks fitted in this space, often the Plastimo flexible rubber ones and thats OK but there is still no drain from there. I should not worry about it though. Unless you have a leaky tank it won't matter much. The chain locker should drain overboard through small holes in the side of the hull as I remember it. Are there none there? Would surprise me if there isn't. I don't think Westerly would have built a recessed chain locker in the forepeak without one. It's easy to get the drain holes blocked though so have another look. OK?

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[Talbot]

welcome to these fora. we dont bite on initial posts (unless you are a company trying to get a free advert). Sounds a bit bad to me, cause the water has got to go somewhere (especially from the chain locker. Possible mud from the chain has blocked up a drain hole, but you certainly dont want to leave this water in there, and if water gets into the chain locker you need to be able to pump it out, so urgent attention is required. I would recommend getting onto the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.westerly.co.uk/>westerly owners site</A>

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[jimbouy]

As a new Centaur owner myself i have wondered this myself.

I don't think the chain locker drains overboard... but I would think it is meant to drain some where...pretty poor if not.

Do you have an inspection cover near your table legs? I found an inch of water there and suspect everything may drain to that area.

You could try signing up to the woa's yahoo group and asking there. I will be doing it shortly if you don't.

Have you had to do much work to your Centaur?



Jim

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[andy_wilson]

It probably drains back to the bilge like my Fulmar, straight through the forecabin lockers. Stick a hose down the spout and see what comes out and where.

It is possible that the holes are bunged up which is clearly a bad thing.

Centaur probably has a shallow bottom which needs keeping dry to prevent damp getting into woodwork, alternatively the water will end up in the keel stubs once you have been sailing.

I would imagine that the pump under the engine is not at the lowest point, but is perhaps arranged into a separate 'sump' to deal with inevitable drips (or disasters) from engine cooling circuits and stern gland.

Carpet? Very impressed. sound more like a motorboat to me!

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[Rabbie]

Don't bet on it Mike. My W21 has the usual chain locker but a chain - pipe was considered an extra by Westerly and mine had none fitted until I put one in. Neither were there drainholes for the locker. I have never had an accumulation of water there and often wondered why.

<hr width=100% size=1>A day not spent on my boat is a day in my life wasted.

 

[Katouf]

Have sent you a PM - I don't want to bore everyone else with the mundane jobs to do before getting ready to sail. With regard to the other posters comments, there are no drain holes to the outer world, any water goes straight to the bilge and appears to be halted at a transverse moulding. It does appear in the keel bolt webs but is difficult to remove. Looks like the WOA website may be the answer. Thanks for the help.

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