Motor Sailers, Colvic seakeeper

[CES]

Hi, Im looking at buying a rather unusual colvic motor sailer, a Seakeeper, any-one else got one? Also, I;m not used to boats without selfdraining GRP cockpits, do the bilges fill really quickly on this kind of boat? The enging is underneath the cockpit floor? Words of experience appreciated!!

 

[pcatterall]

I have an Atlanta and thought I knew the Colvic range but I have never heard of this one. What is it like and when was it made?
I am also interested in the water draining issues, my boat has a large central wheelhouse and I often sail with the doors open (they are pretty flimsy sliding things anyway)
Whilst I am not going to suffer from being pooped(is that the term?) I do wonder about catching a big one as the wheelhouse floor is not watertight and is below waterlevel.

 

[CES]

She is very like a Colvic Watson 23Ft 6in, the hull looks almost identical, but the superstructure is slightly more shallow, and she does not have the GRP wheel house or cockpit. She was owner completed in 1980, and stayed in the same hands up till now. I have some pics I took at the yard back home. I wonder if the builder decided not to buy the wheel house and cockpit from Colvic Watson, and put his own in place.

 

[pcatterall]

So there is a wheel house with the door to the rear onto an open deck area??.
Is the 'deck' over the engine above or below water level.
If so and there is good drainage then absolute watertightness may not be such an issue??

 

[CES]

Ok, its an aft cockpit, partially covered by an open backed wheelhouse. Potentially sea water could break over the exposed aft section of the cockpit/stern in heavy weather. I think the cockpit floor would be more or less level with the water line, the engine being beneath, covered by two hatches. There do not appear to be any drains, but there is a big manual bilge pump. I think the sea water is headed straight for the bilges. The cockpit is quite deep, so its interesting you flag the waterline issue, something for me to check, although she is out of the water at the mo.