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Message board > Care & maintenance > Sea water in bilge.

Message 5 of 5
Posted by member Andy Mcmullan on Tuesday 26 August 2008

David This post on the forum outlines a hardy pilot refurb. http://www.hardy-owner.org.uk/forum/ca1016844651.htm It has this link... http://www.shorebase.co.uk/boating/hardy/hardy.asp It shows a couple of options on pump locations including a low profile one for the stern. You are right about the centre part of the boat. When I got my Pilot, then only way I could see to get the water out was through a hole drilled in the pedestal base for the cabin table. I extracted about 20 litres or so from there. A better solution would be to put a small inspection hatch in the cabin sole and if the pickup hose from one of your other bilge pumps was long enough you could put the hose in here and extract the water. Cheers Andy

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Message 4 of 5
Posted by member David Seelhoff on Thursday 21 August 2008

I have just bought a pilot 20 and found to my surprise it had no bilge pump. My insurance requires one to be left "live" at all times, but where does one fit it? As I see it, I can fit one right at the stern under the outboard "bulge" and another under the forepeak berth. However the central "false floor" under the cockpit, which is probably the most likely place to get a leak, and the cabin floor would not be served by either. There is a 4 inch access hatch to the "false floor", but I dont't see how I could get a pump and float switch in there. Also, is that false floor supposed to be watertight and act as flotation? If so the outlet pipe from the pump would have to be glanded out, and some form of air inlet added. How do you fit a bilge pump to a Hardy?

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Message 3 of 5
Posted by member Phil Cook on Monday 9 October 2006

Nick, interesting solution to the stern drive bilge and the engine bilge, thankyou. Concerning water ingression in the forward bilge area I have a similar problems in my case this is coming in via the starboard SS stantions. Un screwing and removing the cream pvc upholstered panels behind the forward cabin seating (the ones below the cabin windows) will either reveal sodden or dry wood. If it's sodden let into your solution as getting to the underside of these stantions seems to demand entry via the pvc upholstery removing SS staples and then re-stapling. After running in heavy weather bilge the water is salty, conversly after rain its fresh.

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Message 2 of 5
Posted by member Nick Carter on Friday 8 September 2006

My Hardy Mariner had had a lot of salt water during the previous owners time. The coupling had a fair ammount of rust on it. That was cured by using a thicker (normal) marine grease as what was in the gun looked to me like a thin outboard grease. The rust is under control after a rub down - not easy - and regular WD40. Have also fitted a two way valve and extra piping so I can pump both sides of the small bilge bulkhead. However the change of grease has kept her very dry. Am getting some fresh water in at the forward bilge pump. A job for this winter. Have a nasty suspicion that may be one of the side deck drains. Nick

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Message 1 of 5
Posted by member Colin Shores on Monday 3 July 2006

Hello, I bought a Hardy Mariner last year and have mainly used her on the Humber Estuary and Ouse/Trent. Having just moved her up to Hartlepool I found about 3 or 4 inches of sea water in the bilge. Could it have entered through the engine room vents (we had a fairly large following sea on journey) as the stb eng room insulation was wet from top to bottom or had it come in through the stern gland and just splashed eveywhere? Any ideas would be appreciated.

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