Strange underbunk by previous owner ....

Refueler

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The main cabin side bunks have different config underneath and I am at a loss as to why.

Bw5mbP4l.jpg


Stbd bunk - has the two plywood lift off tops accessing storage under ... here's fwd of the two :

uuMgAdEl.jpg


All it needs is a slatted floor and some insulation ...

But port side fwd has been filled with expanding foam fully and then ply top screwed down !

UWY0b5Kl.jpg


with small access panel to centre ..

x9EWqyCl.jpg


I am considering hollowing out the foam ... maybe leaving the sides etc as insulation - the water pipes etc. run through that foam - making it hard to work on.
 

KevinV

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They haven't foamed in a tank have they? I just can't imagine any other reason for filing in the whole space.
 

Refueler

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They haven't foamed in a tank have they? I just can't imagine any other reason for filing in the whole space.

We just don't know what's in there ... its a large space as well .... about 1.5m long ... would have taken a lot of foam to fill it.

Under fwd V berth is a stainless steel tank that is FW. Next to it is an identical tank as holding tank.

In the aft section of that port bunk is a 100ltr flexi tank - which as far as we can determine is not needed. It had been plumbed in wrong ... intended for FW as seller said - but never used. When we emptied it - next day it was full again ... while no matter what we did - we could not get FW at the galley ... SW yes - but FW no.
We finally found out that it had been connected into the SW line ..... luckily SW valve on hull worked and we managed to temporarily replumb the tank to the FW tank system. But as said -its unnecessary as the original FW tank appears to be fully serviceable. The Flex tank either needs removal altogether or plumbed in better .. as present - it is T'd into the FW line ... so it slowly fills from fwd tank ...
While filling tank - the fwd tank fills first even when very slow rate ... while dribbling through to the Flexi ...
The problem if tanks stays - is to find a way to fill it as easily as the original tank ... FW filler is stbd fwd - significantly away from that Flexi tank.

NWLCcGxl.jpg


Maybe there is something embedded in the foam ... that makes me want even more to find out ..
 

Boater Sam

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We just don't know what's in there ... its a large space as well .... about 1.5m long ... would have taken a lot of foam to fill it.

Under fwd V berth is a stainless steel tank that is FW. Next to it is an identical tank as holding tank.

In the aft section of that port bunk is a 100ltr flexi tank - which as far as we can determine is not needed. It had been plumbed in wrong ... intended for FW as seller said - but never used. When we emptied it - next day it was full again ... while no matter what we did - we could not get FW at the galley ... SW yes - but FW no.
We finally found out that it had been connected into the SW line ..... luckily SW valve on hull worked and we managed to temporarily replumb the tank to the FW tank system. But as said -its unnecessary as the original FW tank appears to be fully serviceable. The Flex tank either needs removal altogether or plumbed in better .. as present - it is T'd into the FW line ... so it slowly fills from fwd tank ...
While filling tank - the fwd tank fills first even when very slow rate ... while dribbling through to the Flexi ...
The problem if tanks stays - is to find a way to fill it as easily as the original tank ... FW filler is stbd fwd - significantly away from that Flexi tank.

NWLCcGxl.jpg


Maybe there is something embedded in the foam ... that makes me want even more to find out ..
Sometimes it is better not to find out.......................................................
 

Fr J Hackett

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I can't imagine any yard would do something like that, it has to be some sort of bodge and I would definitely want to know what it was hiding. Dig it out pronto you may also find a solution to the plumbing problems.
 

Refueler

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I can't imagine any yard would do something like that, it has to be some sort of bodge and I would definitely want to know what it was hiding. Dig it out pronto you may also find a solution to the plumbing problems.

The yard was who plumbed the FW flexi tank !! into the SW line !

They created the wiring mess behind the switch panel ...
 

justanothersailboat

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I've only owned one boat, but I already learned an iron rule from it. NO UNINSPECTED SPACES. Full stop. if it's on my boat I want to have had a good look at it. I would not be able to bear to leave a seat locker foam-filled. It won't take long to chisel it all out unless it is encapsulating something complicated, which you would want to know anyway. Consider this thread all the encouragement you need to rip it out.

It's unlikely to have insulation value if it's just one locker so I wouldn't even leave a bit of the foam against the hull...
 

Baggywrinkle

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Maybe they took inspiration from ETAP, and the foam is to provide buoyancy and make the boat unsinkable? ... but the presence of water pipes may well indicate foam used to secure a tank - does the inspection hatch lead to a water tank? ... foaming in a tank with no access to inspect would be a bit daft IMO.

Dig it out, you never know what might be hidden in there - might have a street value of many times the value of the boat (y) :ROFLMAO:
 

Refueler

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Calorifier? urns with ashes? dog? a can of worms?

Calorifier was removed ... strange that boat had one - considering engine is raw water cooled !

Previous owner had Insurance claim for flooding of the boat - various items were disconnected - LPG heater electricals was one ... engine was rebuilt etc.

I'm expecting to find a tank in there ... don't ask me why I think that - but that's my gut feeling.

As to inspection before buying ... I am not going to declare how much I paid for the boat ... lets just say - it was a lot less than most Conq 38's go for ... and I got it for 1/2 the price she was originally advertised for ... (his Wife basically was the force behind selling it ... as i found out .. ).
 

PaulRainbow

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I can't imagine any yard would do something like that, it has to be some sort of bodge and I would definitely want to know what it was hiding. Dig it out pronto you may also find a solution to the plumbing problems.
Westerly fitted a forward water tank beneath the berth in the fore cabin and foamed it in, on at least the W33 and Discus. They did leave an inspection hatch in the top though.
 
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