Hi Doug, Hi Connie. Thanks for the help. Connie, I probably wasn't clear. I was referring to the expandable type foam that comes in a can like "Great Stuff". This stuff was used to fill up the bilge, I guess. All I could see was a big blob of it against the bulkhead. I cut the blob flush with the floor and noticed the top of the bilge. I don't know if the bilge is filled behind the bulkhead because the styrofoam logs cover everything behind that bulkhead. Doug, I'm adding about 50 pounds in the way of a 6 gallon water tank to that area. The tank fits between the bulkhead and the centerboard trunk covering that 4"x4" bilge opening. How deep is the bilge? Does anyone actually use a bilge pump in there? I wonder how I will get any water out of there with the bilge filled with foam? Being that I'm covering the well with the tank maybe I should clean out the foam. The tank will be removable. Thanks again, Rick p.s. Are you guys still on for the Maine Trip? Doug, did you get the Maptech waterproof charts and if so what do you think about them?
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 09:49:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Kelch <doug_kelch@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Bilge Foam To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <20050706164938.30349.qmail@web30202.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Rick,
I believe that 4" square hole is the bilge inside the keel. If you stick a mirror on a stick and look around you should see that it is actually a 2 ft long tapered shape. This is where the bilge pump would go if you had one.
The only reason I could possible see for filling it up would be to prevent loose items like knives, flashlights, or whatever from rolling down there.
I have heard of some M15 owners who have added a few lead sash weights their to add keel weight.
Thanks
Doug
--- chbenneck@juno.com wrote:
Hi Rick,
When I cut out the starboard shallow sail locker to gain more storage space, in my M15, I found Styrofoam logs, 12" x 12" x about 30", in the same area.
There also were similar ones up in the bow compartment.
I assume that Jerry added those when the M15s were built to make them unsinkable.
Connie