Bilge ventilation

[JimCt]

My 170's deck is still sound with no soft spots.  When I bought the boat a few weeks ago and opened up the 4" deck inspection port located near the transom it was wet in there.  No free water, just damp/wet.  I've left the port open to dry things out as much as possible.  Since there is only the one port, the ventilation likely isn't too effective though, especially forward.

I'm planning on cutting two more inspection ports forward of the console for more thorough ventilation.  I'd leave the ports open when the boat's out of the water.  Question is, how do I locate the areas in the deck to open up without winding up on top of the stringers.  Is there some measurement I can use to locate where the stringers are or do I just thump the deck (like finding a wall stud) to try to find them?

[Wilson]

It will be difficult.  The best advice I can give is look in any place you can.  In that port, in the bilge(if there is one) etc.  Often you can see the stingers and they will run straight up.  

The problem is... there may be any variety of other things under there, from bulk head to gas tank(if it is under the deck).  You get my drift.  

The best thing would be to find someone who has done something similar or even more drastic and could tell you whats down there.  

Anyone know?

If I had to guess I would say that there may be one running down the center about 1' wide then a space on either side before one more stringer on either side running parallel.  

Remember that boring this new hole may have little or no effect on through ventilation, depending on the configuration.

[Deck Daddy]

Jim,

In my 17 I have an inspection plate in the storage box forward. I will take a pic tomorrow when there is a little more light. One thing I like about it is that it is not on the main deck and prone to being warpped or cracked from being stepped on.

[JimCt]

This afternoon I stuck a mirror down into the inspection port.  It appears the whole bilge area is filled with foam, aft at least, right up to and contacting the underside of the cockpit deck.  Prodding around with a knife, the foam was (thankfully) bone dry.

Emerging from the foam right near the insp. port, hard against the bottom, are three 1" white ABS pipes; one each from the port and starboard sides and one running from fwd.  Maybe raceways in case someone wanted to run some wiring around or limber holes leading from open bilge cavities or perf pipes to act like curtain drains?

DD, with my fuel tank mounted on deck, it might be that I have an inspection port same yours except under the fuel tank (and totally inaccessable).

Wilson has a good point: perhaps somebody out there who's gutted a 170 might be able to shed some light...?

[steved]

In one of the Aquasport brochures that I am currently scanning to put on the documentation part of the gallery, there is a set of designs that show the hull, the inner core with the stringers and the deck. They are probably NOT exact specs but they might be good enough for you to figure out at least where the stingers ought to be.  I will try to scan that page tonight and send it to you or post it.

[RickK]

When I replaced the floor in mine (been a few years), (my fuel tank being above the floor too), I remember that if you stay centered across the boat you'll miss the stringers.  The part I can't remember is the position of any lateral parts of the stringer system.  One thing I do remember is that there is nothing but foam to look at.  If you were to cut an access hole just deep enough to get thru the floor you'd have nothing to look at but the top of foam.  That's why I didn't put any access holes in mine, I just filled it back up with foam.

[JimCt]

Thanks Steve & Rick.  Will hold off cutting any holes.  One less job to do.

[Deck Daddy]

Jim, I posted a pic of the access plate that is in my stbd storage box forward. There is no foam in this part of my boat. Forward and aft of my fuel tank is nothing but empty space.

[JimCt]

Hmmmmm....
Wonder why no foam in your boat and mine appears loaded?

[Deck Daddy]

I have foam filled stringers and foam outboard of the stringers but that is all. I stuck the camera in the inspection port and sapped a picture but you can only see blurry pic of glass.

[JimCt]

I'm thinking no two boats are the same.  Maybe the foam guy had a fight with his girlfriend the night before & went nuts the next day with the foam gun on my boat... who knows... .  My deck's in good shape so I'll just do what I can to keep her aired out & won't worry about it.

Next project is to replace the v-cross bar on the back end of my trailer.  Just discovered it's pretty well rusted out underneath.  I can push my thumb through it   .  Found a trailer supply house on the net which has a drop-in replacement bar.

Went down to register the boat & trailer today but the wait was going to be 2+ hrs. so I bagged that.  Why on God's Green Earth registration can't be done through the mail is a mystery to me.  All the DMV needs to do is verify the trailer VIN which could be done at any drive through inspection station.  I shouldn't be suprised.  The state of CT can't, or more likely, won't do anything efficiently.  Feds just sent our last Governor to prison.  The rest of that bunch up in Hartford should join him.

I need a drink.