How to make a new bilge in the deck under the splashwell?

[Darren Nemeth]

I kept everything of importance to my 1969 Glastron V-145 after I tore it apart. Well... except for the bilge.

Since that went out with the other trash over a year ago the only thing I have to go by is a few pictures like this one.

From measuring the hull, the bilge in the photo looks 1 foot wide by maybe 6 inches long.

The edge of the splashwell ends about 20 inches from the transom.

Can someone illustrate how the heck do I make a new bilge? It will be 6 1/2 inches deep or so.

I have 1780 biaxial, 1.5 oz CSM and 6 oz. Hexcel cloth to work with.

 

[redfury]

Re: How to make a new bilge in the deck under the splashwell?

half of an ice cream pail should make a nice form, and you can get the glass to release from the plastic easily enough. Make it into the shape you want, glass it, and cut to fit, then glass it in.

Realistically, all they did was cut out a circular area in the wood floor and then draped wetted out glass down into the bilge...at least that's what they did on mine.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How to make a new bilge in the deck under the splashwell?

I will take a stab at this.....

I would hit the dollar store and cruise the aisles for a good looking woman who is looking for a nice guy ........ oh yeah the bilge....... while at the dollar store I would purchase a cheap ($1.00) plastic bucket with a bottom large enough to hold a bilge pump.

I would cut the bucket with a utility knife to the proper depth and slice it down the sides .... I bet you can duplicate the shape of the old bilge. That would become my mold and I would make the bilge area out of fiberglass...

OR just fiberglass in a few pieces of plywood at the proper depth.

The area above that will be wide open so you can access the drain plug or replace the pump.

Many people fiberglass in a flat piece of wood to support the pump on a flat surface.

 

[BassinVt1]

Re: How to make a new bilge in the deck under the splashwell?

Having a bilge pump, is this a mandatory type thing in a boat? I remember my fathers boat a small 14 ft fabuglass and that didnt have one, just the drain plug in the back. My boat came with one but wasnt mounted anywears, and I no that my bilge isnt big enough for one. I will have to remedy that.